PESHAWAR:
Peshawar Corps Commander Lt General Khalid Rabbani rejected reports of a joint operation in North Waziristan, saying that Pakistani security forces would not allow any foreign “footprints” on its soil.
Talking to senior journalists at an iftar held at the Officers Mess in Peshawar, the corps commander said that Pakistani security forces were not only prepared but capable for such operations on their own.
The Pakistan Army had launched a military offensive in the volatile South Waziristan Agency and Malakand Division without foreign assistance, he said.
“If there would be an operation in North Waziristan that too would be carried out without any foreign assistance.”
Rabbani said the armed forces could not spearhead an operation unanimously, and that the government would decide on launching an operation.
“It would be like when the government had announced the launch of Rah-e-Rast operation in Swat and Rah-e-Nijat in South Waziristan,” he said.
“We are fully prepared for the operation, the timeframe for which would be chalked out by the government,” the commander said, adding that the decision would not be considered under the dictation of foreign powers.
He also dismissed a news item published in the US media regarding a sting operation by Pakistan and the US in North Waziristan. “We have our own affairs and decisions,” he added.
Rabbani said that the security situation in Malakand, Bajaur and Mohmand Agency was under control. “Even cases of kidnappings have decreased in these areas,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 17th, 2012.
COMMENTS (8)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1713521455-0/Untitled-design-(9)1713521455-0-270x192.webp)
No foreign footprints allowed but foreign drones are welcome 24/7.
Pakistani security forces would not allow any foreign “footprints” on its soil. and drone attacker have secret permission,it is sign of interrogation.
No doubt, Pakistan has enough credibility to resolve all complicated matters and its armed forces can control the situation deal with any strategic crisis.
Joint operation mean have to call foreign forces in side the country and expose weakness to some extent.
Lt Khalid rightly explained the situation and when see the other side find American defense secretary addressing the news conference and claiming joint military operation in Waziristan.
What is right and what is wrong,days has gone no joint military is started it mean ,there is no such plan,what he said,wrongly stated in the news conference which ignited other side without any reason
Recently,American defense secretary and Pakistani top army general agreed on joint military operation against insurgents in the lawless tribal areas. Strategy being considered,in the meanwhile United States committed Drone attack about which Pakistan has repeatedly protested,it mean American command understand Pakistan not dependable. Notwithstanding the fact that Pakistan has been proved itself a dependable ally against the war in terror.
Drones are not solution or final solution, prime target on the other side.
That's really funny! Pakistan has allowed "foreign footprints" on it's territory for years now! Let's talk about all the "foreign fighters" that fill the ranks of Taliban/militant forces in the Agencies! By the way, did Osama bin Laden and company leave any "footprints" in Abbottabad for all those years, or was he issued a special set of duck feet to walk around in?
Pak army can easily Handel waziristan and wipe out TTP for good. We do not need foreign troupes to fight our war.They should fallow the strategy bomb them to hart content and make every night in to a shabqadar. Than send foot soldiers to do the final kill.We want our Pakistan Back from the fanatics.
If no foreign footprints were allowed in Pakistan, we wouldn't have this problem.