Islamabad: Pakistani air force jets pounded militant hideouts in the North Waziristan tribal region on Tuesday killing 13 terrorists, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) department.
The air strikes, part of the ongoing military operation in North Waziristan, destroyed seven militant hideouts in the mountainous region bordering Afghanistan.
More than 400 local and foeign militants have been killed since the armed forcs launched a comprehensive operation in the tribal region on June 15 following the breakdown of peace talks between the government and the insurgent outfit, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
Army Chief General Raheel Sharif visited the troops in Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan on Monday, and called on officers and men to “eliminate all local and foreign terrorists and their sanctuaries.”
General Sharif stressed that in order to achieve the end objective, “terrorists would be chased and hunted down across the country till their final elmination.”
Troops have reportedly unearthed at least 19 factories making improvised explosive devices in the main town of North Waziristan.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday reiterated the government’s resolve to eliminate terrorism from the country.
During a meeting with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, who briefed him on the release of funds for the huge number of internally displaced perons (IDPs) from North Waziristan, the prime minister said the nation stood steadfastly behind the armed forces.
Nearly 800,000 people have been internally displaced as the military operation against militants progresses in North Waziristan, media reported on Tuesday.
The Fata Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) on Tuesday gave out the number of displaced people, the Dawn reported online.
The FDMA data put the number of displaced families at 62,493, including 2,11,549 male and 236,883 female members, with the number of affected children put at 339,456.
An FDMA spokesperson said the government is determined to register every displaced person in order to ensure speedy distribution of financial relief, goods and other services so that no family is deprived of essentials.
The army launched its operation ‘Zarb-e-Azb’ against militants in North Waziristan a week after the terrorist attack on the country’s busiest airport in Karachi.
At least 30 people, including security personnel and civilians besides 10 TTP terrorists and Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan insurgents were killed in the June 8 attack on Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport.
