PESHAWAR - NWFP Governor Awais Ahmad Ghani on Tuesday said that there was no threat to the United States from any part of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) as the government through a well-planned strategy had succeeded in uprooting the Al-Qaeda influence there. "The situation in FATA is now under control, and the trends of militancy, violence and terrorism are on the decline," Governor Awais Ghani remarked during an interview with daily The Nation at the Governor's House. Expressing satisfaction over the return of peace and stability in certain parts of the tribal belt, particularly in North Waziristan, the Governor termed it as the outcome of a peace deal signed with the tribal elders from North Waziristan in January last. He further said that the peace deal signed by around 300 elders on January 17, 2008 had led to a significant reduction in violence in the tribal region bordering Afghanistan. The agreement, he added, was producing positive results. In around over half an hour sitting, Governor Engineer Awais Ahmad Ghani not only defended the government strategy of handling the militancy situation through peaceful and political ways but even  also justified the role of Pakistan in the ongoing war on terror. When his attention was invited towards apprehension of certain American authorities about the  feeling of threats to US from Al Qaeda what they called sheltering in Tribal Areas, Engineer Awais Ghani disagreed with such feelings and apprehensions, saying "problems don't exist on this side of the border but they have strong roots across the border in Afghanistan. In support of his point of view, the Governor called attention towards netting of leading Al Qaeda fugitives along with Pak-Afghan border and also successfully foiling terrorist acts and attempts. In response to a question, the NWFP Governor also rejected assertions that the peace deals had led to increase in Taliban attacks in Afghanistan. Ghani said that "Afghanistan has become a narco state" adding it was a major cause of instability in the country. In this respect, he reminded "telling the US and American authorities time and again" that such narco traders were also involved in fuelling  unrest and violence all over the region. The increasing narco trade in Afghanistan was directly affecting the situation in Pakistan, he emphasized and added that serious efforts were being made to tackle the situation having been erupted with the involvement of drug mafia in fuelling the crises and violence   all over the region The NWFP Governor said that he believed that incidents like 9/11 would originate from Afghanistan if the situation there was not improved and brought under control. The Governor said that Pakistan had in place a "robust political and administrative system", which could track down any terrorist activity and movement. "So there is no chance of incidents like 9/11 taking place from Pakistan". "Pakistan has made tremendous contribution to the ongoing war on terror," was the reply of the Governor when his attention was drawn towards the statements of the high ranking US authorities. He in this respect presented a detailed comparison for stretching the Pak-Afghan border with deployment of troops and establishing of the security forces check posts. Similarly, he said that time and again Pakistan suggested fencing of the Pak-Afghan border, which seemed the only way for curtailing incursion on the Pak-Afghan border at this stage. He said that at the moment, both Pakistan and Afghanistan were facing an extraordinary situation, therefore special measures could be adopted for handing the situation erupting out of the militancy and terrorism. "There are problems but these are manageable," was the reply of the NWFP Governor to a question. In this respect, he in particular appreciated the strategy of the newly elected government for handling the situation both in the province and the adjacent tribal regions. Despite unrest and tension in Swat and Hangu, the Governor said, "The situation is moving towards a right direction." Supporting the peace initiatives of both the NWFP and the Federal Governments, the Governor termed these as realistic which according to him could lead to return of peace and stability.  He reminded that besides political means, the government was justified to go for selected actions and operations if the miscreants were reluctant to response or deliver. Similarly, he viewed that unless massive development process was undertaken, no one could bring the FATA on a par with the rest of the country. In this respect, he appreciated the government for adopting the socio-economic development throughout the region. The NWFP Governor further said that under the agreement, the tribesmen had assured the government that attacks on government forces and installations would not be allowed. In addition, attacks across the border in Afghanistan and militant sanctuaries would also be discouraged. He informed that a special committee comprising tribal and government representatives was holding weekly meetings for ensuring implementation of the agreement. He added that a peace deal with the tribesmen in South Waziristan was being discussed but he gave no other details. In response to a question, Governor Awais Ahmad Ghani said that now the peace deals were brokered between administration and tribal elders. Maximum emphasis was being laid on  the local tribesmen and elders to enable them to fulfill their territorial responsibilities regarding law and order situation, he remarked and said that now its results were very satisfactory. Elaborating his point of view, he said that the image of the militants was on the decline in the society following their involvement in heinous criminal acts. He added that efforts were also made for bringing reforms in the existing Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR), which he said could help in combating the militancy and enhancing the influence of the tribal elders and administration throughout the tribal belt.