203 militants killed in Shawal operation: Gen Raheel

Army chief says will expose faces of those who helped kill 'our people, children'

Army chief General Raheel Sharif said on Thursday 203 militants have been killed in the ongoing operation in Shawal so far.

Shawal-COAS with troops at 12Kfeet Mtn tops overlooking Shawal Valley.Multi pronged ops surrounded terrorists.203 terrorists killed so far-1

— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) August 27, 2015

The army chief who is visiting troops in the Shawal Valley said the faces of those who helped kill “our people and children” will be exposed.

COAS talking to troops busy in Shawal operations during his visit to Shawal, Wazirstan. PHOTO: ISPR

Further, the army chief “directed troops to comprehensively cleanse terrorists from their hideouts, reduce isolated terrorists to their size and sever their link with their abettors anywhere.”

Directed to comprehensively cleanse them from hide outs,reducing isolated Ts to their size,sever their link with their abettors anywhere-3

— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) August 27, 2015

According to the military spokesperson, the army chief met with the soldiers participating in the operation and commended their efforts.

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

State of troops' morale inspiring.Commended them for speed&gains of ops.Heights cleared,main features occupied.Valley being sanitised-2

— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) August 27, 2015

“We will not allow anyone to kill our people, children in the country and will expose all faces involved,” Bajwa quoted the army chief as saying in one of his tweets.

"Won't allow any one to kill our people,children in this country.will expose all faces who helped them at any stage in any way"-COAS-4

— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) August 27, 2015

Earlier today, the army chief arrived in Shawal, North Waziristan to review progress in the ongoing Operation Zarb-e-Azb against militants in the region.

Army Troops busy in operation in Shawal valley. PHOTO: ISPR

Army Troops busy in operations in Shawal valley. PHOTO: ISPR

Troops shelling in the Shawal area of Waziristan. PHOTO: ISPR

#COAS in Shawal today.Spent his day with troops participating in ops pic.twitter.com/INjKX9EE8q

— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) August 27, 2015

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.

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.

Read: Airstrikes destroy militants' training camp, ammunition dump in Shawal: ISPR

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.