Army chief Gen Raheel Shareef shakes hands with a soldier. PHOTO: APP
Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif reaffirmed that terrorists would not be allowed to stage a comeback, saying that the ongoing battle against militants would be taken to its logical conclusion.
While visiting troops on the frontline in Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency on Wednesday, he vowed that terrorism would be eliminated from across the country at all costs in order to bring ‘ultimate peace’.
The army chief also appreciated the effort and support extended by ‘tribal brethren’ to evict terrorists from the tribal regions. He paid tributes to soldiers for their
‘supreme sacrifices’ to make the ongoing operation a success.
Gen Raheel was given detailed briefing on the progress so far achieved in Khyber Agency against terrorists, the military’s media wing, the ISPR, said in a statement. Gen Raheel termed it ‘phenomenal progress’ so far achieved in eliminating terrorists. He was informed that 263 hardcore militants were killed after being surrounded in the snowcapped mountainous region of Tirah Valley. Terrorists’ strongholds were reduced and now fight was taking place in the last few pockets close to the Afghan border, the ISPR added.
It said that the security forces were tightening the noose around the remaining terrorists and no one was being allowed to escape the operation.
According to the army’s communiqué the area was infested with IEDs (improvised explosive devices). “At least 392 IEDs were neutralised by special engineers unit.” Over 400 militants associated with banned outfits have also laid their arms and surrendered to the security forces and political administration, the handout stated. As many as 35 soldiers embraced martyrdom since the beginning of the operation in Khyber Agency.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 9th, 2015.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