- 53 suspected terrorists targeted in Dattakhel tehsil of NWA, 16 in Khyber Agency’s Tirah Valley
- Gen Sharif vows not to abandon FATA without restoring peace
- COAS emphasises on need to follow comprehensive and uniform rehabilitation policy across FATA after clearing it of terrorists
Fresh aerial strikes in Datta Khel area of North Waziristan and Tirah Valley in Khyber Agency on Tuesday left at least 69 militants dead, including some foreigners.
According to a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), airstrikes targeted militant hideouts in Datta Khel area of North Waziristan, destroying six militant hideouts and an ammunition dump. Seven explosives laden vehicles were also destroyed in the strikes.
Meanwhile in Tirah Valley, around 16 terrorists were killed in aerial bombings and 12 others were reportedly injured. Five terrorist hideouts were also destroyed during the offensive.
Tuesday’s airstrikes followed similar strikes on Sunday when at least 35 suspected terrorists were killed in airstrikes in North Waziristan near the border with Afghanistan.
WON’T ABANDON IDPs:
The strikes came as Army chief General Raheel Sharif visited Mohmand Agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on Tuesday.
“We will never abandon these areas without fully restoring them to functional normalcy,” Gen Sharif said.
The army chief was given a detailed briefing on the progress of stabilisation operations, including the ongoing development projects by army engineers in the troubled region.
The development projects have come after Operation Zarb-e-Azb, launched by the Pakistan Army in June 2014, left large parts of North Waziristan’s infrastructure destroyed. The military claims to have eliminated a large number of terrorists in North Waziristan, as well as Kurram Agency in continuing operations.
The COAS appreciated the professionalism, dedication and sacrifices rendered by the soldiers in fighting terrorism and bringing stability in Mohmand Agency.
Gen Sharif emphasised on the need to follow a comprehensive and uniform rehabilitation policy across FATA after clearing it of terrorists.
He expressed hope that projects of providing education and economic opportunities to youth would help root out terrorism on long-term basis. The COAS also appreciated the tribal people for playing a significant role in expelling terrorists from their areas.
Referring to the recently launched sanitisation operations by Afghan National Army in areas bordering Mohmand and Bajaur, Gen Sharif expressed hope that such measures would check cross-border terrorism related incidents.