ISLAMABAD:
Bahria Town on Saturday started relief operation for people, internally
displaced due to ongoing Zarb-e-Azb operation against militants in North
Waziristan.
Three mobile health units and two trucks carrying wheat, ghee, sugar and other groceries have been sent to North Waziristan by Bahria Town.
Head
of relief operation Brigadier (R) Tahir Butt said that Bahria Town will
establish camps in Bannu for carrying relief operation.
“Initially five trucks full with aid supplies and three mobile hospitals will be sent for internally displaced persons
(IDPs). Iftari will be provided to IDPs while two times meal will be
given after Ramazan”, said Tahir Butt. He vowed that Bahria Town will
continue relief operation till the return of IDPs to their home.
Tahir
Butt said that relief activities were being started after taking no
objection certificate (NoC) from Provincial Disaster Management
Authority (PDMA).
Showing posts with label operation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label operation. Show all posts
Sunday, 13 July 2014
Tuesday, 1 July 2014
Kayani continued to postpone NWA operation: Gen Athar
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.
Ground operation begins in NWA
PESHAWAR:
Following two weeks of heavy bombing and day and night artillery
shelling, security forces came out of their heavily-guarded military
camp in Miranshah and started the ground offensive by demolishing
suspected militants hideouts on Monday.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement said 15 militants were killed in exchange of fire with the troops during house-to-house search operation in Miranshah, the headquarters of North Waziristan.
A security official in Miranshah said it was the second time during the past one week the security forces had conducted a ground operation.Pleading anonymity, he said it was a major offensive inwhich hundreds of soldiers, backed by tanks with air cover provided by helicopter gunships, took part and demolished a number of buildings that had served as sanctuaries for the local and foreign militants in the Miranshah bazaar.
“We have details of each and every place where the terrorists used to stay and make their plans,” the military official said. However, he said the troops didn’t face any significant resistance during the daylong ground operation.
“The start has been taken from Miranshah and after clearing it and adjoining villages, the ground operation would be extended to Mir Ali and other parts of North Waziristan,” he said.Though the North Waziristan tribal Jirga has been insisting that thousands of people were still stranded in various villages of North Waziristan due to a host of reasons, military officials said the ground operation was launched after the evacuation of all the civil population.
According to the ISPR, security forces recovered underground tunnels where improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were made. It said the area was cleared following a brief gunbattle with the militants that caused injuries to three soldiers.
Tribal sources in Miranshah and its adjoining villages said before the launch of the ground operation on Monday, helicopter gunships and long-range artillery heavily targetted the area where the troops later conducted house-to-house search operation.
“The army blew up several buildings and houses in Miranshah during the operation and thick smoke could be seen rising from distant places,” a tribesman told this correspondent on phone from Dossali.
Pleading anonymity, he said the people and militants had vacated Miranshah and its adjoining villages and shifted to Razmak, Shawal and Dattakhel areas in North Waziristan before the launch of the military operation. However, he said that many families had left behind some members to look after their homes and cattle head in the villages.
“Some of the people remained in their homes in the villages but they were ordered by the military to leave the area. They later came to Razmak and Dossali along with their cattle head. The residents of Razmak, Dossali and Garyoom would soon leave the area as they cannot do any business and lead normal life,” the tribesman added.
According to the ISPR, artillery, tanks and other heavy weapons were used in the action against militants.After the launch of “Zarb-e-Azb” military operation on June 15, the ISPR said 376 militants had been killed so far while 19 others surrendered to security forces. It said that 61 hideouts of terrorists were destroyed in the operation. The ISPR admitted that 17 soldiers had died fighting the militants.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement said 15 militants were killed in exchange of fire with the troops during house-to-house search operation in Miranshah, the headquarters of North Waziristan.
A security official in Miranshah said it was the second time during the past one week the security forces had conducted a ground operation.Pleading anonymity, he said it was a major offensive inwhich hundreds of soldiers, backed by tanks with air cover provided by helicopter gunships, took part and demolished a number of buildings that had served as sanctuaries for the local and foreign militants in the Miranshah bazaar.
“We have details of each and every place where the terrorists used to stay and make their plans,” the military official said. However, he said the troops didn’t face any significant resistance during the daylong ground operation.
“The start has been taken from Miranshah and after clearing it and adjoining villages, the ground operation would be extended to Mir Ali and other parts of North Waziristan,” he said.Though the North Waziristan tribal Jirga has been insisting that thousands of people were still stranded in various villages of North Waziristan due to a host of reasons, military officials said the ground operation was launched after the evacuation of all the civil population.
According to the ISPR, security forces recovered underground tunnels where improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were made. It said the area was cleared following a brief gunbattle with the militants that caused injuries to three soldiers.
Tribal sources in Miranshah and its adjoining villages said before the launch of the ground operation on Monday, helicopter gunships and long-range artillery heavily targetted the area where the troops later conducted house-to-house search operation.
“The army blew up several buildings and houses in Miranshah during the operation and thick smoke could be seen rising from distant places,” a tribesman told this correspondent on phone from Dossali.
Pleading anonymity, he said the people and militants had vacated Miranshah and its adjoining villages and shifted to Razmak, Shawal and Dattakhel areas in North Waziristan before the launch of the military operation. However, he said that many families had left behind some members to look after their homes and cattle head in the villages.
“Some of the people remained in their homes in the villages but they were ordered by the military to leave the area. They later came to Razmak and Dossali along with their cattle head. The residents of Razmak, Dossali and Garyoom would soon leave the area as they cannot do any business and lead normal life,” the tribesman added.
According to the ISPR, artillery, tanks and other heavy weapons were used in the action against militants.After the launch of “Zarb-e-Azb” military operation on June 15, the ISPR said 376 militants had been killed so far while 19 others surrendered to security forces. It said that 61 hideouts of terrorists were destroyed in the operation. The ISPR admitted that 17 soldiers had died fighting the militants.
Monday, 30 June 2014
Zarb-e-Azb: Ground operation begins in Miranshah
RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Army has started the ground operation in and around Miranshah after evacuation of the civilian population. The army has started a house to house search in Miranshah which is being carried out by infantry troops and special service group.
An ISPR press release said 15 terrorists had been killed in the ground offensive while troops have recovered underground tunnels and IED preparation factories inside. Three soldiers were injured in an exchange of fire.
Terrorist concentrations continue to be targeted by artillery fire, tanks and other heavy weapons in Mir Ali and other areas of North Waziristan.
Since the start of Zarb-e-Azb on June 15, 376 terrorists have been killed while 19 have surrendered to security forces. The Pakistan military has destroyed 61 terrorist hideouts while 17 soldiers embraced martyrdom.
Saturday, 28 June 2014
19 terrorists killed as military operation continues in NWA
RAWALPINDI: Nineteen terrorists have been killed as operation ‘Zarb-e-Azb’ launched by the Pakistan military continues in North Waziristan Agency (NWA).
According to the ISPR, PAF jet aircrafts destroyed six confirmed terrorist hideouts on the outskirts of Mir Ali killing eleven terrorists on Friday evening. Terrorist concentrations were also targeted on Saturday morning by Artillery Tanks and heavy weapons outside Miranshah killing seven terrorists.
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander of Miranshah, Umer has also been killed by security forces last night on the outskirts of Miranshah.
ISPR states that after the surrender of 19 terrorists there are reports that more terrorists are ready to lay down their arms. Meanwhile, one prominent Al-Qaeda commander has been arrested while trying to flee and initial investigations shows him as an explosive, IED and suicide belt expert. Three terrorists were arrested by security forces while trying to cross the Indus River near Mir Ali.
An effective cordon is in place around terrorist hideouts in all places in North Waziristan Agency.
The civilian population has been evacuated from North Waziristan and announcements are being made for any stranded tribals who may have stayed back for any reasons, to leave also.
