Military Operation against TTP in N.Waziristan | Updates & Discussions.
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Jets strike at the heart of terror
ISLAMABAD - Up to 50 militants were reportedly taken out in the air strikes by security forces in two tribal agencies as the defence minister reiterated that state forces would give a befitting response to every incident of aggression.
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and Pakistan Army led these strikes in militancy-plagued Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata). The aerial assaults were launched in retaliation against the recent acts of terrorism by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
At least five top TTP commanders – Jihadyar Mehsud, Sailab Wazir, Abdul Razzaq Wazir, Abdul Sattar Khan and Mahmood Khurasani – were killed in six major strikes in North Waziristan Agency (NWA), while three strikes in Khyber Agency killed Gulab Afridi and Muntazir Khan alias Ameer Hamza, security sources claimed.
“The cowardly acts (of terrorists) cannot continue. The bloodshed of the innocents shall not be allowed to keep spilling. Miscreants would be paid in the same coin,” Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told the journalists on Thursday. “More than 15 attacks have taken place in recent days since the start of peace talks. The terrorists will now have to pay the price.”
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had approved the launch of aerial strikes after getting briefing from the army chief, the minister said.
The PAF F-16 jets from Northern Air Command (NOC) and Cobra fighter choppers from Army Aviation Corps (AAC) executed the strikes, sources in the PAF said. Air Officer Commanding NOC Air Vice Marshal Arshad Mehmood Malik and General Officer Commanding (GOC) Aviation Major General Anjum Inayat directly supervised the surgical operation, the security officials said.
The number of terrorist casualties in the NWA (by Thursday evening) was believed to be between 36 and 40 whereas that of Khyber Agency was eight to 10. Jihadyar Mehsud was the mastermind of attack on police bus in Karachi that killed 13 police commandos whereas Muntazir Khan alias Ameer Hamza was allegedly involved in attacking a cinema and a security forces vehicle in Peshawar that separately killed at least a dozen people and Major Jehanzaib Adnan from Pakistan Army.
“There are confirmed reports of 35 militants including foreigners killed in these air strikes,” a senior security official told our NWA correspondent. He said the first strike killed Commander Abdul Sattar when his compound was pounded by the jets followed by a series of strikes on Uzbek, Turkmen, Tajik and Taliban hideouts. The compounds of TTP commander Jihadyar and Abdul Razzaq were also destroyed when PAF jets bombarded and killed 15 militants, the official said.
Foreign militants reportedly from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Chechnya (Russia) and Tajikistan were targeted in the surgical strikes mainly launched in the four villages of Mir Ali-Khushali, Aidak, Khasokhel and Haiderkhel. “These villages have become the den of militancy. Air sorties are launched to neutralise the militants,” a PAF official told this scribe. Apart from six sorties in Mir Ali, three were conducted in Bara, he added.
Perceived as the start of a military operation against the militants in Fata, the surgical strikes, according to security officials, would be stretched to Miranshah (NWA) and Mohmand Agency considering the operational requirements. Ground reinforcements would be deployed later, it is further learnt.
In its latest humanitarian update issued Thursday, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said nearly all the 22,000 people who fled their villages in NWA in January fearing security operations have returned home. “While the situation in North Waziristan has since deescalated, apprehension remains over possible future security operations,” the update said.
Talking to The Nation, Political Agent NWA Siraj Ahmad Khan claimed no collateral damage was reported from the tribal agency in the aerial attacks. “According to the information shared with me, the attacks were launched with high accuracy and pinpoint precision and there were no civilian deaths.” The civilian population from the troubled areas had already been moved to the nearby areas, mainly Bannu, he said. “Since the assaults have been conducted in concentrated areas, the displacements do not presently exceed 1,500 from the four villages of Mir Ali.”
Requesting anonymity, a senior intelligence source involved in counter-terrorism operations said the foreign militants killed in the aerial strikes had links with some elements in Afghanistan’s intelligence agency, the National Directorate of Security (NDS). The ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) and the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) had assured the Pakistan Army of complete support to net the miscreants who were expected to flee to the other side of the border to avoid military operation, he said.
