ISLAMABAD (May 23, 2009): Director General ISPR Major General Athar Abbas on Saturday said during the Operation Rah-e-Rast, so far 1095 terrorists have been killed while 29 others arrested.
Giving detailed briefing on the operation at PIDs Media Centre here, he said that the security forces have achieved a number of successes during the operations and efforts are in hand to conclude it at earliest. An utmost care is being exercised by the operating forces to avoid civilian casualty but due to war situation no one can give 100% assurance that there will not be any civil casualty, he said.
We are not an occupying force from another country ? we are Pakistani force and we are operating with maximum care and conscious to avoid collateral damage, he said.
He said during the last 24 hours, security forces have entered Mingora city where 17 miscreant?terrorists including an important miscreant commander were killed.
Today the most important phase of operation Rah-e-Rast, the clearance of Mingora, has commenced. Security forces have cleared the area from circuit house to Makan Bagh including Continental Hotel. Clearance of Nawan Killi has started, link up between forces coming from Fiza Ghat to Whataki Chowk and Ayub Bridge to Nawan Killi exchange has been completed.
He said street fight between the terrorists and the security forces is continuing on one hand while on the other the forces are carrying out house to house search operation.
He said the forces have consolidated their positions at Qambar ridge which is overlooking Mingora. During expansion at Qambar Ridge, 6 miscreants have been killed. Their bodies are lying there.
During search and destroy operation three caves having large quantity of ammunition and rations have been discovered. Moreover, a transmission station alongwith base unit has also been captured.
Intense exchange of fire is taking place at Nishat Chowk in Mingora where a suicide bomber was shot dead and a suicide vehicle loaded with explosives was destroyed at Makanzai.
Miscreants locations at Hira School Sharifabad was targeted resultantly killing a number of miscreant?terrorists.
The security forces have also apprehended a terrorist commander Khurshid alias Qasai from Watakai.
Security forces have achieved substantial gains in Peochar Valley where Miscreant?terrorists are on the run in small groups after the successful operation by security forces.
It has shattered the myth of miscreant?terrorists in the Valley and has increased the confidence of local population in armed forces.
He pointed out that local populace have voluntarily surrendered weapons kept for self protection purpose on the instructions of the security forces.
The locals of Peochar revealed that they were subjected to forced labour and atrocities by miscreant?terrorists. They also expressed to support the security forces in identification of militants.
Security Forces have successfully secured the vital Wanai Bridge linking Matta with Peochar. The forces are consolidating their positions around Alam Ganj, Nazarabad, Uchraisar and Wanai Bridge. During exchange of fire between security forces and miscreants, one soldier was wounded. A miscreant Commander of Matta, Usman Alias Butcher was killed.
Cordon and search operations are being conducted on information of miscreants arrival in Qambar bazaar where 5 miscreants were killed and one compound was effectively destroyed.
Miscreants fire raided a post located north of Qambar Bazar but attack was repulsed effectively.
One vehicle of miscreants ? terrorists destroyed by Kalpani post alongwith 4 miscreants. Weapons, large sized batteries and mobiles recovered from vehicle.
Director General ISPR in reply to a question said that the security forces have full control of Sultanwas while they are expanding their control in surroundings of the town.
He pointed out that the people of Sultanwas have vowed to form Lashkar to regain the possession of Zirat Pir Baba while the security forces are evaluating that if they solely can perform the job or otherwise.
He said the Road to Khwazakhela is open and IDPs are returning to their houses.
He said the area of Dggar is also secure while the road between Daggar and Sultanwas is yet to be secured fully.
Answering a question, he said that the authorities are considering proposal to bring all the IDPs in one camp to check the possibility of the presence of any terrorist in the camp. The people will themselves locate and deal with the terrorist if present in their Camp.
In reply to another question, he said that if Prime Minister has given the 8?week deadline for the conclusion of the Operation then we will make all out efforts to up keep his words and try to conclude it even before 8 weeks time.
He told a questioner that around 1000 to 1500 hard core terrorists are posing resistance to the security forces in the operation while around other 1100 have been killed in the operation.
He said that the security forces in retaliation to an attack by the terrorists in Jandola (South Waziristan) had carried out an encountering activity whereby inflicting casualty on the terrorists.
He said that the reports of furthering pressure on Pakistan after increase in deployment of NATO forces in Afghanistan are correct and this aspect would be taken care of appropriately. He said at present around 150000 troops of Pakistan Army and FC are deployed along the Afghan border and adjoining areas. The number of deployment is also included the number of troops carrying out operation in Malakand Division, he added.
Major Gen. Athar Abbas answering another question said that the security forces have been ensuring that there should not be sneaking out of terrorists from the area under operation.