Two suspects held, weapons seized in Hangu search operation
Three
machine guns, seven SGP-9 machine guns, 98 rocket shells, two rocket
launchers, 10 sophisticated machine guns, 10 detonators, explosive
materials used in improvise explosive devices (IEDs), five suicide
vests, huge quantity of explosives, six masks, hundred of handgrenades
and thousands of cartridges had been recovered from their possession, he
said. The official said timely action by the security forces had saved
the area from destruction and massacre.
Thursday, 26 June 2014
Five militants killed in operation Zarb-e-Azb
PESHAWAR:
At least five militants were killed and six hideouts were destroyed as
the Pakistan Army continued its assault in North Waziristan on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the health workers administered polio vaccine to children’s of Internally Displaced Persons from the tribal area.
Health workers have been working to administer polio drops in the far-flung areas since Wednesday.
A Ration Point has also been established on Bannu Kohat road where the IDPs were getting food items.
Meanwhile, the health workers administered polio vaccine to children’s of Internally Displaced Persons from the tribal area.
Health workers have been working to administer polio drops in the far-flung areas since Wednesday.
A Ration Point has also been established on Bannu Kohat road where the IDPs were getting food items.
Friday, 20 June 2014
US leaders assured of operation against TTP, Haqqani Group
Over the last few weeks, senior officials of the two countries addressed the issue in different meetings, where the political as well as military leadership of Pakistan assured the US officials about their decisive action against the militants.
The assurance came not just from one quarter but from almost all the stakeholders tasked with security of the country.Ambassador James Dobbins, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, told the US Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs on Wednesday: “We have been assured by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, army chief Raheel Sharif, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar and the head of the ISI Gen Zaheer.”
Dobbins went on to say that according to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Rashad Mahmood, “They [Pakistan] are going to treat all militant groups similarly and that they are going to force all foreign militants out of North Waziristan and Pakistan.”General Mahmood is visiting Washington this week, and has had numerous meeting with state and defence department officials.
Answering a question raised by Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Sen. Robert Menendez about the willingness of Pakistan to confront the Haqqani Network during the operation, Ambassador Dobbins said that there were concerns that were justified but “we will be examining this carefully, we have gotten the right assurances but there is a historical pattern of activity which indicates that there are habits here that are going to be difficult to break.”
Referring to the military action against the militants, he said: “We have made our position clear that it’s a right thing.”For years, the United States has been pushing Pakistan to root out the Haqqani Network, who allegedly were given sanctuary in the country’s tribal areas. The State Department in its latest country report on terrorism highlighted the issues once again: “Afghan Taliban and Haqqani Network leadership and facilitation network continued to find safe haven in Pakistan, and Pakistani authorities did not take significant military or law enforcement action against these groups.”
Lately, the US has also linked military aid, including the Coalition Support Fund payments to Pakistan, directly to an operation in North Waziristan. According to the terms of the National Defence Authorisation Act for the upcoming year, senior US officials had to issue a waiver certifying that “Pakistan has undertaken military operations in North Waziristan that have significantly disrupted the safe haven and freedom of movement of the Haqqani Network.”
Testifying before the committee members on US policy in Afghanistan, Ambassador Dobbins said: “It’s notable that among the targets that Pakistan is going after vigourously are the Uzbek groups.”
He also said that the civilian and military point of view was to give the TTP a chance to disarm and respect the Constitution. The US, he said, had no objection to it. The move was to appeal some of the elements of the insurgency off, Dobbins said adding, “They needed to go into the massive operation of this sort — which was going to produce a lot of refugees, a lot of cost, a lot of damage to innocent people as well as to the guilty, on the basis of a strong national consensus.”
Dobbins said that Pakistan now had a strong national consensus. He maintained that civilian and military leadership in Pakistan had had their differences but the said operation suggested that both parties were on the same page now.
“Historically, there has been a strong distinction between civilian and military leadership, and while this has not gone entirely away, the two are a lot closer and civilian authority over the military is gradually being demonstrated,” Dobbins said, adding that “the prime minister has authorised and directed this particular action, while I think military might have had a different view throughout this period they saluted and done what they have been told.”
Linking military operation to drones misleading: FO
At her weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, FO Spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said it was completely misleading and wrong to link these strikes with the ongoing operation in North Waziristan. She said that Pakistan condemned the recent incidents of US drone strikes that took place near Miramshah in North Waziristan during the early hours of Wednesday.
The spokesperson added that Pakistan regarded such strikes a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. She said these strikes also had a negative impact on the government’s efforts to bring peace and stability in Pakistan and the region.
Referring to previous statements and efforts of Pakistan on the drone issue, the spokesperson said Pakistan had agitated the issue at various international fora and presented and passed a number of resolutions against the drone strikes.
She said a resolution, sponsored by Pakistan, was also passed by the Human Rights Council on drone strikes and that Pakistan had also taken up the issue of drone strikes with the US officials at various levels to lodge its protest.
In response to another question about the military operation in North Waziristan and contact with the Afghan leadership, the spokesman said Pakistan had conveyed to the Afghan leadership that the operation was the need of the hour and aimed to purge the area from extremist and terrorist elements.
She said there was a need for better border management and parallel steps on the other side so that no terrorist could escape into Afghanistan. She said Pakistan has emphasised that there should be better management across the border this time and the Afghan government should also take adequate steps so that there could be no disturbance and interference from the Afghan side in this operation.
On the presence of Maulvi Fazlullah in Afghanistan, Tasneem Aslam said Pakistan does not allow the use of its territory against the neighbouring country and expects the same from Afghanistan.
Responding to a question about asking the Canadian government to stop Dr Tahirul Qadri from travelling to Pakistan as he is a Canadian citizen, the spokesperson said although there were international norms in this regard yet Qadri was also a Pakistani citizen and, therefore, this law was not applicable.
Commenting on the forthcoming visit of Adviser to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz to the Russian Federation, the spokesperson said he will attend a conference but he will also meet his Russian counterpart during this visit and discuss the bilateral relations and regional situation.
The spokesperson said Pak-Russian ties had been on a positive trajectory in the last few years and these relations were improving in different fields. She said Sartaj Aziz will discuss with the Russian leadership ways and means to further improve these ties, especially in trade and economic sectors.
Replying to a question on the latest situation in Iraq, the spokesperson said, “We are concerned about the escalation of violence in Iraq. Pakistan wants stable, peaceful and calm, not only in Iraq, but also in the region.”
The spokesperson said Pakistan’s envoy in Baghdad had informed that all the Pakistanis living in Iraq were safe and sound as they were living away from the disturbed areas.Replying to a question, the spokesperson said there were 281 Pakistanis in different prisons of China. She said 90 percent of these Pakistani prisoners were held on charges of drug and illegal trade activities while very few were in jails on the charge of illegal entry or stay in China.On question of any contact between Pakistan and India, the spokesperson said the two sides were in contact with each other.
Nawaz, Karzai discuss NWA operation
ISLAMABAD:
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has discussed with Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif developments on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan in
the wake of the ongoing military operation in the bordering tribal areas
of North Waziristan Agency(NWA) against the terrorists.
The Afghan president made a telephone call to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on late Thursday evening. He reportedly assured the premier of support of his administration in the military operation.
It was the second direct telephonic contact between the two leaders in about five days. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called Hamid Karzai on the day he announced the launch of the military operation and sought Afghan cooperation for the action. It has been officially stated that Thursday’s call by the Afghan president followed up after the visit of special Pakistani envoy Mehmood Khan Achakzai, chief of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) and Member National Assembly to Kabul on Tuesday where he had a detailed meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and discussed security cooperation with him.
Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary also accompanied him in the visit. Spokesperson of the Foreign Office Tasneem Aslam has confirmed that Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Member of Parliament, visited Afghanistan on 17-18th June as the special envoy of the prime minister to seek Afghanistan’s cooperation in eliminating terrorism.
Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Janan Mosazai had an important meeting with the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif at the GHQ on Wednesday. The ISPR reported that during the meeting, the ongoing operation in the North Waziristan Agency and matters of mutual interest including measures to improve the security along the Pak-Afghan border were discussed.
The Afghan president made a telephone call to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on late Thursday evening. He reportedly assured the premier of support of his administration in the military operation.
It was the second direct telephonic contact between the two leaders in about five days. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called Hamid Karzai on the day he announced the launch of the military operation and sought Afghan cooperation for the action. It has been officially stated that Thursday’s call by the Afghan president followed up after the visit of special Pakistani envoy Mehmood Khan Achakzai, chief of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) and Member National Assembly to Kabul on Tuesday where he had a detailed meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and discussed security cooperation with him.
Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary also accompanied him in the visit. Spokesperson of the Foreign Office Tasneem Aslam has confirmed that Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Member of Parliament, visited Afghanistan on 17-18th June as the special envoy of the prime minister to seek Afghanistan’s cooperation in eliminating terrorism.
Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Janan Mosazai had an important meeting with the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif at the GHQ on Wednesday. The ISPR reported that during the meeting, the ongoing operation in the North Waziristan Agency and matters of mutual interest including measures to improve the security along the Pak-Afghan border were discussed.
Monday, 16 June 2014
27 terrorists killed in North Waziristan operation: ISPR
RAWALPINDI: At least 27 terrorists were killed on Monday during operation ‘Zarb-e-Azb’ as fighter jets destroyed six terrorist hideouts in Shawal, North Waziristan Agency.
A statement released by the ISPR said there was no civilian population in the area. According to the ISPR, the operation on North Waziristan is progressing as per plan. ‘No operation in civil populated areas has been started so far.’
The ISPR says North Waziristan Agency has been isolated by deploying troops along the border with neighbouring agencies and FATA regions to block any move of terrorists in and out of the agency. ‘Troops have cordoned off all terrorist bases including Mirali and Miranshah.
Six Soldiers Martyred
Six security personnel were martyred and three injured in a IED blast targeting their vehicle in North Waziristan Agency.
According to official sources the blast took place in Ghullam Khan on Bangidar road.
Pak-Afghan Border
Security has also been heightened along the Pak-Afghan border to check terrorists fleeing from the area. Afghan National Army and Afghan Border Police have also been requested to seal the border on their side to facilitate elimination of terrorists fleeing across the border. They have also been requested to initiate immediate measures to eliminate TTP terrorists and their sanctuaries in Kunar, Nuristan and other areas of Afghanistan.
IDPs
The ISPR states that an orderly and dignified evacuation of civil population out of North Waziristan Agency is being ensured. Necessary Logistics and administrative arrangements for IDPs have been completed by Political Administration and Disaster Management Agency. Registration points and IDP camps have been established at Bannu.
Operation Aimed At Eliminating Terrorists, Sanctuaries: COAS
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif has emphasised that the operation is aimed at eliminating all terrorists and their sanctuaries and ‘get rid of the menace of terrorism.’
Pakistan Army Launches Operation
On Sunday, precise air strikes in Degan-Boya in North Waziristan killed 140 terrorists most of whom were Uzbeks.
The Pakistan army formally announced the start of a full-scale operation ‘Zarb-e-Azb’ against terrorists in North Waziristan Agency on the directives of the government.
Massive political support for military operation
ISLAMABAD:
Moments after the army launched a full-scale operation against the
Taliban militants in North Waziristan on Sunday, the political parties
seemed divided on the issue, with a majority supporting the operation.
Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah on Sunday welcomed the military operation and assured his party’s full support to the armed forces.The opposition leader said the prime minister should take parliament into confidence on the operation and make strict security arrangements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad for the safety of public and sensitive installations.
“The final victory will be of the people of Pakistan and terrorists will have to face elimination,” he said.Khursheed Shah again assure the armed forces of the rock-solid support of his party, the Pakistan People’s Party, and the people of Pakistan in their operation against the militants.
“The PPP will continue to give scarifices for the defence of the country,” he added.Agencies add: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister and head of government dialogue committee Irfan Siddiqui said talks and terrorism could not move side by side.
Talking to a private television channel, he said the military operation was decided after repeated incidents of terrorism in the country. “It was reflective of the people’s aspirations,” he said.Siddiqui said both the government and the army were sincere in the dialogue process and the process continued even during the incidents of terrorism but no result-oriented breakthrough came from the opposite side.
He said 100 or so incidents of terrorism had hit the country during the dialogue process. “One group was involved in the talks and the other indulged in terrorism. There was no command and we were forced to launch the operation. Now this is the stance of the entire nation,” Siddiqui added.
MQM chief Altaf Hussain on Sunday welcomed the launch of the military operation against the Taliban militants.“I welcome this operation and am glad that the government is supporting the armed forces,” he said while speaking to a private TV channel.
“Those who have not backed the operation must realise that it is a matter of national security. I appeal to them to come on the same page by setting aside their political compulsions,” he said.
“I fear that the Taliban will sneak into Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta after the operation. They can carry out small attacks in cities in retaliation and to divert the army’s attention from the operation,” he opined.
“I also call upon all civil agencies to be vigilant and act against suspected people. I want to tell the people of Pakistan that our enemies can take advantage of the situation. We need to set up vigilance committees to protect our cities and towns,” he said. The MQM chief urged all media channels to play the national anthem to unite the nation.
Speaking to a local news channel MQM Senator Babar Ghauri said: “This is a commendable decision by the government; we have been repeatedly telling the current government that instead of engaging the terrorists in dialogue the government should act against them.”
He said Karachi had a number of terrorists and it might suffer from a blowback; this threat should be tackled so that Karachi does not have to suffer on account of this.”
The Awami National Party (ANP) leader Zahid Khan said: “We also held a dialogue previously (during our govt) but that did not produce effective results. We wanted peace and we were okay if that came through dialogue but unfortunately that could not happen.
This time, learning from our experience, we had cautioned the government that the dialogue approach would not work. The government should have taken parliament into confidence before launching the operation but it didn’t.”Secretary Information Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) Shireen Mazari criticised the government for not taking political parties into confidence before launching the operation.
In her statement on Twitter, she said it was shameful that the prime minister had failed to take political parties into confidence.She said a central core committee meeting of the PTI would be held on Monday (today) in which an announcement of policy would be made.
The Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Sunday announced full support to the military operation against terrorists. Chairman Sahibzada Muhammad Hamid Raza of the Sunni Ittehad Council said his party extended full support to the operation against terrorists. He said it was their demand from day one that the solution to Taliban militancy lay in an operation.
“History teaches us that rebels should be crushed forever instead of holding dialogue with them. It was proved through the decision of launching the military operation that the lone voice raised against terrorists by the Sunni Ittehad Council leader Sahibzada Haji Muhammad Fazl Karim five years ago was correct.”
Majlise Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) chief Allama Nasir Abbas Jaffery welcomed the launch of a military operation against terrorists in the North Waziristan and said the decision represented national aspirations.
In a statement, he said the killers of 60,000 Pakistanis never deserved any concessions. “We not only back the announcement, but also assure our armed forces that every person shall move shoulder to shoulder with them against the anti-state elements. The entire 180 million population of Pakistan endorses the operation,” he said.
PTI MNA Dr Arif Alvi said his party had always warned that an operation of this scale will result in a large influx of refugees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which his party rules.
“The PML-N government did not tell the public and the opposition why talks had failed. We do not know about the dimensions of this operation.”JI Ameer Sirajul Haq termed the decision of an operation in North Waziristan Agency (NWA) disappointing and said the government right from the outset had made its “good intentions” manifest by letting the talks’ issue linger in the committees.