Regarding expected displacements from NWA, the official said over 20,000 people had migrated from NWA to Bannu and adjoining areas when the military and PAF had launched air strikes last month. “The number would roughly be between 20,000 and 25,000 when the aerial assaults are to be stretched across Mir Ali and Miranshah.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the Commander CENTCOM General Lloyd J Austin and COAS Genl Raheel Sharif had reiterated joint cooperation to net the runway militants who were likely to escape to the Afghan side of the border to avoid military action in Fata.
The reported decision to offer befitting retaliation in case of aggression from the TTP was taken in the 169th Corps Commanders Conference held on February 10.
Jets strike at the heart of terror
ISLAMABAD - Up to 50 militants were reportedly taken out in the air strikes by security forces in two tribal agencies as the defence minister reiterated that state forces would give a befitting response to every incident of aggression.
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and Pakistan Army led these strikes in militancy-plagued Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata). The aerial assaults were launched in retaliation against the recent acts of terrorism by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
At least five top TTP commanders – Jihadyar Mehsud, Sailab Wazir, Abdul Razzaq Wazir, Abdul Sattar Khan and Mahmood Khurasani – were killed in six major strikes in North Waziristan Agency (NWA), while three strikes in Khyber Agency killed Gulab Afridi and Muntazir Khan alias Ameer Hamza, security sources claimed.
“The cowardly acts (of terrorists) cannot continue. The bloodshed of the innocents shall not be allowed to keep spilling. Miscreants would be paid in the same coin,” Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told the journalists on Thursday. “More than 15 attacks have taken place in recent days since the start of peace talks. The terrorists will now have to pay the price.”
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had approved the launch of aerial strikes after getting briefing from the army chief, the minister said.
The PAF F-16 jets from Northern Air Command (NOC) and Cobra fighter choppers from Army Aviation Corps (AAC) executed the strikes, sources in the PAF said. Air Officer Commanding NOC Air Vice Marshal Arshad Mehmood Malik and General Officer Commanding (GOC) Aviation Major General Anjum Inayat directly supervised the surgical operation, the security officials said.
The number of terrorist casualties in the NWA (by Thursday evening) was believed to be between 36 and 40 whereas that of Khyber Agency was eight to 10. Jihadyar Mehsud was the mastermind of attack on police bus in Karachi that killed 13 police commandos whereas Muntazir Khan alias Ameer Hamza was allegedly involved in attacking a cinema and a security forces vehicle in Peshawar that separately killed at least a dozen people and Major Jehanzaib Adnan from Pakistan Army.
“There are confirmed reports of 35 militants including foreigners killed in these air strikes,” a senior security official told our NWA correspondent. He said the first strike killed Commander Abdul Sattar when his compound was pounded by the jets followed by a series of strikes on Uzbek, Turkmen, Tajik and Taliban hideouts. The compounds of TTP commander Jihadyar and Abdul Razzaq were also destroyed when PAF jets bombarded and killed 15 militants, the official said.
Foreign militants reportedly from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Chechnya (Russia) and Tajikistan were targeted in the surgical strikes mainly launched in the four villages of Mir Ali-Khushali, Aidak, Khasokhel and Haiderkhel. “These villages have become the den of militancy. Air sorties are launched to neutralise the militants,” a PAF official told this scribe. Apart from six sorties in Mir Ali, three were conducted in Bara, he added.
Perceived as the start of a military operation against the militants in Fata, the surgical strikes, according to security officials, would be stretched to Miranshah (NWA) and Mohmand Agency considering the operational requirements. Ground reinforcements would be deployed later, it is further learnt.
In its latest humanitarian update issued Thursday, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said nearly all the 22,000 people who fled their villages in NWA in January fearing security operations have returned home. “While the situation in North Waziristan has since deescalated, apprehension remains over possible future security operations,” the update said.
Talking to The Nation, Political Agent NWA Siraj Ahmad Khan claimed no collateral damage was reported from the tribal agency in the aerial attacks. “According to the information shared with me, the attacks were launched with high accuracy and pinpoint precision and there were no civilian deaths.” The civilian population from the troubled areas had already been moved to the nearby areas, mainly Bannu, he said. “Since the assaults have been conducted in concentrated areas, the displacements do not presently exceed 1,500 from the four villages of Mir Ali.”
