Ground combat troops roll into North Waziristan

15 militants killed as SSG and infantry troops carry out house-to-house search in Miramshah.

ISLAMABAD:

After two weeks of air strikes against militant hideouts, the army launched the much-anticipated ground offensive in North Waziristan Agency on Monday.

“After evacuation of all civil population, the ground operation commenced in and around Miramshah early Monday,” said a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The military’s media wing said a house-to-house search of Miramshah town was being carried out by infantry troops and the Special Services Group. “Fifteen terrorists have been killed in the ground offensive so far. Troops have recovered underground tunnels and improvised explosive device (IED)-making factories inside the cleared area,” the ISPR said.

Three soldiers were also injured in an exchange of fire.

Meanwhile, integrated fire of artillery, tanks and other heavy weapons is being carried out on terrorists’ concentrations in Mirali and other areas. “Effective cordon is in place at other areas housing terrorists,” according to the statement.

Since the beginning of Operation Zarb-e-Azb on June 15, a total of 376 terrorists have been killed while 19 have surrendered to the security forces. Sixty-one terrorist hideouts have also been destroyed. “Seventeen soldiers have embraced shahadat in the ongoing Operation Zarb-e-Azb,” said the ISPR.



The operation is seen as one of the toughest military campaigns the army has undertaken in recent years.

The difficult terrain of Waziristan, which is considered a hotbed of several militant outfits – including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as well as the deadliest Afghan insurgents, the Haqqani Network – can pose a serious challenge to the security forces to clear the area.

The military has given no timeframe for the completion of the operation, although the army wants to finish the job as soon as possible. The operation has compelled nearly half a million people to leave their homes in North Waziristan. The military said the distribution of relief items to the IDPs continued at Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan and Tank districts. “[Nearly] 30,000 ration packs, 110 kilogrammes each, have been distributed so far.”

Moreover, 276 tons of ration have been collected so far at 55 relief-donation points established by the Pakistan Army in major cities and are being transported to Bannu.

As many as 5,665 patients have been treated at the Field Medical Hospital established at Khalifa Gul Nawaz Hospital, Bannu, by the army. Similarly, 6,435 cattle have been provided veterinary treatment, while 17,659 cattle and 30,545 poultry have been vaccinated.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 1^st, 2014.