He said the national leadership and the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should have been consulted before the operation, as it would further complicate the political and national crisis in the country.
He further said that no measures by the government had been seen for protecting the local populations from the effects of the operation. “This situation can further transform into a human tragedy on a large scale,” he stated.
JI parliamentary leader and Ameer of Punjab Dr Syed Waseem Akhtar and Secretary General Nazir Ahmed Janjua said the operation will intensify the bloodshed in the country.
They said the government had made an unwise decision by opting for the military operation, as matters were heading towards improvement through the government-Taliban dialogue.
The two leaders said the government had led the country on the path of destruction by launching an operation in NWA under the patronage of the US. They noted that military operations were no solution to any problem.
The JI Punjab leaders further said that parliament and the nation had not been taken into confidence on the operation.
They said that the government should immediately halt operation in the NWA.Major General (retd) Jamshed Ayaz lauded the launch of operation. “It came slightly late. But better late than never. Pakistan has suffered a big loss – and Pakistan comes first. They have made a correct decision to launch this. The time for talks is over now.”Defence analyst Rasul Bakhsh Rais asked what the KP government had done to stop terrorists from entering their province.
Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah on Sunday welcomed the military operation and assured his party’s full support to the armed forces.The opposition leader said the prime minister should take parliament into confidence on the operation and make strict security arrangements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad for the safety of public and sensitive installations.
“The final victory will be of the people of Pakistan and terrorists will have to face elimination,” he said.Khursheed Shah again assure the armed forces of the rock-solid support of his party, the Pakistan People’s Party, and the people of Pakistan in their operation against the militants.
“The PPP will continue to give scarifices for the defence of the country,” he added.Agencies add: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister and head of government dialogue committee Irfan Siddiqui said talks and terrorism could not move side by side.
Talking to a private television channel, he said the military operation was decided after repeated incidents of terrorism in the country. “It was reflective of the people’s aspirations,” he said.Siddiqui said both the government and the army were sincere in the dialogue process and the process continued even during the incidents of terrorism but no result-oriented breakthrough came from the opposite side.
He said 100 or so incidents of terrorism had hit the country during the dialogue process. “One group was involved in the talks and the other indulged in terrorism. There was no command and we were forced to launch the operation. Now this is the stance of the entire nation,” Siddiqui added.
MQM chief Altaf Hussain on Sunday welcomed the launch of the military operation against the Taliban militants.“I welcome this operation and am glad that the government is supporting the armed forces,” he said while speaking to a private TV channel.
“Those who have not backed the operation must realise that it is a matter of national security. I appeal to them to come on the same page by setting aside their political compulsions,” he said.
“I fear that the Taliban will sneak into Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta after the operation. They can carry out small attacks in cities in retaliation and to divert the army’s attention from the operation,” he opined.
“I also call upon all civil agencies to be vigilant and act against suspected people. I want to tell the people of Pakistan that our enemies can take advantage of the situation. We need to set up vigilance committees to protect our cities and towns,” he said. The MQM chief urged all media channels to play the national anthem to unite the nation.
Speaking to a local news channel MQM Senator Babar Ghauri said: “This is a commendable decision by the government; we have been repeatedly telling the current government that instead of engaging the terrorists in dialogue the government should act against them.”
He said Karachi had a number of terrorists and it might suffer from a blowback; this threat should be tackled so that Karachi does not have to suffer on account of this.”
The Awami National Party (ANP) leader Zahid Khan said: “We also held a dialogue previously (during our govt) but that did not produce effective results. We wanted peace and we were okay if that came through dialogue but unfortunately that could not happen.
This time, learning from our experience, we had cautioned the government that the dialogue approach would not work. The government should have taken parliament into confidence before launching the operation but it didn’t.”Secretary Information Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) Shireen Mazari criticised the government for not taking political parties into confidence before launching the operation.
In her statement on Twitter, she said it was shameful that the prime minister had failed to take political parties into confidence.She said a central core committee meeting of the PTI would be held on Monday (today) in which an announcement of policy would be made.
The Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Sunday announced full support to the military operation against terrorists. Chairman Sahibzada Muhammad Hamid Raza of the Sunni Ittehad Council said his party extended full support to the operation against terrorists. He said it was their demand from day one that the solution to Taliban militancy lay in an operation.
“History teaches us that rebels should be crushed forever instead of holding dialogue with them. It was proved through the decision of launching the military operation that the lone voice raised against terrorists by the Sunni Ittehad Council leader Sahibzada Haji Muhammad Fazl Karim five years ago was correct.”
Majlise Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) chief Allama Nasir Abbas Jaffery welcomed the launch of a military operation against terrorists in the North Waziristan and said the decision represented national aspirations.
In a statement, he said the killers of 60,000 Pakistanis never deserved any concessions. “We not only back the announcement, but also assure our armed forces that every person shall move shoulder to shoulder with them against the anti-state elements. The entire 180 million population of Pakistan endorses the operation,” he said.
PTI MNA Dr Arif Alvi said his party had always warned that an operation of this scale will result in a large influx of refugees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which his party rules.
“The PML-N government did not tell the public and the opposition why talks had failed. We do not know about the dimensions of this operation.”JI Ameer Sirajul Haq termed the decision of an operation in North Waziristan Agency (NWA) disappointing and said the government right from the outset had made its “good intentions” manifest by letting the talks’ issue linger in the committees.
He said the national leadership and the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should have been consulted before the operation, as it would further complicate the political and national crisis in the country.
He further said that no measures by the government had been seen for protecting the local populations from the effects of the operation. “This situation can further transform into a human tragedy on a large scale,” he stated.
JI parliamentary leader and Ameer of Punjab Dr Syed Waseem Akhtar and Secretary General Nazir Ahmed Janjua said the operation will intensify the bloodshed in the country.
They said the government had made an unwise decision by opting for the military operation, as matters were heading towards improvement through the government-Taliban dialogue.
The two leaders said the government had led the country on the path of destruction by launching an operation in NWA under the patronage of the US. They noted that military operations were no solution to any problem.
The JI Punjab leaders further said that parliament and the nation had not been taken into confidence on the operation.
They said that the government should immediately halt operation in the NWA.Major General (retd) Jamshed Ayaz lauded the launch of operation. “It came slightly late. But better late than never. Pakistan has suffered a big loss – and Pakistan comes first. They have made a correct decision to launch this. The time for talks is over now.”Defence analyst Rasul Bakhsh Rais asked what the KP government had done to stop terrorists from entering their province.
Operation to continue till end of last terrorist: PM
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed officials to continue the
operation till the end of the last terrorist and the establishment of
complete peace in the tribal region of the country.
According to information, the prime minister approved the launching of the operation during the national security meeting held last week. A private TV channel quoted the prime minister as saying that the operation should continue till the end of the last terrorist and establishment of complete peace in the territory.
Nawaz Sharif said that the security of life and property of the citizens was the top priority and all resources should be utilised to flush out terrorism from the country.Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that the government had made full-fledged efforts for dialogue with full responsibility and now the operation will continue till the elimination of the last terrorist.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said a decisive battle would be fought against the terrorists.In a statement, the minister said the launch of a full-scale military operation, Zarb-e-Azb, against terrorists in North Waziristan was a well-thought-out decision of the government.
Khawaja Asif said the decision was taken after the failure of peace negotiations with the Taliban militants. He said it was a decision of the entire nation as the people of Pakistan had unanimously decided that terrorists should be neutralised once and for all.
“The whole nation is standing by the armed forces, which are fully capable of annihilating these elements,” the minister said.He said the Pakistan Army has been directed to crush the terrorists completely and the armed forces will not refrain from any sacrifice for the defence and security of the country.
Khawaja Asif said, “This time the operation will continue until its logical conclusion.”Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervaiz Rashid on Sunday appealed to all politicians and the nation to stand united behind the government and the armed forces in the war against terror.
