Peshawar Corps Commander Lt Gen Khalid Rabbani has made it clear that the government alone will make the decision regarding a military operation in North Waziristan and “no one can impose its own will from abroad in this respect”.
“The armed forces are well aware of their responsibilities and are alert for all sorts of action in any part of the country,” was his reply to a query while talking to reporters on Thursday at an iftar dinner hosted by him in the honor of journalists and analysts.
The corps commander expressed surprise over media reports regarding military operation in North Waziristan, saying “how is it possible for the armed forces to accept a wish from abroad regarding our own internal issue or any other administrative matter”?
Rabbani has time and again said the decision regarding military action would be made by the government and the nation. “After getting ownership of such a decision on the part of the government, the armed forces will go ahead with the task,” he said, adding that in this respect the nation needed to build a consensus as outcomes of such a consensus always remain symbolic.
The Peshawar corps commander diverted then attentions the attendees’ attention towards the outcomes of the military action in Swat. “Swat became a success story when it was owned by the government and backed by the masses,” he said.
Expressing satisfaction over law and order in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA, Rabbani said there existed normalcy in north of River Kabul and south of Peshawar. However, he conceded that there was unrest and problems in North Waziristan and a pocket of Khyber agency. He said that the military action against militants already concluded in both Orakzai and Kurram agencies, adding that besides Swat and other parts of Malakand division, there was peace in Bajaur and Mohmand. However, he said the armed forces would remain in these areas until the return of complete peace.
“Unfortunately, Waziristan is linked with almost all of terrorist and violent acts taking place in any part of the country. On such grounds, the government and the armed forces have no option other than action.”
