ISLAMABAD (SW): Today marks one year since the Pakistan Army waged a military operation in the restive North Waziristan Agency after years of reluctance despite pressure from the United States to dismantle terrorist’ hideouts in this border area.
The civilian government led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the military establishment have dubbed the operation successful that has led to the death of some 2763 alleged militants and 347 army men. The Army has been controlling much of the information about this “Zarb-e-Azb” Operation with local and foreign journalists having no direct access to the region.
“Pakistan is achieving new heights because of the success of operation Zarb-e-Azb against the terrorists”, Sharif said in a statement on the completion of one year since ground troops and military jets were engaged for the operation. “I am thankful to all the people who have given sacrifices for the country”, he added while lauding the role of military on this front
Various militant groups, including the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Lashkar-e-Jhanvi, Jundallah, al-Qaeda, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and the Haqqani network are said to be the target of this operation by army.
The operation began one week after a terrorist attack on Pakistan's busiest airport. On 8 June 2014, 10 militants from the TTP and the IMU attacked Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, killing 28 people including security personnel and wounding at least 18
On their part, the army has said that only few pockets of this tribal agency remain to be cleared of terrorists. Gen. Asif Bajwa, the military spokesman, said that more than 800 hideouts of the militants have been destroyed and some 250 tons of ammunition seized during the operation so far.
“Whole nation came together to totally eliminate terrorism, civil society playing +ve role to help end menace”, Bajwa said in his twitter message.
ENDS
