ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif has said that the Indian troops’ continuous violation of ceasefire at the Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary affected Pakistan’s operation against militants in the country’s volatile northwestern tribal region.
The Pakistan’s army has been carrying military operations in North Waziristan and Khyber tribal regions against various outlawed militant groups.
The COAS, who is currently on a seven-day visit to the United States, told the US officials said that Pakistan’s campaign in fighting against extremism was being affected by heavy firing by the Indian troops along the border and statements issued by their leaders, BBC Urdu reported citing an official in Washington.
The army chief said that 140,000 troops have been deployed by Pakistan on its Western border. He told the US officials said that they were given assurance that there would be peace with India on its eastern borders but it did not happen.
The Pakistan’s military said that so far 1,198 militants have been killed and 356 injured during the operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan while more than 150 militants have been killed so far as during the operation Khyber-I.
In a media briefing in Mir Ali on Sunday, the Commander of the Operation Zarb-e-Azb Major General Zafar Ullah Khan said that the Pakistan’s army has cleared 90 percent of North Waziristan agency of militants during the ongoing operation.
US confers military medal on General Raheel Sharif
On the other hand, the COAS held separate meetings with the US Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey, the Deputy Secretary Defense Robert Work and the Commandant US Marines General Joseph Dunford in Washington.
During the meetings, security issues, situation in Afghanistan and military-to-military relations were discussed, according to the Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asim Bajwa.
The DG ISPR said that General Raheel Sharif was also conferred with the US Legion of Merit military medal for brave leadership, sagacity, vision, efforts for peace and stability in the South Asia region.
The army chief was presented gun salute in the United States at an impressive guard of honor ceremony.