Requesting anonymity, a senior intelligence source involved in counter-terrorism operations said the foreign militants killed in the aerial strikes had links with some elements in Afghanistan’s intelligence agency, the National Directorate of Security (NDS). The ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) and the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) had assured the Pakistan Army of complete support to net the miscreants who were expected to flee to the other side of the border to avoid military operation, he said.
Regarding expected displacements from NWA, the official said over 20,000 people had migrated from NWA to Bannu and adjoining areas when the military and PAF had launched air strikes last month. “The number would roughly be between 20,000 and 25,000 when the aerial assaults are to be stretched across Mir Ali and Miranshah.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the Commander CENTCOM General Lloyd J Austin and COAS Genl Raheel Sharif had reiterated joint cooperation to net the runway militants who were likely to escape to the Afghan side of the border to avoid military action in Fata.
The reported decision to offer befitting retaliation in case of aggression from the TTP was taken in the 169th Corps Commanders Conference held on February 10.
Jets strike at the heart of terror
IceCold
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Couple of days ago, CENTCOM chief was in Pakistan, do you think that has also something to do with the timing of this operation? some sort of assurance by the US.
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Ghareeb_Da_Baal
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maa sadky, au kyun karan gai?
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FEB 21
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani jets and AH-1 Cobra gunships of Army Aviation bombed militant hideouts in a northwestern tribal district late Wednesday night, killing at least 35 militants.
The mastermind behind the 13 February attack on a police bus in Karachi and foreign militant commanders were among those killed.
According to sources, Pakistani jets conducted six strikes on suspected militant hideouts in the tribal areas as part of surgical strikes which they said should not be taken as military operation.
"There are confirmed reports of 35 militants including foreigners killed in these air strikes," a senior security official told, adding that the attacks focused on the town of Mir Ali and surrounding areas of North Waziristan.
Sources said the first strike killed commander Abdul Sattar when his compound was pounded by the jets followed by a series of strikes on Uzbek, Turkmen, Tajik and Taliban hideouts.
The compounds of TTP commander Jihadyar and Abdul Razzak were also destroyed when PAF jets bombarded and killed 15 militants.
"Airstrikes were carried out to target militant hideouts with precision. A huge cache of arms and ammunition have also been destroyed," the official said.
The sixth strike was conducted in Bara Tehsil of Khyber Agency in which the hideouts of terrorists involved in the attacks on Peshawar Cinemas and Major Jahanzeb were targeted. A bomb making factory and two suicide bombers were killed in the strikes.
The strikes were carried out after military leaders took the civilian government into confidence citing potential threats to the people of Pakistan from terrorists holed up in their safe havens in the country’s tribal belt.
Moreover, the attacks were aimed at protecting people of Pakistan as the militants were making plans to carry out terrorist attacks.
They added that if the government decided to launch an operation, the PAF warplanes will attack the militants in the first phase and other steps would be taken shortly after the weather conditions improve in the mountainous region.
Sources told Geo News the recent attacks were carried out on the basis of credible intelligence information and there was no fear of collateral damage.
On Wednesday, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) said they were ready to observe a ceasefire to allow the resumption of peace talks, provided Pakistani security forces stopped killing and arresting them.
Peace talks between the Taliban and the government, announced on January 29, stalled this week due to a recent surge in insurgent attacks and a claim by a Taliban faction on Sunday that it had killed 23 kidnapped soldiers.
http://www.geo.tv/article-138447-35-killed-as-Pak-warplanes-pound-militant-hideouts-in-NWA
35 militants killed in PAF air strikes in tribal areas | PAKISTAN - geo.tv
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ejaz007
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Please don't ask difficult questions.
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You came to Islam after visiting a shrine but you would deny everyone else the same privilege?
