35 terrorists killed in fresh air raids

Army chief meets PM Nawaz Sharif to brief about progress in the operation.

ISLAMABAD: Warplanes targeted fleeing terrorists in Shawal valley of North Waziristan Agency and killed at least 35 of them, the military said in a statement on Wednesday. The air raids came as army chief General Raheel Sharif briefed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the progress in Operation Zarb-e-Azb in a meeting at the Prime Minister House.

At least 484 terrorists have been killed since the start of the operation on June 15. Twenty-six soldiers have also died during this time. Military authorities have yet not shared with the media identities of the dead terrorists.



During meeting with the army chief, Premier Nawaz said peace and stability was Pakistan’s destiny. Briefing the premier, Gen Raheel said the operation was progressing successfully and majority of the area of North Waziristan’s main administrative town, Miramshah, had been cleared of militants.

In an official statement issued by the Prime Minister House, Nawaz said the jawans and officers of armed forces were rendering great sacrifices for the cause of the country. He said there was no parallel to their sacrifices in the recent history. “These Jawans are fighting war for our future,” he added.

The prime minister also reiterated resolve of the government to provide all possible resources for looking after and rehabilitation of people affected by the operation.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2014.