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Military decides to scale up surgical strikes
* Corps commanders review readiness and strategy, mull options in war against terrorists after attack on Karachi airport
By Sardar Sikander ShaheenISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Army on Wednesday reviewed its security strategy and the operational preparedness to effectively respond to the security challenges facing the country by launching fresh military actions and scaling up the ongoing surgical strikes in the volatile areas of the north western tribal region.
The 72nd Formation Commanders’ Conference, chaired by Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, was held at the General Headquarters, according to a press release by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The half-yearly conference was attended by corps commanders, principal staff officers and all formation commanders.
“The forum was given comprehensive briefings on external and internal security environment. The participants of the conference also dwelt at length on various professional matters,” the statement said.
According to military sources, the existing security arrangements were reviewed during the meeting and some important decisions were taken accordingly. The general officers commanding (GOCs) of the respective infantry divisions also showed up at the event, the sources said.
The meeting was held a day after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chaired a high-profile meeting, also attended by the army chief, to discuss strategy to respond to the increasing terrorism incidents.
The security challenges posed by resurgence of attacks by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), reportedly, dominated the agenda of the corps commanders meeting. The deadly terror attack on Karachi airport and the killings of two lieutenant-colonels of Pakistan Army in a suicide attack near Islamabad were specifically discussed in the meeting.
Peshawar Corps Commander Lieutenant General Khalid Rabbani briefed the army chief on the security issues concerning the Federally Administered Tribal areas (FATA), according to sources. The corps commander, the sources said, informed the chief of army staff about the security challenges involving North Waziristan Agency, where the civilian leadership and the military command have given a 15-day deadline to the tribal elders of Wazir tribe to expel foreign militants. The corps commander said that his forces were ready to deal with any challenges to safeguard the integrity of the state.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk