Sustained efforts needed to root out terrorism: COAS

Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif on Saturday reiterated that elimination of terrorism is a national undertaking and the objective of terror – free Pakistan could be accomplished only with sustained focus of the entire nation.

The army chief was on a visit to Mirali in North Waziristan Agency (NWA) where he celebrated Pakistan’s 48th Defence Day with the army troops who are busy in Operation Zarb-e-Azb.

According to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) release, the operation commander briefed the COAS on the progress of the operation.

The COAS expressed satisfaction over the achievements made by the army in NWA.

Acknowledging the valour and sacrifices of the soldiers involved in Operation Zarb-e-Azb, General Sharif also appreciated the expertise and efforts of the aviation and intelligence authorities, whom he said “have contributed immensely in targeting terrorists and disrupting their command arrangements”.

“Planned with a clear end state and long-term objectives, the operation will eliminate terrorists from these areas and from across the country and will be followed by complete rehabilitation of the affected areas,” the general emphasised.

The COAS directed the security forces not to allow terrorists and their affiliates to return to the cleared areas.

Appreciating the special integrated security teams which have carried out pre-emptive operations in major cities and killed and apprehended hundreds of hardcore terrorists, the army chief called for the continuation of such operations.

He paid tributes to the martyrs and the wounded “who have rendered supreme sacrifices for the country’s defence”.

The army chief visited the temporarily dislocated people (TDP) at a camp in Bannu and spent time with the inmates where he was briefed on the relief operation and supply of goods to the TDPs.

The army chief directed that conditions be created for the “safe and happy return” of the displaced persons to their respective areas as soon as possible.