In his statement after the launch of the military operation in North Waziristan to flush out the terrorists, the minister said that as a democratic government they have exercised the option of dialogue with the terrorists but contrary to the peace overtures the terrorists continued killing our people. But now either they will have to surrender or face defeat, he added.
The federal minister stressed upon the nation to stand united behind the men and women in uniforms. The Pakistani nation has decided that those who want to disrupt their lives will be taken to task, he added. The federal minister said this terror network will now meet its fate with the ultimate might of the state, adding they know that people of Pakistan are peace loving and will defend their way of life.
According to information, the prime minister approved the launching of the operation during the national security meeting held last week. A private TV channel quoted the prime minister as saying that the operation should continue till the end of the last terrorist and establishment of complete peace in the territory.
Nawaz Sharif said that the security of life and property of the citizens was the top priority and all resources should be utilised to flush out terrorism from the country.Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that the government had made full-fledged efforts for dialogue with full responsibility and now the operation will continue till the elimination of the last terrorist.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said a decisive battle would be fought against the terrorists.In a statement, the minister said the launch of a full-scale military operation, Zarb-e-Azb, against terrorists in North Waziristan was a well-thought-out decision of the government.
Khawaja Asif said the decision was taken after the failure of peace negotiations with the Taliban militants. He said it was a decision of the entire nation as the people of Pakistan had unanimously decided that terrorists should be neutralised once and for all.
“The whole nation is standing by the armed forces, which are fully capable of annihilating these elements,” the minister said.He said the Pakistan Army has been directed to crush the terrorists completely and the armed forces will not refrain from any sacrifice for the defence and security of the country.
Khawaja Asif said, “This time the operation will continue until its logical conclusion.”Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervaiz Rashid on Sunday appealed to all politicians and the nation to stand united behind the government and the armed forces in the war against terror.
In his statement after the launch of the military operation in North Waziristan to flush out the terrorists, the minister said that as a democratic government they have exercised the option of dialogue with the terrorists but contrary to the peace overtures the terrorists continued killing our people. But now either they will have to surrender or face defeat, he added.
The federal minister stressed upon the nation to stand united behind the men and women in uniforms. The Pakistani nation has decided that those who want to disrupt their lives will be taken to task, he added. The federal minister said this terror network will now meet its fate with the ultimate might of the state, adding they know that people of Pakistan are peace loving and will defend their way of life.
Ground operation launched in NWA
PESHAWAR:
The government finally launched a full-scale ground operation in North
Waziristan Agency (NWA) after fighter jets pounded suspected militant
hideouts, killing 80 militants, including foreigners.
According to ISPR, the military operation Zarb-e-Azb was launched against local and foreign terrorists.According to the military authorities, it was named after the prominent sword prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had used in two famous, wars, the Jang-e-Badr and Jang-e-Uhad, against the enemies of Islam.“It would be a comprehensive operation against the terrorists who had established sanctuaries in North Waziristan,” a military official said requesting not to be named.
Some media reports quoting security sources suggested that Uzbek commander and the mastermind of the Karachi airport attack Abu Rehman was also among the extremists killed in the air strikes.
The ISPR said a ground operation has been launched in NWA on the directives of the government. The security forces have besieged Miranshah and Mir Ali, the two main towns of North Waziristan. However, according to ISPR, civilians have been allowed to leave the area and surrender points have been established at various spots for the militants who are willing to surrender. The ISPR said the displaced people will be provided transport and shelter.
The ISPR said the operation has been launched against the local and foreign militants who were using North Waziristan for terror activities. Afghan forces have been asked to seal the border to stop the fleeing militants, and aerial surveillance has also been conducted in the area. The local tribespeople will be informed about further steps through announcements.
According to ISPR, the army has been given the task of eliminating the terrorists. It said the process of identifying terrorists’ sanctuaries has been completed.Though the government and military authorities made a formal announcement about the launching of the military operation on Sunday evening, the offensive had already began as Pakistan Air Force fighter jets had bombed Deegan village of Boya tehsil, 25 kilometers west of North Waziristan’s headquarters Miranshah, early in the day.
Military authorities claimed that the fighter jets had hit the sanctuaries of the militants and killed 80 militants, including foreign fighters.The ISPR statement said those killed included Uzbek militants.
A military official, who pleaded anonymity, claimed that a senior leader of the Uzbek militants, Abu Abdur Rahman Al Mani, was killed in the Sunday air strikes in Deegan village. This claim could not be verified through independent sources.
He said air strikes by Pakistani fighter jets were carried out on what he called ‘accurate’ intelligence information about the presence of local and foreign militants. Fearing a military operation in the tribal region against the local and foreign militants, a majority of the residents of North Waziristan had already left their homes and villages for safer places and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The government did not make any arrangements for the displaced tribespeople upon their arrival at the settled areas of the province and most of the people are living and staying with their relatives, friends and acquaintances or in rented houses. In Mir Ali, 95 percent of the residents have fled the area while 70 percent of the people of Miranshah have vacated their houses and villages.
However, the residents of Deegan village and other places in Dattakhel subdivision, which is the hometown of the Taliban chief Hafiz Gul Bahadur, were still waiting for the situation to improve.
Though the people had long feared that the government was preparing for a military operation, the formal announcement on Sunday by the government sent a wave of terror and concern among the tribespeople remaining in the trouble tribal region.
The Taliban headed by Hafiz Gul Bahadur had signed a peace accord with the government in 2006-07 in which both sides had promised that they would not attack each other.After the attack on the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, which another group of the Pakistani Taliban, headed by Maulana Fazlullah and Uzbek militants had claimed, the Pakistan government had asked the North Waziristan Taliban leader to expel those who came from other areas using the tribal region in the Pakistani state within two weeks or face military action.
A jirga was supposed to hold meetings with the North Waziristan Taliban shura or council to ask them to expel non-local militants from the tribal region and then inform the government and military authorities about the progress of their efforts.
The deadline had not expired yet and the elders of the tribal jirga were still negotiating between the government and militants when the jets started bombing the area.One of the jirga members told this correspondent that the government had sent them to Waziristan for a meeting with the Taliban but imposed curfew in the entire tribal region and it was not possible for them to move and meet the Taliban shura.
“We knew they would make an excuse and would start an operation but it’s not a fair game as they had given us a two-week deadline till June 20. Even the Taliban had extended their deadline till June 20 regarding the scrapping of their peace accord with the government. The government launched the offensive and thus violated the accord,” he said.
He said the Taliban had convened an emergency meeting of the shura and would soon chalk out their future strategy. He said the Taliban had denied reports about the loss of foreign militants and alleged those killed were local residents.
Meanwhile, tribal sources said the senior leadership of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had secretly left North Waziristan and shifted to Tirah valley in Khyber Agency and Shahbaz valley lying between North and South Waziristan.
The TTP leadership had earlier announced that they would fight shoulder-to-shoulder with Hafiz Gul Bahadur and his fighters against the government. He said all the political parties have thrown their weight behind the Pakistan Army in the operation against terrorists.The minister said a major military operation was the need of the hour but stopped short of giving details of the operation, saying the details cannot be made public at this stage.
According to ISPR, the military operation Zarb-e-Azb was launched against local and foreign terrorists.According to the military authorities, it was named after the prominent sword prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had used in two famous, wars, the Jang-e-Badr and Jang-e-Uhad, against the enemies of Islam.“It would be a comprehensive operation against the terrorists who had established sanctuaries in North Waziristan,” a military official said requesting not to be named.
Some media reports quoting security sources suggested that Uzbek commander and the mastermind of the Karachi airport attack Abu Rehman was also among the extremists killed in the air strikes.
