Pakistan

Army launches ground operation in Shawal, NWA

ISPR says 28 terrorists were killed in Gharlamai area and another 15 were killed in Shawal

Web Desk/afp August 20, 2015

PHOTO: AFP/FILE

ISLAMABAD: Just hours after jets pounded targets in Shawal area of North Waziristan, the army announced that it was commencing a ground operation in the region.

According to Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Asim Bajwa, the ground operation was being carried out on direction of the army chief, adding that air and ground offensives should be coordinated.

Army chief General Raheel Sharif has directed that all military objectives should be achieved as soon as possible.

Ground Ops in Shawal,Waziristan begins.#COAS directs achievement of mil objectives asp.Commends ideal air&ground force coord for effects
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) August 20, 2015

Earlier on Thursday, air strikes killed 43 suspected militants near the Afghan border on Thursday, the military said, part of a major ongoing operation against Taliban and other insurgents.

The attacks took place in Gharlamai and Shawal areas of North Waziristan tribal region, where the army has been waging a major offensive to clear militant hideouts since June last year.

"Twenty-eight terrorists were killed in Gharlamai area and another 15 were killed in Shawal in precise aerial strikes," the military said in a statement.

Read: Airstrikes kill 25 suspected militants in North Wazirtistan

The conflict zone is remote and off-limits to journalists, making it difficult to verify the army's claims, including the number and identity of those killed.

Pakistan has been battling a homegrown Islamist insurgency for over a decade following the late 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan.

The Pakistan Army began a major campaign in North Waziristan in June last year and authorities have now vowed to intensify operations both in the border regions and across the country.

Read: Fresh air strikes kill 18 militants North Waziristan

Officials say nearly 3,000 militants have been killed since the launch of the latest offensive.

COMMENTS (11)

javaid | 9 years ago | Reply ordinary people already left and remaining are indian agents. They should go to india or be killed as pakistan will be safe without them.

Shaikh Mohommad | 9 years ago | Reply @Afeef Ajmal: Does the technology exist to read the minds of a person carrying a weapon? Is it for his self defense or for committing a crime? This mess is the result of Pakistan joining American war on terror

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Asif | 9 years ago | Reply Excellent. Whole nation is with Pakistan Army in getting rid country out of these evil elements.

Kitto | 9 years ago | Reply The final push! We are with you Pak army. Operation is needed in Punjab also. And we need come up with something to counter the narrative of this mindset. We cannot win this war against terrorism if we fail to counter their propaganda.

Afeef Ajmal | 9 years ago | Reply @Gp65 , You do realize there's no civilian population in shawal valley ? and besides if you see a person carrying a firearm in a nogo area, our army assumes he's a hostile. Either obey the rules or pay the price for abiding it.

Emad | 9 years ago | Reply Airstrikes used to soften target so that military troops can take out the targets more easily. Great strategy which has proved to be quite successful in Zarb e Azb and is no doubt a great experience builder for army generals

Gp65 | 9 years ago | Reply @Afeef Ajmal: I thought that Pakhtoons considered arms as their jewels. How does the presence of arms prove that someone is a terrorist?

Afeef Ajmal | 9 years ago | Reply You guys do realize our F16's are equipped with FLIR technology which can see enemies from miles above the ground ? Lets just say if a hostile is armed with a firearm, our F16's can spot him and take him out. Stop being in naive and do some research on technology first.

Jalal | 9 years ago | Reply More pakhtoon genocide without any accountability.

Isittrue | 9 years ago | Reply Everyday 10s of terrorists are being killed. Are there really so many terrorists in these places. At this rate they should have been wiped out by now. What is actually going on??? Journalists need to be allowed to cover these events there.

Fawad | 9 years ago | Reply I am sure all of them were militants, not a single soul was innocent. Each day by air strike people who die are all militants. No one cares about the name or people or locality... Or anything happening in that area.

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