Six months after the launch of Operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan Agency, a high-level civil-military huddle on Tuesday discussed several options for the repatriation of tens of thousands of displaced tribesmen and reconstruction of their areas, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who chaired the meeting, said that operation Zarb-e-Azb had inflicted a fatal blow on terrorists and Pakistan’s armed forces had given exemplary sacrifices in this operation. “Peace has been restored as a result of this operation and it’ll contribute towards ensuring peace in the entire region,” he added.
The high-level meeting was convened to discuss formulation of a comprehensive strategy for the rehabilitation of IDPs and reconstruction of the areas where Zarb-e-Azb has been ongoing since mid-June.
Attendees at the meeting included army chief General Raheel Sharif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, SAFRON Minister Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch, Advisor to PM on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, PM’s Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Abbasi. Director General Military Operations (DGMO) Maj-Gen Amir Riaz gave a detailed presentation to the meeting.
According to an official handout, the prime minister said the tribesmen displaced from North Waziristan and officially designated as internally displaced tribesmen (IDPs) had given great sacrifices for the stability of Pakistan, and the state would look after their needs by reconstructing better areas for these displaced persons when they return.
Sources, however, said that the meeting discussed several options for the rehabilitation of the Waziristan IDPs. The Pakistan Army had completed the repatriation of IDPs from Swat following a successful military operation in the district in 2009. The meeting participants appreciated the Swat model and said it should be replicated in North Waziristan.
Sources said that the meeting discussed several issues related to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of North Waziristan including a phased rehabilitation of IDPs, local and foreign funding, mobilisation of resources, construction of hospitals, housing colonies and roads, etc. The meeting said a comprehensive strategy, to be chalked out by the army, should clearly state the roles of the FATA Secretariat and K-P and federal governments.
According to sources, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar told the meeting that his ministry has so far released more than Rs26 billion for Operation Zarb-e-Azb and rehabilitation of IDPs. Sources said the government would credit funds into the defence ministry accounts and the prime minister would not issue development funds to MNAs and senators from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).
The military had launched Operation Zarb-e-Azb on June 15 and according to military’s statistics over 1,200 militants – both local and foreign – have been killed and several hideouts and weapons factories have been destroyed in the offensive. Four months later another security operation was launched in Khyber Agency to hunt down the militants who had fled North Waziristan.
Sources said that Operation Zarb-e-Azb would continue till the last terrorist was eliminated and that its scope would be expanded gradually.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 10th, 2014.
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After the visible success of Zarb-e-Azb in NWA to exterminate the terrorists challenging writ of the state, a similar Operation is needed against the Bteam of TTP that is challenging writ of the state in big cities.
Yes, the undergone military operation Zarb-Azb proves to be fatal blow to the terrorist elements in the tribal areas of the country. The Armed forces of Pakistan are much vigilant and cautious regarding the anti-Pakistan hostile elements. The transnational movements across the border areas are the big cause of militancy in the country. But Pakistani forces made best strategies to culminate the hostile groups and remain successful.
I would wonder if the Haqqani "Assets", safe and secure in their relocation camps, are rolling on the ground laughing!
The meaning of fatal blow in English means death blow. Is terrorism dead. The answer is a resounding no. Has Zarb-e-Azb inflicted a fatal blow. The answer is a big NO.