The ISPR said a ground operation has been launched in NWA on the directives of the government. The security forces have besieged Miranshah and Mir Ali, the two main towns of North Waziristan. However, according to ISPR, civilians have been allowed to leave the area and surrender points have been established at various spots for the militants who are willing to surrender. The ISPR said the displaced people will be provided transport and shelter.
The ISPR said the operation has been launched against the local and foreign militants who were using North Waziristan for terror activities. Afghan forces have been asked to seal the border to stop the fleeing militants, and aerial surveillance has also been conducted in the area. The local tribespeople will be informed about further steps through announcements.
According to ISPR, the army has been given the task of eliminating the terrorists. It said the process of identifying terrorists’ sanctuaries has been completed.Though the government and military authorities made a formal announcement about the launching of the military operation on Sunday evening, the offensive had already began as Pakistan Air Force fighter jets had bombed Deegan village of Boya tehsil, 25 kilometers west of North Waziristan’s headquarters Miranshah, early in the day.
Military authorities claimed that the fighter jets had hit the sanctuaries of the militants and killed 80 militants, including foreign fighters.The ISPR statement said those killed included Uzbek militants.
A military official, who pleaded anonymity, claimed that a senior leader of the Uzbek militants, Abu Abdur Rahman Al Mani, was killed in the Sunday air strikes in Deegan village. This claim could not be verified through independent sources.
He said air strikes by Pakistani fighter jets were carried out on what he called ‘accurate’ intelligence information about the presence of local and foreign militants. Fearing a military operation in the tribal region against the local and foreign militants, a majority of the residents of North Waziristan had already left their homes and villages for safer places and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The government did not make any arrangements for the displaced tribespeople upon their arrival at the settled areas of the province and most of the people are living and staying with their relatives, friends and acquaintances or in rented houses. In Mir Ali, 95 percent of the residents have fled the area while 70 percent of the people of Miranshah have vacated their houses and villages.
However, the residents of Deegan village and other places in Dattakhel subdivision, which is the hometown of the Taliban chief Hafiz Gul Bahadur, were still waiting for the situation to improve.
Though the people had long feared that the government was preparing for a military operation, the formal announcement on Sunday by the government sent a wave of terror and concern among the tribespeople remaining in the trouble tribal region.
The Taliban headed by Hafiz Gul Bahadur had signed a peace accord with the government in 2006-07 in which both sides had promised that they would not attack each other.After the attack on the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, which another group of the Pakistani Taliban, headed by Maulana Fazlullah and Uzbek militants had claimed, the Pakistan government had asked the North Waziristan Taliban leader to expel those who came from other areas using the tribal region in the Pakistani state within two weeks or face military action.
A jirga was supposed to hold meetings with the North Waziristan Taliban shura or council to ask them to expel non-local militants from the tribal region and then inform the government and military authorities about the progress of their efforts.
The deadline had not expired yet and the elders of the tribal jirga were still negotiating between the government and militants when the jets started bombing the area.One of the jirga members told this correspondent that the government had sent them to Waziristan for a meeting with the Taliban but imposed curfew in the entire tribal region and it was not possible for them to move and meet the Taliban shura.
“We knew they would make an excuse and would start an operation but it’s not a fair game as they had given us a two-week deadline till June 20. Even the Taliban had extended their deadline till June 20 regarding the scrapping of their peace accord with the government. The government launched the offensive and thus violated the accord,” he said.
He said the Taliban had convened an emergency meeting of the shura and would soon chalk out their future strategy. He said the Taliban had denied reports about the loss of foreign militants and alleged those killed were local residents.
Meanwhile, tribal sources said the senior leadership of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had secretly left North Waziristan and shifted to Tirah valley in Khyber Agency and Shahbaz valley lying between North and South Waziristan.
The TTP leadership had earlier announced that they would fight shoulder-to-shoulder with Hafiz Gul Bahadur and his fighters against the government. He said all the political parties have thrown their weight behind the Pakistan Army in the operation against terrorists.The minister said a major military operation was the need of the hour but stopped short of giving details of the operation, saying the details cannot be made public at this stage.
Sunday, 15 June 2014
Karachi forces in an operation arrest Uzbeks, Tajiks in dozens
KARACHI:
Police and sensitive organisations launched an operation in different
parts of the city and arrested over two dozen foreigners of Uzbek and
Tajik descent, Geo News reported Sunday morning.
Sources said that following the attack on the Karachi airport, police and sensitive organisations went on a crackdown in different parts of the city and hauled up over two dozen foreigners who had no valid documents for their stay in the country.
All the arrested foreigners have been shifted to an unknown location for further investigation.
Sources said that following the attack on the Karachi airport, police and sensitive organisations went on a crackdown in different parts of the city and hauled up over two dozen foreigners who had no valid documents for their stay in the country.
All the arrested foreigners have been shifted to an unknown location for further investigation.
Karachi forces in an operation arrest Uzbeks, Tajiks in dozens
KARACHI:
Police and sensitive organisations launched an operation in different
parts of the city and arrested over two dozen foreigners of Uzbek and
Tajik descent, Geo News reported Sunday morning.
Sources said that following the attack on the Karachi airport, police and sensitive organisations went on a crackdown in different parts of the city and hauled up over two dozen foreigners who had no valid documents for their stay in the country.
All the arrested foreigners have been shifted to an unknown location for further investigation.
Sources said that following the attack on the Karachi airport, police and sensitive organisations went on a crackdown in different parts of the city and hauled up over two dozen foreigners who had no valid documents for their stay in the country.
All the arrested foreigners have been shifted to an unknown location for further investigation.
Friday, 13 June 2014
Operation in North Waziristan decided: Fazl
He expressed dismay that all his efforts for bringing peace in the country had gone down the drain. He said that he had been extremely disappointed with the situation in the country.“We are disappointed politically during the present government’s tenure. The prospects for positive political changes are there in the coming days. But in the present political scenario, I have been extremely disappointed with the future of the country,” he said while talking to media men outside the Parliament House here on Thursday.
The government had launched the talks process for elimination of terrorism, he said adding the JUI-F had joined hands with the government to make the future of the country bright. But different committees and Jirgas were formed, which dealt a serious blow to the talks process, he underlined.
The peace talks proved a mere stunt, he remarked. The establishment had decided to launch an operation against the terrorists in Waziristan, he added. The government was enacting the drama of talks, he remarked.
“The JUI-F will not go to the prime minister on the issue of law and order situation in the country,” he said and added, “The PM can come to us if he so desires and we will extend full cooperation to him.”
Responding to a question, he said his party had nothing to do with the issue of Pervez Musharraf, whether he should leave or stay in the country. “The ball is in the court of the government,” he said.
He stated that Tahirul Qadri had already seen his political future in Pakistan. He was a citizen of Pakistan and it made no difference if he came to Pakistan or otherwise. Participating in national politics was his right and he should not be stopped, he remarked.
Thursday, 12 June 2014
Blowback of operation worrying govt, military
During a series of interactions between them on the issue of terrorism and militancy, the most serious concern of the civilian leadership has been how we would be able to protect the life and property of people with the available resources, skills and capacity of the law enforcing and security agencies.
With the country’s counterterrorism capacity having been badly exposed many times in the recent years, the Karachi airport attack being the latest example, the policy of dialogue has been pursued. It is said that despite clear warnings and repeated intelligence reports, if the incidents like the Karachi airport attack and DI Khan jailbreak could not be averted, how the people could face the full-scale blowback of militants if the all-out military operation is launched in North Waziristan.
Since the menace of militancy and extremism is scattered all over, it is believed even if the military operation in the NWA becomes 100 percent successful, it would not mean elimination of terrorism and militancy in the country. During the recent years, several military operations were launched in areas like Swat and in most of the tribal agencies following which the militant activities in those particular areas were also checked to a great extent but terrorist activities never stopped. Such activities instead gathered more pace and severity.
