Director General ISPR, Lt. Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa revealed on Friday that law-enforcing agencies have successfully busted nexus of terrorists belonging to al Qaeda (subcontinent chapter) and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.
In a press briefing about Karachi operation, Bajwa said security forces have achieved a major success during the ongoing Karachi operation by arresting over 90 hardcore terrorists, including three high value targets.
“We have broken the overall network and nexus of terrorists belonging to al Qaeda subcontinent chapter and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. They were backed by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). This is a major achievement, but we have much more to do,” Bajwa said.
He said the terrorists were involved in almost all major incidents of terrorism in Karachi.
“They committed several heinous crimes, including attacks on security forces, Kamra airbase attack, naval bus attacks and other incidents of terrorism,” he said.
He also briefed media about success of Zarb-e-Azb operation and anti-criminal Rangers operation in Karachi.
About Zarb-e-Azb operation, he said the massive army operation has significantly helped forge regional peace.
“Hideouts of terrorist were destroyed in the operation when we launched Zarb-e-Azb in June 2015… It significantly declined terrorism not only in the country but in the entire regional as well. Entire world has acknowledged it,” he said.
About Rangers operation in Karachi, he said Rangers operation was kicked off in the mega city when it was plagued by terrorism and street crime.
‘People facilitate terrorists unintentionally’
The number of terror incidents in Karachi have cut down drastically, Bajwa said, but appealed to the citizens at large to be aware of their surroundings “so as not to be come a tool or accessory to these terror bids”.
Target killing in Karachi declined by 70 per cent while an 85pc decrease in incidents of extortion and 90pc decrease in kidnapping for ransom cases was witnessed.