- With Pakistan Army all set to launch military action in NWA, COAS vows to crush terrorist elements
- Formation and Corps Commanders meeting decides to target Mulla Fazlullah, Mehsud Tribe, Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group and foreign militants
A crucial meeting of Pakistan Army’s Formation and Corps Commanders Wednesday decided to launch a military operation in North Waziristan Agency (NWA) while Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif has affirmed that Pakistan Army would not let sacrifices of its martyrs go in vain and vowed that terrorist elements would be eliminated at all cost.
During the meeting presided over by the COAS at Rawalpindi General Headquarters (GHQ), it was decided that the military operation would be initiated only against Mulla Fazlullah, Mehsud Tribe, Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group and foreign militants.
According to sources, the meeting was briefed that the government had already authorised a military action when the top brass met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday afternoon.
The Wednesday meeting discussed the situation on Pak-Afghan border, military operation in NWA and Tirah valley and national security issues among other important matters.
The meeting comes when Taliban-claimed attacks on Karachi Airport raise questions about the authorities’ ability to secure key facilities in the face of a resurgent enemy.
Sunday’s all-night battle at Karachi Airport’s old terminal building left 39 dead while Tuesday’s attack on a security checkpost was repulsed.
In apparent retaliation, military launched airstrikes in Khyber Agency, killing 25 suspected terrorist and destroying nine terrorist hideouts on Tuesday.
The dramatic siege by heavily armed militants has piled pressure on the government to act.
Earlier, the premier, while presiding over a meeting of national security committee in Islamabad, had directed security agencies to tighten security at key state installations.
