Operation Zarb-e-Azb: objectives achieved, security conference told

Military leadership informed the National Security Conference (NSC) on Saturday that all the objectives of operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan have been achieved. Miranshah, Mirali and Dattakhel have been cleared of militants. Around 550 terrorists have been killed and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) have also been removed from the area during the operation.
According to the military leadership, terrorists are on the run; and the army has destroyed their command and control system. The NSC chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and attended by the heads and representatives of all major political parties, except Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, was given a comprehensive briefing by Director General Military Operations on all aspects of the on-going military operation 'Zarb-e-Azb' in North Waziristan.
Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif and Director General-ISI Lieutenant General Muhammad Zahir ul Islam, DG MO Major General Amir Riaz and DG ISPR Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa as well as chief ministers Balochistan, Sindh, federal ministers besides parliamentary leaders of political parties attended the conference.
Participants of the conference were informed about the areas cleared by the armed forces during the operation. The meeting was further told that the required legal and constitutional cover has been provided to Pakistan Army during the operation to handle likely blowbacks. The meeting also observed that the entire nation, including political parties, had joined hands against terrorists and their ideology. Representatives of all political and religious parties agreed that the state has to fight off militancy and eliminate terrorism.
The conference vowed to work together on the need to evolve a strategy to eliminate terrorism on a long-term basis. The meeting was informed that the armed forces are inflicting no collateral damage during the operation Zarb-e-Azb as they are protecting the life and property of civilians. The meeting paid glowing tributes to armed forces for successful operation and sacrifices they made against war on terror. Tributes were also paid to tribal folks for their sacrifices and love for Pakistan.
Participants of the conference were apprised of the co-ordinated efforts of armed forces that helped in blocking terror outfits funding. The conference also observed that adequate resources are being mobilised for management of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the government has also planned a comprehensive strategy for the rehabilitation and resettlement of IDPs.
The meeting especially emphasised on the development work, resettlement and reconstruction in the entire Fata. Participants of the meeting showed satisfaction over IDPs management and advised the government to consider steps towards providing more resources to the IDPs. Earlier, the meeting started with fateha for the shuhada of the Operation Zarb-e-Azb.