‘Without discrimination’: Army brass resolves to crush all militant groups

Corps commanders discuss reports of attempts by IS to gain foothold in Pakistan, according to officials.

ISLAMABAD:

In the wake of reports that the Islamic State (IS) is allegedly setting its foot in the country, the Pakistan military has reiterated its resolve to ‘crush all militant groups without any discrimination’, security officials said.

The issue was discussed during a corps commanders’ meeting presided over by Army Chief General Raheel Sharif at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on Wednesday, the officials told The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity. The top military commanders were unanimous that there should be ‘zero tolerance’ for all forms of terrorism, they said.

The development came after recent reports suggested that IS was trying to persuade splinter groups of Teheek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to join its ranks. One such report claimed that the Balochistan government recently warned the federal government through a secret memo about the growing footprint of IS in the country.



When contacted, chief military spokesman Major-General Asim Salim Bajwa made it clear that the army would not allow any militant group, “no matter under which name it operates,” to use Pakistani soil.

“We have a clear-cut policy, no room for any form of terrorism,” Maj-Gen Bajwa told The Express Tribune.

The military’s decision is also aimed at dismissing the widely held perception in certain western countries as well as some Afghan quarters that Pakistan is still supporting militant groups as proxies to further its interests in the region.

The army’s emphatic rejection of such assertions comes ahead of a crucial visit to Pakistan by Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani. Both neighbours are pushing to build a new cooperative relationship following the change of government in Kabul.

According to the statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the corps commanders were given a detailed briefing on the overall security situation in the country with particular reference to progress of ongoing operations Zarb-e-Azb and Khyber-I. It said the participants of the meeting expressed their resolve to continue the operations till all terrorists were eliminated.

“They also vowed that terrorists will neither be allowed to regroup and return to these areas [North Waziristan and Khyber Agency], nor will they be allowed any space across the country,” the statement added.

Speaking to his commanders, General Raheel voiced complete satisfaction over the progress made and gains achieved in the ongoing offensive against militants so far.

According to the military’s media wing, he paid rich tributes to the courage shown and sacrifices rendered by troops during the ongoing operations. He also directed all concerned that ‘no stone be left unturned’ to assist displaced families during their stay outside and their return to their homes.

Security forces are currently carrying out simultaneous operations in North Waziristan and Khyber Agency to flush the militants out of those areas, which were once considered their strongholds.

More than 1,100 suspected militants have so far been killed in Operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan while 135 have been eliminated in Operation Khyber-I, according to the figures provided by ISPR.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2014.