Pakistan marks two years since the start of Operation Zarb-e-Azb during which a 3600-kilometer square area was cleared of terrorists. This included Datta Khel, Alora Mandi and Shawal Valley.
ISLAMABAD – Around 490 soldiers of the Pakistan Army have died in the line of duty and more than 3500 terrorists were killed during Operation Zarb-i-Azb, Lt Gen Asim Bajwa said. But there is more work to do – including improving the border management mechanism with Afghanistan as well as clearing restive pockets in areas of Swat.
Director General ISPR, Lt. General Asim Saleem Bajwa briefed media persons on completion of two years of Pakistan Army’s Zarb-e-Azb operation.
“We have completely cleared North Waziristan, South Waziristan and FATA and writ of the government has been established,” Bajwa said in briefing at GHQ.
“June 15 is a historic day for us. Before Zarb-e-Azb, the country, including North Waziristan was plagued with terrorism.”
“Over a period of two years, an area of 3,600sq km in North Waziristan has been cleared of terrorists,” DG ISPR said. “This includes 900 terrorists belonging to Lashkar-e-Islam.”
The ISPR head said forces recovered “modern weapons” from militants, which he claimed had been stolen from US troops.
He also revealed the challenges faced in the field, such as the dense forest and the unprecedented height of the Shawal valley and Dattakhel.
“Tribes have been rid of terrorists forever from here, after much difficulty and sacrifices from both locals and the armed forces alike,” he said.
Life is back to Karachi after targeted operation: DG ISPR
Director General ISPR Lt General Asim Bajwa has stated that law and order situation has been improved and life is back to Karachi after targeted operation in the city and it will be continue till the complete stability.
DG, ISPR while briefing the media on Wednesday has said 19000 intelligence based operations have been carried out across the country and 1200 terrorists have been eliminated in Karachi alone.
Pak Afghan Tensions
Speaking about the recent tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan along the Torkham border, Bajwa said, “Afghanistan resorted to unprovoked firing and then Pakistan replied in kind.”
“We did not hand over even an inch of Pakistani soil to Afghanistan,” Bajwa said regarding Angoor Adda.
Lt Gen Asim Bajwa also shared details regarding the operation in Khyber, and said strength of a division and a half was deployed in the agency to clear it of militants.
Answering a question regarding the recent arrest of Kulbhushan Yadav, an Indian Navy commander and agent of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), Bajwa said, “This is the first time since World War II that a serving officer of another country has been caught.”
The head of the ISPR reiterated that Pakistani soil will not be allowed to be used for terrorist activity and the peace and security achieved will be maintained and further progress will be made in the coming days and months.
Recalling the decision to go ahead with the operation, PM Nawaz said the whole nation including Pakistan Army and other security institutions played their role with full consistency and determination, which purged the country of the scourge of terrorism.