Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has appreciated the efforts of the Army in improving the security situation in South Waziristan Agency enabling the displaced people of the area to return to their homes and villages.
He said this at a briefing on the prevailing security environment in South Waziristan Agency here on Saturday. The Prime Minister said that majority of the people of Federally Administrative Tribal Area are highly patriotic and peace loving, and the government would make all efforts to ameliorate their hardships and problems.
The Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, was also present during the briefing, besides Sherry Rehman, Rehman Malik, Nadeem Taj, DG ISI and other senior Army Officers. The Prime Minister also directed all concerned government agencies to co-ordinate with each other in bringing normalcy to the area, and observed that the government was working on an integrated strategy with the army in repatriating all peaceful residents of the area to their homes.
The COAS also told the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet present that the Army was not withdrawing from South Waziristan: it is only consolidating its position after a long operation in the area. "Not one battalion has been withdrawn, and no negotiations are being held with any terrorists or criminals," he added.