Dubai: Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel Sharif has said he will not stop the offensive against terrorists until he achieves his end objective: A terror-free Pakistan.
“For enduring stability, intelligence-based operations (IBOs) and combing operations will continue with same vigour across the country in addition to military offensives in tribal areas and along the borders of Afghanistan,” Gen Sharif said in a statement issued to Gulf News to mark the completion of two years of military Operation Zarb-e-Azb (Sharp Strike) against terrorists in North Waziristan — once the hub of terrorists with no control by the Pakistan government. Gen Sharif said terrorists would not be allowed to stage a comeback in the tribal regions as the army would not go back until the job is fully done.
“Our focus within Fata [Federally Administered Tribal Areas] will now be on a more efficient border management [system] to prevent cross-border movement. For enduring stability, IBOs and combing operations will continue with the same vigour across the country,” Gen Sharif said.
While acknowledging the achievements, courage, determination and sacrifices of the troops in achieving operational gains, Gen Sharif said Zarb-e-Azb was launched against terrorists of all colours, and their sanctuaries had been dismantled without discrimination.
“Operation Zarb-e-Azb is in its final stage in the fewer left-out pockets,” he said, adding the army with the support of the entire nation had achieved unparalleled successes in the fight against terrorism.
“We as a nation must pursue our national objective of zero-presence of terrorists and total peace at any cost”.
He said the armed forces are also working on various development projects including building of roads, schools and hospitals to consolidate the situation in the areas where the pressense of terrorists has been eliminated and to provide employment and business opportunities to people in these backward areas.
Time to build
The army chief also inaugurated early this month a UAE-funded state-of-the-art 100-bed Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Hospital at Sholam in South Waziristan. He said Fata’s development was a priority task being undertaken by the army as a comprehensive plan.
“These projects will improve the quality of life in the tribal areas, usher a new era of economic prosperity, and address the problem of militancy on a long-term basis,” he said.
“Together we will defeat any nefarious designs of hurting Pakistan and root out hostile elements of our country.
“Having passed through a tough fight against terrorism, we have come a long way in our struggle for stability and development.
“We are in the final stages of military operations in Fata,” Gen Sharif said.
He said he is determined to end all terrorism in every nook and corner of Pakistan. “Terrorist networks and linkages [are] being unearthed across the country. This nexus will be broken at all cost to bring enduring peace,” he said.
