ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif emphasised on Monday that as the military moves towards conclusion of large-scale kinetic operations in FATA, there is a need to look ahead and consolidate gains for long term.
According to a Tweet of ISPR Director General Lt Gen Asim Bajwa, addressing the Corps Commanders Conference at General Headquarters, General Raheel stressed increasing the pace of intelligence-based operations (IBOs) across the country to eliminate the entire infrastructure of terrorism. He directed more effective border management and continued proactive dominance of the cleared areas to maintain the writ of state in FATA. The temporarily displaced persons (TDPs) return must complete as per laid down time-line, he added.
According to an ISPR news release, the commanders’ conference dwelt at length on internal and external security situation and other professional matters. The participants also took holistic view of the emerging geo-strategic environment and its relevance to the security of Pakistan. While speaking at the forum, the COAS expressed his complete satisfaction over the progress of ongoing operation in Shawal and adjoining areas in North Waziristan Agency. He paid rich tributes to the sacrifices and valour of the officers and men of security agencies in operation Zarb-e-Azb and vowed that under no circumstance these gains will be compromised.
Gen Raheel said operation Zarb-e-Azb is in its last stages and attention should now be paid towards rehabilitation. “Terrorists network should be removed from all over the country. Intelligence operations should be expedited against terrorists,” he added.