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I don't deny but making mazars is not according to Quran and Hadees Hazrat MUHAMMAD SAW have already told how a grave should be like
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The retaliation would more likely come in areas having significant presence of TTP or its sympathizers. Unfortunately Peshawar will have to take most of the burnt in case of retaliation by TTP. However, I do fear that the retaliation would increase to Islamabad,Lahore,Multan etc as the operation prolongs. But this is a price that we will have to pay to treat this cancer. We can prey for the safety of all Pakistanis but blood will be shed both ways.
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Infantry troops enter NWA operation areas
Air strikes in North Waziristan continue; foreigners among 40 militants killed; three more militants killed in Khyber Agency air strikes
The Pakistan Army infantry troops, including SSG commandos, have entered the most difficult mountainous region in the tribal areas in search of terrorist hideouts, military sources said.
According to sources, after the destruction of arms depots, militants will not be in a position to launch attacks on security forces for a long period. These sources said the bombardment of the fighter aircraft was continuing in North Waziristan tribal region and more militants were likely to be eliminated.
Our correspondent adds from Miranshah: The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter aircraft pounded suspected positions of militants in the North Waziristan Agency on Wednesday night and reportedly killed 40 militants.
Military officials said the jets carried out air strikes following intelligence reports about the presence of senior local and foreign militants in the area.Officials put the number of deaths of militants in these strikes at more than 35 and it was claimed that mostly Uzbek militants were killed.
Meanwhile, Reuters, quoting security officials, reported that at least 40 people were killed in the bombing. The jets pounded suspected hideouts in the Khushali village, Mir Ali subdivision, and in the remote Dattakhel area and Shawal Valley, all located in North Waziristan.
In Mir Ali, military officials said 15 militants were killed and their sanctuaries were smashed. The dead, they said, included foreign fighters, including Uzbeks, Chechens and Arabs.
According to officials, a senior militant commander Abdul Sattar was running one of the four training centres blitzed by the jets in Khushali village in Mir Ali. Local tribesmen in Mir Ali said the jets started bombing around midnight on Wednesday.
In Dattakhel, located near the Afghanistan border, the jets targeted four suspected positions of militants but there was no information about any casualty there.Local villagers said the jets bombed four houses where no one was residing for the past few months.
Meanwhile, local sources, including officials of the political administration, said a foreign militant known as Tajiki and belonging to Tajikistan was among those killed in the air strikes. They said another foreign militant, Abdul Sattar, who happened to be an Uzbek, was also killed. The third slain foreign militant who was identified was Abu Zubair who happened to be an Arab national. An Uzbeki woman, Bilquis, was also killed in the bombardment.
The sources said five militants’ compounds were hit, including two each in the Khushali village and Shawal Valley and one in Dattakhel. They added that the first bombing raid by the two jet fighters was carried out at 12:20am in the Khushali village. They said one of the compounds that was bombed in the Khushali village housed the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters led by commander Jehadyar Mehsud. It wasn’t known if he was killed, but some of his men were reportedly slain in the air strike.
In Dattakhel, the sources said a large house owned by a tribesman, Maula Khan, was bombed by the jets. They said five foreign militants were killed and three wounded in the air strikes on this house, a portion of which was being used by the owner, Maula Khan.
Sources in the political administration and locals initially gave a count of 15 confirmed deaths in the air strikes. Later, they said not more than 17-18 were killed. The PAF fighter aircraft also flew over parts of North Waziristan on Thursday but didn’t carry out any raids.
The air strikes caused concern in North Waziristan and prompted many families to start planning to leave their villages and move to safer places. There were fears that it could be the start of a large-scale military action in North Waziristan following the breakdown of peace talks between the government and the TTP. A large number of families had moved out, mostly from Mir Ali sub-division, due to the previous two rounds of air strikes by the PAF and the army and shifted to Bannu, Karak and other areas.
Our correspondent adds from Bara: Three militants were killed and six others were injured when the Pakistan Army’s helicopter gunships hit various targets in Bara Tehsil of Khyber Agency on Thursday, local and official sources said.
The sources said that two helicopter gunships pounded the suspected positions of militants in Alamgudar, Mandikas, Nala, Madakhel and Haji Rasool Jan Killay.They said three suspected militants were killed while six were injured in the shelling.
