Interior Minister A. Rehman Malik has said the political leadership has taken the decision to launch a military offensive against terrorists in Waziristan to eliminate terror network from the area. "The Army Chief will decide the time to launch the drive," Malik said while talking to the media on Tuesday after attending a function organised by the United Nations to pay homage to the people who died in a suicide attack on the World Food Programme (WFP) offices.
Malik acknowledged the sacrifices of martyrs who shed their blood saying that these sacrifices would help eliminate terrorism and bring peace in the country. The minister said the enemies of Pakistan wanted to destabilise the country by fanning terrorism. "They are supporting terrorists by providing them financial help and armaments," Malik maintained.
"Pakistan is a victim of terrorism and has suffered more than any other country," he said, adding that terrorism was unleashed on a wider scale, and not only banned groups but other negative and unholy alliances also wanted to destabilise the country. "Pakistan at present is passing through the difficult time of its history, and I assure the nation that we will soon overcome the problems, and the menace of terrorism will be eliminated from the country," the minister said.
Malik said the evidences collected so far from recent terrorist attacks in Peshawar, Islamabad and Rawalpindi were guiding the investigators towards the al Qaeda and defunct Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), who were behind these attacks. The preliminary investigation, in suicide attacks on WFP office in Islamabad, Khyber Market Peshawar and terrorist attack on GHQ had proved the involvement of TTP from South Waziristan.
He further said the banned outfits Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Jaish-e-Muhammad and Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) had links with TTP and al Qaeda. They were carrying out terrorist attacks on the directions of al Qaeda leadership to destabilise the government, he added. Responding to a question, Rehman malik said the military operation in Malakand division was a success story and this was acknowledged by the nation and the world community at large.
When asked about investigation into WFP suicide attack, the minister said the two suspects arrested for their alleged involvement in the suicide attack on the WFP building, were being interrogated and the investigation was moving in the right direction. The investigation report of the WFP suicide attack would be submitted to the United Nations next week.
When asked about the security of the offices of the United Nations and other foreign missions located outside the diplomatic enclave, the minister said the UN offices and other diplomatic missions would be shifted to diplomatic enclave to avoid any untoward incident in future.
"For the last six months, I am struggling for shifting the foreign missions and UN offices to diplomatic enclave and now it will be done shortly," he said. He said the security of UN office, foreign missions and foreigners was top priority of the government and no compromise would be made in this regard.
The F-8 incident occurred due to security lapse on behalf of Phoenix, a private security company, Malik said, adding that all private security companies were invited to the Interior Ministry to discuss a strategy to ensure foolproof security for the residents of the federal capital.
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