ISLAMABAD, Jan. 14 (Xinhuanet) -- A group of US Congressmen has visited Pakistan's volatile tribal region near the Afghan border and discussed with tribal leaders the area development and presence of al-Qaida suspects in the area, a tribal leader said.

    "The six-member delegation of US Congressmen asked questions about the presence of al-Qaida suspects," said Jameel Khan, a tribal leader, who attended the meeting in Wana on Friday, the headquarters of South Waziristan tribal area.

    "The American Congress members assured the tribesmen of their full cooperation in the area development," the tribal leader Saturday was quoted by the local Geo TV as saying.

    He said he had received a message from General Officer Commandant (GOC) Peshawar that he will meet tribal leaders.

    "When I reached for the meeting I found six members of the US Congress there with the GOC," he said. The tribal leaders apprised the US delegation of the backwardness of the tribal region and asked for the establishment of educational institutions and construction of roads, Jameel Khan said.

    "The tribal elders also called for the establishment of leather garments factories and cold storage for fresh fruit to create employment for the people," he said.

    "The Congressmen assured the tribal elders that all possible assistance will be provided for the development of the tribal region," he said.

    When asked if the Congressmen talked about the presence of al-Qaida suspects and extremists, Jameel Khan said that the Congressmen raised questions about the foreign suspects. He added that the tribal elders told the US lawmakers that a large number of foreign militants have been killed and that many others left the area.

    The tribal leader did not mention the names of these US Congressmen, according to the report of Geo TV.

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