Official sources claimed that several hideouts of the militants, including a factory making bombs and improvised explosive devices, was also destroyed in the air strikes. However, this could not be verified independently.
Official sources said the hideouts of those militants were targeted who were involved in the recent attacks on cinemas in Peshawar and the assassination of Major Jehanzeb, who was martyred during an ambush in the Frontier Region, Peshawar.The helicopter gunships flew in the area for more than an hour, causing fear among the people who preferred to stay indoors.
Muhammad Anis adds from Islamabad: Military sources said that 16 Uzbek terrorists were killed in air strikes in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan on late Wednesday night. “It is confirmed that in the last night (Wednesday) air strikes in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, 16 Uzbek terrorists were killed,” the military sources said.The sources also said that seven terrorists, including three suicide bombers and an important commander, were killed in air strikes in the Khyber Agency on Thursday.
Infantry troops enter NWA operation areas - thenews.com.pk
Air strikes in North Waziristan continue; foreigners among 40 militants killed; three more militants killed in Khyber Agency air strikes
The Pakistan Army infantry troops, including SSG commandos, have entered the most difficult mountainous region in the tribal areas in search of terrorist hideouts, military sources said.
According to sources, after the destruction of arms depots, militants will not be in a position to launch attacks on security forces for a long period. These sources said the bombardment of the fighter aircraft was continuing in North Waziristan tribal region and more militants were likely to be eliminated.
Our correspondent adds from Miranshah: The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter aircraft pounded suspected positions of militants in the North Waziristan Agency on Wednesday night and reportedly killed 40 militants.
Military officials said the jets carried out air strikes following intelligence reports about the presence of senior local and foreign militants in the area.Officials put the number of deaths of militants in these strikes at more than 35 and it was claimed that mostly Uzbek militants were killed.
Meanwhile, Reuters, quoting security officials, reported that at least 40 people were killed in the bombing. The jets pounded suspected hideouts in the Khushali village, Mir Ali subdivision, and in the remote Dattakhel area and Shawal Valley, all located in North Waziristan.
In Mir Ali, military officials said 15 militants were killed and their sanctuaries were smashed. The dead, they said, included foreign fighters, including Uzbeks, Chechens and Arabs.
According to officials, a senior militant commander Abdul Sattar was running one of the four training centres blitzed by the jets in Khushali village in Mir Ali. Local tribesmen in Mir Ali said the jets started bombing around midnight on Wednesday.
In Dattakhel, located near the Afghanistan border, the jets targeted four suspected positions of militants but there was no information about any casualty there.Local villagers said the jets bombed four houses where no one was residing for the past few months.
Meanwhile, local sources, including officials of the political administration, said a foreign militant known as Tajiki and belonging to Tajikistan was among those killed in the air strikes. They said another foreign militant, Abdul Sattar, who happened to be an Uzbek, was also killed. The third slain foreign militant who was identified was Abu Zubair who happened to be an Arab national. An Uzbeki woman, Bilquis, was also killed in the bombardment.
The sources said five militants’ compounds were hit, including two each in the Khushali village and Shawal Valley and one in Dattakhel. They added that the first bombing raid by the two jet fighters was carried out at 12:20am in the Khushali village. They said one of the compounds that was bombed in the Khushali village housed the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters led by commander Jehadyar Mehsud. It wasn’t known if he was killed, but some of his men were reportedly slain in the air strike.
In Dattakhel, the sources said a large house owned by a tribesman, Maula Khan, was bombed by the jets. They said five foreign militants were killed and three wounded in the air strikes on this house, a portion of which was being used by the owner, Maula Khan.
Sources in the political administration and locals initially gave a count of 15 confirmed deaths in the air strikes. Later, they said not more than 17-18 were killed. The PAF fighter aircraft also flew over parts of North Waziristan on Thursday but didn’t carry out any raids.
The air strikes caused concern in North Waziristan and prompted many families to start planning to leave their villages and move to safer places. There were fears that it could be the start of a large-scale military action in North Waziristan following the breakdown of peace talks between the government and the TTP. A large number of families had moved out, mostly from Mir Ali sub-division, due to the previous two rounds of air strikes by the PAF and the army and shifted to Bannu, Karak and other areas.
Our correspondent adds from Bara: Three militants were killed and six others were injured when the Pakistan Army’s helicopter gunships hit various targets in Bara Tehsil of Khyber Agency on Thursday, local and official sources said.
The sources said that two helicopter gunships pounded the suspected positions of militants in Alamgudar, Mandikas, Nala, Madakhel and Haji Rasool Jan Killay.They said three suspected militants were killed while six were injured in the shelling.
Official sources claimed that several hideouts of the militants, including a factory making bombs and improvised explosive devices, was also destroyed in the air strikes. However, this could not be verified independently.
Official sources said the hideouts of those militants were targeted who were involved in the recent attacks on cinemas in Peshawar and the assassination of Major Jehanzeb, who was martyred during an ambush in the Frontier Region, Peshawar.The helicopter gunships flew in the area for more than an hour, causing fear among the people who preferred to stay indoors.
Muhammad Anis adds from Islamabad: Military sources said that 16 Uzbek terrorists were killed in air strikes in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan on late Wednesday night. “It is confirmed that in the last night (Wednesday) air strikes in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, 16 Uzbek terrorists were killed,” the military sources said.The sources also said that seven terrorists, including three suicide bombers and an important commander, were killed in air strikes in the Khyber Agency on Thursday.
Infantry troops enter NWA operation areas - thenews.com.pk
ejaz007
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Govt plans tit for Taliban’s tat
* Security forces authorised to ‘teach lesson’ to Taliban involved in terrorist activities * Insurgents who want to shun violence asked to isolate and surrender themselves * Govt says peace committee formed by govt still exists, only dialogue process has halted
ISLAMABAD: In a clear sign of losing patience, the government on Thursday said it has authorised the army to give a ‘befitting reply’ in their defence to the terrorists – though it stopped short of formally announcing an operation against Taliban following peace talks launched by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on January 29 floundered over killing of 23 FC soldiers kidnapped in 2010.
“We cannot take away the right of self-defence from our security forces. They will not hesitate to take action in self-defence if they come under attack,” Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told a press conference. Information Minister Parvaiz Rashid said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had directed the security forces to give a ‘befitting reply’ in their defence to the terrorists. “They will be paid back in their own coin. Our forces have every right to defend themselves and respond to terrorists with full might,” he said, and added that dialogue and terrorism could not go hand-in-hand.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also maintained that security forces had been authorised to retaliate in the strongest terms to the heinous acts carried out by the terrorists. Pakistani Air Force jets pounded Taliban hideouts in Mir Ali, Shawal and Datta Khel areas and killed around 40 suspected terrorists. The airstrikes continued for the second day running on Thursday, however it wasn’t immediately clear whether the attacks were the precursor of a wide-scale military operation in the troubled areas.
Nisar said, after consultations with the dialogue committee and the military leadership, the prime minister had decided that peace process could not continue in the aftermath of recent terrorist attacks, especially the slaying of 23 FC soldiers. “If negotiations continued even in the current scenario, it would have been a great injustice with the innocent civilians and security personnel killed in the terrorist attacks,” the minister said.
He said the prime minister in his address to the National Assembly had made it clear that violence and dialogue process could not continue at the same time. He said the committee nominated by the government for the peace talks had also set the same condition for any tangible progress on the issue.
Nisar said there had been no military operation against terrorists since last September. “So, what kind of ceasefire they want?” he asked. He said it was regretful that terrorist attacks continued despite sincerity and open heartedness of the government. He said the prime minister launched his efforts for evolving a national consensus to bring peace to the country. An all-parties conference was convened in September and dialogue process was started following the recommendations of the conference, he said.
The first attempt to negotiate peace was sabotaged by the US with a drone attack, he said, and added that government launched the second bid for resolution of the issue and made contacts with the other side through a dialogue committee. Though Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) agreed for talks but the terrorist attacks continued unabated, he added. Despite empowering the security forces to retaliate to any terrorist acts with ‘full might’, the government has kept the doors for talks open. “Our doors are open for those who believe in peace and dialogue and want to shun the path of violence,” Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said.
