In an interview to the BBC on Monday, DG ISPR said after the militants were out of Pakistan following the operation, attacks by the Taliban have dropped to a “minimum” in the country.
“The view that militants are rising once again is incorrect,” Bajwa clarified.
“In fact, I think they (Taliban) are not rising but after being dispersed they are attacking other areas,” he added.
“The Taliban don’t have a base anymore,” Bajwa said, adding, “Initially, they used to operate from a base where they would plot and carry out the attacks from in different parts of the country.”
Maj-Gen Bajwa added that the militants had suffered a massive defeat owing to the operation.
“Operation Zarb-e-Azb is progressing successfully,” Maj-Gen Bajwa reiterated, clarifying that a deadline cannot be given for when it will end.
Responding to a question about the success of the operation, the DG ISPR said, “The second tier of command structure of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has either been killed or arrested during the operation.”
“Mullah Fazlullah and members of his cabinet are hiding in Kunar, Afghanistan,” Bajwa alleged, adding, “They fled before the operation started.”
“We have requested the Afghan government to hand Fazlullah and TTP members to us.”
Commenting on the current political crisis where the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek continue their sit-in at D-chowk in the federal capital, Bajwa reiterated that the army is not involved in the current crisis nor do they support any one.
“The army, from the first day, has upheld that this is a political issue and should be resolved politically.”
“The army cannot side with any one party because it is the army of the country,” Bajwa said, adding, “We never extended support to any one party, nor will it do so in the future.”
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Only a Pakistan Army General can speak in this way it shows that the Army is not under the Govt but independent, any Army officer may it be Chief of Army staff can not issue such statements. The Army is there to obey the orders of PM of the country or Govt, this is not a good sign for democracy/
@Zahid We have no "Elected" Government, just a rigged one.
It may indeed be true but the fact remains that if certtian parties are ridiculing the law and no action "can" be taken against them, then someone in authority is behind it all. OR the authoriry is so weak it cannot prevent " mutiny" in the navy OR it can browbeat the police to register FIR's against PM's and not army personnel- the list is endless
The good one or the bad one.
On one side there is an elected, legitimate and constitutional government (COAS have taken oath from this government) and on other side are gangs who disrespect every institution, challenge writ of the government, beat our security forces, call for civil disobedience and our dear army elects to stay neutral.
The nation is with you Pak Army - you have started this operation too late when PML N was not allowing you to hit the terrorists and they entangled the nation into useless and time wasting talk drama. These terrorists and their sympathizers are PML N voters with Rana Sanaullah as the lynch pin.
Please don't get complacent.
The army is under the elected government not the other way around. Army has to assist government in establishing it's writ. There is no question of sides. The statement is seriously flawed showing unusual bias in favor of protesting parties. Strange.
A weakened snake is not enough. Crush the head of the serpent.
(PMLN and PTI must be feeling the pain).