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COAS orders ‘speedy’ action against all terrorists in NWA
* Gen Raheel says terrorists will not be allowed to return to Waziristan * Stresses need to strengthen border mechanism with Afghanistan to prevent any cross-border infiltration
RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif, while interacting with troops engaged in Zarb-e-Azb operation against terrorists in North Waziristan Agency (NWA), urged them to stay focused on speedy and skilful conduct of the operation against all terrorists.
“Now that their command and communication infrastructure has been disrupted, we will never allow them to return,” he added during his visit to NWA to celebrate Eid with troops on the front lines. According to an ISPR press release issued on Tuesday, the army chief stayed overnight at the Miranshah Camp. Upon his arrival, the operation commander briefed the COAS on the progress of the operation. The COAS expressed his complete satisfaction over the achievements and progress of the operation made so far in the agency.
The army chief also spoke on the need to strengthen the border mechanism with Afghanistan to prevent any infiltration from across the border to undermine the effects of the operation. He paid tribute to the martyrs and the wounded who had rendered supreme sacrifice for defence of the country. “We will not stop short of eradicating this menace of terrorism from across the country. Only with sustained focus of the entire nation, we can jointly accomplish our objective of a terror free Pakistan,” the COAS said.
Later, the COAS visited internally displaced persons (IDPs) Camp Bannu to spend time with tribal brethren from NWA.
While speaking to the IDPs, the COAS assured them of the commitment and wholehearted support of the army and the nation in providing them not only relief but in executing an ultimate resettlement plan for them.
Acknowledging the cooperation and sacrifices rendered by the brave tribal brethren in fight against terrorists, the COAS reiterated that together “we will bring peace, development and prosperity to this region”.
He also appreciated the troops and all other agencies involved in the IDP affairs for their hard work.
He hoped that with an improved coordination between all stakeholders involved at various levels, relief work would further improve, ensuring better resource mobilisation and distribution.
Meanwhile, the army said a total of 570 terrorists had been killed since Zarb-e-Azb operation was launched on June 15. An army spokesman said that 34 security forces personnel had also been killed during the operation.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk