Operation to continue till militants are flushed out from Fata: Malik

04 Oct, 2008

Advisor to the Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik has reiterated the government resolve to fight terrorism until the militants are either killed or forced to flee Pakistan. The government is firm in its mission to continue the operation till all the militants are flushed out from the area bordering Afghanistan, Rehman Malik said while talking to a private television channel.
"Previous military operations against miscreants launched by Musharraf regime were abandoned very soon, which gave ample time to "terrorists" to regroup and consolidate their positions in the areas", Rehman Malik said.
"We have no other option but to continue the operation. We will not stop it unless we reach the logical conclusion. This means there is not an iota of doubt that the war against the extremist will continue until Pakistan is made terrorism-free", Malik said. He said that Pakistan army and para-military forces are fighting against the miscreants in tribal areas. The most intense fighting has been in the Bajaur Agency, where the military claims to have killed 1,000 militants.
The government is also working on a strategy to gain public support showing a real face of militants to them who in the name of Islam are befooling the innocent people residing in the tribal areas and have no doubt more love for Pakistan than any other Pakistani, sources in Interior Ministry told Business Recorder.
They said now the local Maliks and Tribal elders have grouped together and launched arms struggle against the miscreants, who are bent upon disrupting the peace of the area. The strategy of the government is working well and with the initiation of development projects in the tribal belt things will move more quickly towards normalcy, they added.

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