ISLAMABAD:
The former Director General (DG) of Inter-Services Public Relations
(ISPR), Major General (retd) Athar Abbas, on Monday disclosed that the
army was ready to launch a military offensive in North Waziristan three
years ago but they were unable to do so because of the-then army chief
Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani’s reluctance in this regard.
In an interview with the BBC, Athar said the military leadership gave the go-ahead signal for an operation in North Waziristan in 2010 and preparations for it were made for one year, but it was pulled back at the last minute due to Gen Kayani’s indecisiveness. “It had been decided in principle that preparations for the operation would take place between 2010 and 2011, and that it would be launched in 2011 to rid North Waziristan of extremists once and for all,” Athar said.
When asked whether the reason behind his reluctance to give the final approval for the operation was due to his own weaknesses, Abbas agreed, saying ‘yes’. “He was very reluctant when it came to the North Waziristan operation. Kayani thought the decision to launch the operation would reflect on his personality and people would take it as his personal decision, therefore, he kept delaying the operation.”
Athar further said the delay in launching the military offensive in North Waziristan complicated the situation as the militants had strengthened their positions in the area and also established contact with other militant groups.According to him, the decision to launch the operation was taken afterwards on the basis of intelligence reports and consultation with the military officials posted in the area.
In an interview with the BBC, Athar said the military leadership gave the go-ahead signal for an operation in North Waziristan in 2010 and preparations for it were made for one year, but it was pulled back at the last minute due to Gen Kayani’s indecisiveness. “It had been decided in principle that preparations for the operation would take place between 2010 and 2011, and that it would be launched in 2011 to rid North Waziristan of extremists once and for all,” Athar said.
When asked whether the reason behind his reluctance to give the final approval for the operation was due to his own weaknesses, Abbas agreed, saying ‘yes’. “He was very reluctant when it came to the North Waziristan operation. Kayani thought the decision to launch the operation would reflect on his personality and people would take it as his personal decision, therefore, he kept delaying the operation.”
Athar further said the delay in launching the military offensive in North Waziristan complicated the situation as the militants had strengthened their positions in the area and also established contact with other militant groups.According to him, the decision to launch the operation was taken afterwards on the basis of intelligence reports and consultation with the military officials posted in the area.
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