“Those Taliban groups who are willing for dialogue should isolate themselves from those involved in terrorist activities and violence,” the minister said, and added that the government was willing to talk to those who surrender themselves and accept writ of the government. Interior Minister Ch Nisar also hoped that the option of dialogue was still available. “I still think that there are clear indications that the dialogue process will be on track again. I am very hopeful.” He said the peace committee formed by the government still existed and only the dialogue process had halted. He said talks were the only option to achieve peace and those who were talking about military operation did not undertake it when they were in government.
Govt plans tit for Taliban’s tat
* Security forces authorised to ‘teach lesson’ to Taliban involved in terrorist activities * Insurgents who want to shun violence asked to isolate and surrender themselves * Govt says peace committee formed by govt still exists, only dialogue process has halted
ISLAMABAD: In a clear sign of losing patience, the government on Thursday said it has authorised the army to give a ‘befitting reply’ in their defence to the terrorists – though it stopped short of formally announcing an operation against Taliban following peace talks launched by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on January 29 floundered over killing of 23 FC soldiers kidnapped in 2010.
“We cannot take away the right of self-defence from our security forces. They will not hesitate to take action in self-defence if they come under attack,” Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told a press conference. Information Minister Parvaiz Rashid said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had directed the security forces to give a ‘befitting reply’ in their defence to the terrorists. “They will be paid back in their own coin. Our forces have every right to defend themselves and respond to terrorists with full might,” he said, and added that dialogue and terrorism could not go hand-in-hand.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also maintained that security forces had been authorised to retaliate in the strongest terms to the heinous acts carried out by the terrorists. Pakistani Air Force jets pounded Taliban hideouts in Mir Ali, Shawal and Datta Khel areas and killed around 40 suspected terrorists. The airstrikes continued for the second day running on Thursday, however it wasn’t immediately clear whether the attacks were the precursor of a wide-scale military operation in the troubled areas.
Nisar said, after consultations with the dialogue committee and the military leadership, the prime minister had decided that peace process could not continue in the aftermath of recent terrorist attacks, especially the slaying of 23 FC soldiers. “If negotiations continued even in the current scenario, it would have been a great injustice with the innocent civilians and security personnel killed in the terrorist attacks,” the minister said.
He said the prime minister in his address to the National Assembly had made it clear that violence and dialogue process could not continue at the same time. He said the committee nominated by the government for the peace talks had also set the same condition for any tangible progress on the issue.
Nisar said there had been no military operation against terrorists since last September. “So, what kind of ceasefire they want?” he asked. He said it was regretful that terrorist attacks continued despite sincerity and open heartedness of the government. He said the prime minister launched his efforts for evolving a national consensus to bring peace to the country. An all-parties conference was convened in September and dialogue process was started following the recommendations of the conference, he said.
The first attempt to negotiate peace was sabotaged by the US with a drone attack, he said, and added that government launched the second bid for resolution of the issue and made contacts with the other side through a dialogue committee. Though Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) agreed for talks but the terrorist attacks continued unabated, he added. Despite empowering the security forces to retaliate to any terrorist acts with ‘full might’, the government has kept the doors for talks open. “Our doors are open for those who believe in peace and dialogue and want to shun the path of violence,” Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said.
“Those Taliban groups who are willing for dialogue should isolate themselves from those involved in terrorist activities and violence,” the minister said, and added that the government was willing to talk to those who surrender themselves and accept writ of the government. Interior Minister Ch Nisar also hoped that the option of dialogue was still available. “I still think that there are clear indications that the dialogue process will be on track again. I am very hopeful.” He said the peace committee formed by the government still existed and only the dialogue process had halted. He said talks were the only option to achieve peace and those who were talking about military operation did not undertake it when they were in government.
Govt plans tit for Taliban’s tat
EasyNow
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Taliban / Salafi's will forcibly deny people these small comforts, they will probably destroy the shrines too. Hypocritical, isn't it? You took its benefits but you won't give it to the next Zarvan?
It's not too late to be a bit more open minded - but then again it looks like PA will soon 'open the minds' of TTP for them
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