Dubai: Pakistan says its armed forces have purged the country — mainly the tribal areas — of terrorists since they launched a massive operation named Zarb-e-Azb (Sharp Strike) two years ago. However, the army also says the fight is not over yet as the focus has shifted to the border regions along Afghanistan where fleeing militants and infiltrators are the target.
“Zarb-e-Azb is not only a military operation but [also] a concept to make Pakistan terrorism-free,” said Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa, Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), in an exclusive statement to Gulf News.
As the Pakistan armed forces marks the second anniversary of Zarb-e-Azb this month, Gulf News looks at how effective the campaign, deemed the biggest and most intensive military operation against terrorists in the history of Pakistan, has been.
Pakistan Armed Forces launched the joint military operation Zarb-e-Azb on June 15, 2014. The operation was launched in North Waziristan — the long-time hideout of terrorists — and it targeted all terrorist groups, irrespective of their association including the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Al Qaida, Jundallah and the Haqqani network.
“The aim of this operation was to curb militancy and eliminate terrorism at its roots,” said Lt Gen Bajwa.
Operation Zarb-e-Azb started one week after a terrorist attack on Jinnah International Airport in Karachi claimed the lives of 28 people including security personnel and wounded at least 18.
Lt Gen Bajwa said Zarb-e-Azb proved to be a success story in Pakistan’s war against terrorism. “The operation has been fully back[ed] by the entire Pakistani nation. For the first time, the nation appeared resolute and determined in defeating terrorists and pay any price,” he added.
‘Everyone’s united’
As a consequence, the operation met quicker success than had been expected. The terrorists’ threat of blowback in the main cities was also countered effectively by other law enforcing agencies not committed in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) — once the hub of militancy.
“June 15 is a historic day for us. Before Zarb-e-Azb, the country including North Waziristan was plagued with terrorism,” said Pakistan army’s chief spokesperson.
The military had taken a lead role in organising security measures at provincial levels by forming Core Committees under a National Action Plan. As a result of a host of measures, the overall security situation improved and terrorist attacks in Pakistan have dropped to a six-year low since 2008. “Now, we are in the consolidation phase. The state has to target extremism, as it has a relationship with terrorism,” Lt Gen Bajwa said.
Comparisons from 2014 to 2016 in terms of terrorist attacks shows that IEDs (Improvised explosive devises) attacks fell from 311 to 77, terrorist-related incidents reduced from 75 to 11, and suicide attacks reduced from 26 in 2014 to five this year.
“This clearly speaks of the success ratio of Operation Zarb-e-Azb,” said Lt Gen Bajwa.
As a result of the continuous effort in the past two years, 3,500 terrorists have been killed and 992 hideouts destroyed, according to the statistics provided by ISPR.
At the same time, 490 soldiers have died in the line of duty in two years.
Clearance of the area is a major success; about 3,600 square km in North Waziristan has been cleared of terrorists over a period of two years, which also includes killing 900 terrorists belonging to Lashkar-e-Islam in Khyber agency. Pakistan’s Army has also recovered stolen American modern weapons from these terrorists. “The army successfully seized 253 tonnes of explosives — enough to make IEDs for at least 15 years,” Lt Gen Bajwa said.
He said 7,500 bomb-making factories have also been closed down in the Shawal area in recent months.
In terms of economic loss, it’s cost almost Rs8,702.75 billion ($106.98 billion, Dh392.61 billion) since 2001-2015, the ISPR director general said.
War against terror, which is essentially an unconventional form of warfare, is considered one of the most difficult to win for it has no clear distinction between a friend and a foe.
In most cases, militants in Pakistan have targeted civilians and troops alike; no one, from schoolchildren to sportsmen, were exempt from the violence.
International cricket has still not been restored after Sri Lankan Cricket team was targeted in 2009.
From helplessness to power
The situation of Pakistan before the launch of Operation Zarb-e-Azb was one of helplessness, with the government considering negotiating with the militants. The decision to undertake Operation Zarb-e-Azb is considered a very bold step under that environment.
The risks of the project running into bad weather and proving counterproductive, more so when the political leadership was pinning all its hopes on dialogue with the militants, were at an all-time high.
Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel Sharif has been supervising the progress of the operation from the front lines. His presence has made a big difference in success of the operation. He directed troops to exercise extreme care in avoiding collateral damage, which would have cost the combat troops much-needed public support. Handling of Temporarily Displaced Persons (TDPs) from their homes to temporary camps and permanent settlements has been a challenge. Gen Raheel Sharif announced the completion of return of TDPs by end of this year, which is a great achievement.
After the start of this operation, almost 335,662 TDPs left their homes and presently almost 204,086 (61 per cent) have returned to their homes, which is a great achievement.
Highlights of the Operation Zarb-e-Azb:
For enduring stability in the country and to sustain success of Zarb-e-Azab, intelligence-based operations (IBOs) and Combing Operations also started with same vigour across the country.
Since June 15, 2014, 19,347 IBOs were conducted across Pakistan, where 213 TTP members were killed.
Pakistan Army so far has undertaken 567 development projects in the social, communication, infrastructure and power sectors in Waziristan.
Pakistan Army started different projects in health sector (9 planned and 7 completed), development sector (137 planned and 131 completed), education sector (32 planned and 27 completed) and communication sector (604 projects planned in various Socioeconomic).
About 1,200 terrorists have been arrested from Karachi, which reflects on the improved security situation of the metropolis.
Due to this operation, the nation regained peace that was snatched by terrorists and anti-state elements.
Operation Zarb-e-Azb is still not over and would continue until Pakistan is completely made safe and terrorism is rooted out from Pakistan.
Two years of Operation Zarb-e-Azb in Numbers:
3,500 terrorists killed.
992 terrorists’ hideouts destroyed.
490 soldiers of Pakistan army killed.
253 tonnes of explosives seized — enough to make IEDs from at least 15 years.
7,500 bomb making factories closed down.
3,600 sq km in North Waziristan was cleared of has been cleared of terrorists.
19,347 Intelligence Based Opertions were conducted across Pakistan.
335,662 Temporary Displaced People (TDPs) became homeless.
567 development projects launched in affected areas.