According to the Interior Ministry documents, there are 60 proscribed organisations, including hardened terrorist outfits operating in Pakistan. In many cases, they are interlinked and spread all over the country. Thinking as if everyone is in North Waziristan is nothing but self-deception.
Then there are problems of IDPs, the “good Taliban” who have a peace agreement with the military authorities and the possible immigration of greater number of tribal people to Afghanistan where the Afghan intelligence agency with the support of RAW is doing everything possible to fuel terrorism in Pakistan.
As against the policy of dialogue, which the facts prove, brought a considerable size of relief during the recent months in the otherwise terrorism-stricken country, the fallout of a full-fledged military operation in North Waziristan would be too serious and too vast.
In view of the complexities involved in this issue, owing to the disappointing level of State’s capacity to counter terrorism and because of serious damage to life, property, business and economy of the country, each and every APC held during the recent years called for dialogue with the Taliban.
The APC convened by the present government also decided in unison to initiate the dialogue process. However, the kind of support the civilian government wanted from political parties and other key players to seriously pursue the peace process was not available.
The government in its dialogue policy had opened doors for negotiations with all the anti-state and non-state groups within the limits of the Constitution and without compromising the primary interests of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the State.
Despite certain hiccups and challenges, the dialogue process brought a unilateral ceasefire from the TTP and for the first time since 9/11, a comprehensive government-TTP dialogue process started. The peace talks also led to divisions and infighting within the TTP as some influential Taliban groups were clearly inclined to enter into a peace deal with the government.
During the talks process, there were fewer incidents of terrorism like the one in the federal courts area while numerous attacks were carried out against the security personnel. Generally, the TTP distanced itself from such attacks whereas in the recent Islamabad Sabzi Mandi terrorist attack case, the TTP condemned it and termed it un-Islamic.
While the talks process got suspended because of the Taliban infighting, there were also incidents of terrorism and retaliatory strikes by the armed forces, which further created complications and led to the latest terrorist attack in Karachi.
The government is now under tremendous pressure to call off the dialogue process and go for a full-fledged military operation in North Waziristan. The civil-military leadership met on Tuesday and is expected to meet again soon to evolve a strategy. In the present situation, the best option could be the third option where the dialogue process would continue to woo those who are interested in peace whereas others could be targeted by surgical strikes. In the meantime, the government would have to work day and night to improve its counterterrorism capacity.
Tuesday, 10 June 2014
Operation to clear Karachi airport ends
KARACHI:
Flight operations at Karachi’s international airport resumed after 16
hours on Monday afternoon after all 10 terrorists were killed in a joint
operation by the security forces while the authorities confirmed the
martyrdom of 19 persons, including 10 security personnel, and injuries
to around 26 others.
However, seven employees of a private cargo service at the Karachi airport were still trapped inside a cold storage on Monday night. According to an ISPR statement, the army has launched an operation to rescue them.
According to the Jinnah Hospital administration, the martyred included ASF personnel Tariq Mehmood 32, Abdul Maalik 30, Muhammad Sarwar 45, Muhammad Hayat 40, Muhammad Azam 35, Muhammad Iqbal 35, Hafeez 32, Irfan 25, Ghulam Murtaza 30, Tanveer Anwar Khan 40, Islam-ud-Din 32, personnel of Pakistan Rangers Sindh Dil Murad Ali 35, PIA employees Muntazir 45, Fakhrul Hassan 30, Muzaffaral Hassan 30, Fazal Mehmood Zuberi 52, Syed Muhammad Ilyas 50, employee of Shaheen Airline Abdul Khaleeq Siddiqui 65. One of the deceased had not yet been identified.
The injured include ASF personnel Asad 22, Rajab Ali 40, Pervez 45, Faheem 26, Naseer Ahmed 35, Abid Hussain 35, Munawar Khan 35, Hafeez 35, Yousuf 45, Sikandar 35, Shabab Hussain 32, Muhammad Qasim 50, Muhammad Jamal 26, Ghulam Mustafa Shah 29, Rana Muhammad Afzal 22, Akhtar Hussain 45, PIA employees Ahmed Sheikh 45, Khawaja Muhammad Hassan 59, Special Security Unit (SSU) policeman Nisar Ahmed 28, police constables Naveed and Liaquat Ali 30, Pakistan Rangers Sindh personnel Zawar Ahmed 28, Ikramullah, Muhammad Imran 27, Muhammad Aqil and Faizullah.
The operation clean-up at the airport, headed by Corps Commander Karachi Lt. Gen. Sajjad Ghani, DG Rangers Rizwan Akhtar and IGP Sindh Iqbal Mehmood, started at 11:45 pm on Sunday night and ended at 4:30am after 10 heavily armed terrorists donning suicide vests and carrying Kalashnikovs, rocket-propelled grenades and hand grenades entered the airport and held hundreds of PIA and CAA personnel hostage at gunpoint.
Army contingents, including Special Services Group (SSG) commandos, also assisted the police and Rangers in the battle, officials said.DG Rangers Sindh Major General Rizwan Akhtar on Monday morning announced the completion of the operation, saying all 10 heavily armed militants had been killed.
Talking to newsmen, he said the terrorists killed in the operation appeared to be Uzbeks, but DNA tests would ascertain their identity.He said no aircraft was either destroyed or damaged in the attack. He said fire erupted at some places when the terrorists used hand grenades and other inflammable material.
DIG East Karachi Police Munir Shaikh said terrorists attacked the airport at 11:10pm with plans to take hostages and keep control of the airport for a long period but security forces immediately launched a counter attack and completed the operation in five to six hours by killing all the terrorists.
“The police and Rangers along with the ASF launched the airport was handed over to the CAA on Monday for flight operations,” DIG East Munir Shaikh told The News.He said terrorists entered the airport premises in two groups and took positions at Ispahani Hanger and International Cargo terminal.
“Terrorists didn’t appear to be Pakistanis and their features show they are citizens of some Central Asian country. They were carrying several AK-47 assault rifles, RPGs, rifle-grenades, hand-grenades and home-made bombs. Their backpacks also carried dates, water and militant literature,” he informed.
He said militants were also wearing suicide vests and some of them blew themselves up when they were encircled and besieged by the security personnel, causing some casualties and injuries to police and the Rangers.
He said terrorists had held at least 300 staff members of PIA and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) as well as the staff of some other airlines hostage and after locking them in some rooms deployed some of their members as guard to prevent them from escaping.
“When the police, Rangers and ASF reached there to confront the terrorists, terrorists guarding the hostages joined the battle and were either killed or they blew themselves up during the fight,” DIG East added.
He said DG Rangers and IGP Sindh Iqbal Mehmood were jointly commanding the operation on the ground while he (DIG East), SSP East Pir Muhammad Shah and SSP Malir Rao Anwar as well as several SPs, DSPs and Jawans took part in the operation.
DIG East said one of the police personal, who was the gunman of SSP East Pir Muhammad Shah, embraced martyrdom and two others including SSP East were injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up near their APC at the airport during the clean-up operation.
Bodies of 10 terrorists, including one in pieces, were brought to JPMC mortuary, MLO Dr. Rohina said, adding that post-mortem examination of the bodies was yet to be performed.Meanwhile, PIA flights from Jinnah International Airport resumed at 1600 hours on Monday, a PIA spokesman said.
Around 20 flights were disturbed due to the terrorist attack. One domestic flight was diverted to Nawab Shah while three flights coming from abroad were diverted to Lahore. The passengers of the diverted flights were well looked after at Nawab Shah and Lahore.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Aviation Shujaat Azeem said Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had commended the bravery of security forces for containing and eliminating terrorists attack.
Shujaat personally supervised the resumption of flight operations at Jinnah International Airport and visited all areas of Karachi airport along with DG CAA, Air Marshal (R) Muhammad Yousaf and DG ASF Brigadier Muhammad Azam Tiwana.
