Will eliminate terrorists from remotest places at all costs: Army chief

Commander UK Land Forces also calls on COAS, appreciates Pakistan's counter terrorism

RAWALPINDI: Army chief General Raheel Sharif vowed on Monday to eliminate terrorism even from the remotest pockets of the country at all costs.

"We will eliminate terrorists even from the remotest pockets at all costs," General Raheel said during a meeting with Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

"Progress in ongoing operations in Shawal and North Waziristan Agency was discussed during the meeting," an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said.

Read: Operation Zarb-e-Azb in final stages: Army chief

The statement added, "Chief of Air Staff assured full support to ongoing operation against the terrorists."

Earlier last week, the air chief led an air raid as Operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan entered a critical phase.

The air chief spearheaded a formation of fighter aircraft which took off from a forward operating base and participated in a mission where they bombed militant hideouts and their depots of explosives. According to pictures released by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Aman flew an F-16 (A).

Read: PAF chief led airstrikes against terrorist hideouts in North Waziristan

Last week, Pakistan Army  launched a ground offensive in North Waziristan Agency’s mountainous Shawal Valley, regarded as the last haven of fleeing homegrown militants and their foreign cohorts.

Since May, the military has stepped up operations in the deeply forested ravines of the Shawal Valley – which straddles North and South Waziristan agencies along the border with Afghanistan – and softened militant targets in the valley through continued airstrikes.

The deeply forested ravines of Shawal Valley and Datta Khel are popular smuggling routes between Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan, and are dotted with militant bases used as launch pads for attacks on Pakistani forces.

Read: Ground offensive begins: Army troops roll into Shawal Valley

The area is a stronghold of Khan Sajna Said, the leader of a Taliban faction whose name the United States put on a sanctions list of ‘specially designated global terrorists” last year.

Banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan used to control all of mountainous NWA, which includes the Shawal Valley and Datta Khel, and runs along the Afghan border. But Pakistan Army recaptured most of the region in a major armed operation, codenamed Zarb-e-Azb, which was launched in June 2014.

North Waziristan used to be the Pakistani Taliban’s last key stronghold until the start of the operation. Officials claim that nearly 3,000 militants have been killed since the launch of the offensive. Authorities have now vowed to intensify operations both in the border regions and across the country.

UK appreciates Pakistan’s counter terrorism efforts

Commander UK Land Forces Lieutenant General James Rupert Everard expressed his appreciation for Pakistan’s counter terrorism efforts on Monday.

During a meeting between army chief General Raheel Sharif and Lt General Everard at the General Headquarters, Rawalpindi, matters of mutual interest, including bilateral training exchanges, were discussed.

Army chief arrives in Karachi

Chief of Army Staff arrived Karachi on Monday night to visit Corps Headquarters, according to ISPR.

He is expected to address Garrison Officers in Karachi and visit the Corps Headquarters on Tuesday where he will receive a briefing on the progress in ongoing security operation.