Security has been increased to the highest level at all airports.In a condolence message, Shujaat Azeem expressed his deep sorrow and grief over the killing of PIA engineers during the terrorist attack.
“The entire PIA family is deeply saddened at the loss of four employees of PIA Engineering — Fakhir Laghari, S.M Ilyas, Tanveer A Khan and Fazal Zuberi. May Allah Grant them eternal peace and strength to the family members of the departed souls”.
“Our prayers go out for the speedy recovery of all injured. We are grateful for the patience and discipline shown by the passengers present at the airport which helped in the success of the operation”, he said.
However, seven employees of a private cargo service at the Karachi airport were still trapped inside a cold storage on Monday night. According to an ISPR statement, the army has launched an operation to rescue them.
According to the Jinnah Hospital administration, the martyred included ASF personnel Tariq Mehmood 32, Abdul Maalik 30, Muhammad Sarwar 45, Muhammad Hayat 40, Muhammad Azam 35, Muhammad Iqbal 35, Hafeez 32, Irfan 25, Ghulam Murtaza 30, Tanveer Anwar Khan 40, Islam-ud-Din 32, personnel of Pakistan Rangers Sindh Dil Murad Ali 35, PIA employees Muntazir 45, Fakhrul Hassan 30, Muzaffaral Hassan 30, Fazal Mehmood Zuberi 52, Syed Muhammad Ilyas 50, employee of Shaheen Airline Abdul Khaleeq Siddiqui 65. One of the deceased had not yet been identified.
The injured include ASF personnel Asad 22, Rajab Ali 40, Pervez 45, Faheem 26, Naseer Ahmed 35, Abid Hussain 35, Munawar Khan 35, Hafeez 35, Yousuf 45, Sikandar 35, Shabab Hussain 32, Muhammad Qasim 50, Muhammad Jamal 26, Ghulam Mustafa Shah 29, Rana Muhammad Afzal 22, Akhtar Hussain 45, PIA employees Ahmed Sheikh 45, Khawaja Muhammad Hassan 59, Special Security Unit (SSU) policeman Nisar Ahmed 28, police constables Naveed and Liaquat Ali 30, Pakistan Rangers Sindh personnel Zawar Ahmed 28, Ikramullah, Muhammad Imran 27, Muhammad Aqil and Faizullah.
The operation clean-up at the airport, headed by Corps Commander Karachi Lt. Gen. Sajjad Ghani, DG Rangers Rizwan Akhtar and IGP Sindh Iqbal Mehmood, started at 11:45 pm on Sunday night and ended at 4:30am after 10 heavily armed terrorists donning suicide vests and carrying Kalashnikovs, rocket-propelled grenades and hand grenades entered the airport and held hundreds of PIA and CAA personnel hostage at gunpoint.
Army contingents, including Special Services Group (SSG) commandos, also assisted the police and Rangers in the battle, officials said.DG Rangers Sindh Major General Rizwan Akhtar on Monday morning announced the completion of the operation, saying all 10 heavily armed militants had been killed.
Talking to newsmen, he said the terrorists killed in the operation appeared to be Uzbeks, but DNA tests would ascertain their identity.He said no aircraft was either destroyed or damaged in the attack. He said fire erupted at some places when the terrorists used hand grenades and other inflammable material.
DIG East Karachi Police Munir Shaikh said terrorists attacked the airport at 11:10pm with plans to take hostages and keep control of the airport for a long period but security forces immediately launched a counter attack and completed the operation in five to six hours by killing all the terrorists.
“The police and Rangers along with the ASF launched the airport was handed over to the CAA on Monday for flight operations,” DIG East Munir Shaikh told The News.He said terrorists entered the airport premises in two groups and took positions at Ispahani Hanger and International Cargo terminal.
“Terrorists didn’t appear to be Pakistanis and their features show they are citizens of some Central Asian country. They were carrying several AK-47 assault rifles, RPGs, rifle-grenades, hand-grenades and home-made bombs. Their backpacks also carried dates, water and militant literature,” he informed.
He said militants were also wearing suicide vests and some of them blew themselves up when they were encircled and besieged by the security personnel, causing some casualties and injuries to police and the Rangers.
He said terrorists had held at least 300 staff members of PIA and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) as well as the staff of some other airlines hostage and after locking them in some rooms deployed some of their members as guard to prevent them from escaping.
“When the police, Rangers and ASF reached there to confront the terrorists, terrorists guarding the hostages joined the battle and were either killed or they blew themselves up during the fight,” DIG East added.
He said DG Rangers and IGP Sindh Iqbal Mehmood were jointly commanding the operation on the ground while he (DIG East), SSP East Pir Muhammad Shah and SSP Malir Rao Anwar as well as several SPs, DSPs and Jawans took part in the operation.
DIG East said one of the police personal, who was the gunman of SSP East Pir Muhammad Shah, embraced martyrdom and two others including SSP East were injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up near their APC at the airport during the clean-up operation.
Bodies of 10 terrorists, including one in pieces, were brought to JPMC mortuary, MLO Dr. Rohina said, adding that post-mortem examination of the bodies was yet to be performed.Meanwhile, PIA flights from Jinnah International Airport resumed at 1600 hours on Monday, a PIA spokesman said.
Around 20 flights were disturbed due to the terrorist attack. One domestic flight was diverted to Nawab Shah while three flights coming from abroad were diverted to Lahore. The passengers of the diverted flights were well looked after at Nawab Shah and Lahore.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Aviation Shujaat Azeem said Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had commended the bravery of security forces for containing and eliminating terrorists attack.
Shujaat personally supervised the resumption of flight operations at Jinnah International Airport and visited all areas of Karachi airport along with DG CAA, Air Marshal (R) Muhammad Yousaf and DG ASF Brigadier Muhammad Azam Tiwana.
Security has been increased to the highest level at all airports.In a condolence message, Shujaat Azeem expressed his deep sorrow and grief over the killing of PIA engineers during the terrorist attack.
“The entire PIA family is deeply saddened at the loss of four employees of PIA Engineering — Fakhir Laghari, S.M Ilyas, Tanveer A Khan and Fazal Zuberi. May Allah Grant them eternal peace and strength to the family members of the departed souls”.
“Our prayers go out for the speedy recovery of all injured. We are grateful for the patience and discipline shown by the passengers present at the airport which helped in the success of the operation”, he said.
Monday, 9 June 2014
Thousands flee NWA fearing operation: officials
PESHAWAR:
Tens of thousands of people from Pakistan´s most troubled tribal
district have fled their homes fearing a long-awaited military operation
is imminent, officials and residents said Monday.
A government official in Peshawar told AFP that some 58,000 people, mostly women and children, had fled North Waziristan district since air strikes targeting militants in late May killed at least 75 people.
The exodus has increased rapidly in recent days, with more than 25,000 fleeing their homes in the last 48 hours alone, he added.
An official in the district´s main town of Miranshah confirmed the migration was underway to various parts of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkwha province.
"I am taking my family to a safer location," said one resident who did not wish to be named.
The rugged district that lies on the border with Afghanistan is the main stronghold of Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants in the lawless tribal belt after the Pakistani military launched offensives in the six other districts.
A government official in Peshawar told AFP that some 58,000 people, mostly women and children, had fled North Waziristan district since air strikes targeting militants in late May killed at least 75 people.
The exodus has increased rapidly in recent days, with more than 25,000 fleeing their homes in the last 48 hours alone, he added.
An official in the district´s main town of Miranshah confirmed the migration was underway to various parts of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkwha province.
"I am taking my family to a safer location," said one resident who did not wish to be named.
The rugged district that lies on the border with Afghanistan is the main stronghold of Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants in the lawless tribal belt after the Pakistani military launched offensives in the six other districts.
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