Zarb-e-Azb not a military operation for Pakistan Army but a Resolve, a passion and a commitment to fight back
Agha Iqrar Haroon
This beautiful young boy is not a filmi Hero (Movie Star)— He is the Hero of the Nation— The country of Pakistan. He is Captain Akash Rabbani who gave his life to save this country in North Waziristan today. He is Martyr and Martyr never dies just we cannot have perception to see Martyr around us after their worldly death.
Pakistan gave sacrifices of around 50,000 people including women, children, men and youth and our enemy has been very brave to take the responsibility after killing our children—Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) took responsibility of almost 98% incidents of terrorism nature. This is a long story why Pakistan was reluctant or stopped for taking action against known heaven and hideouts of TTP in North Waziristan. Instead of going into details what happened in the past from March 1979 (when Pakistan Army opened Jihadi factories in North Waziristan and other areas in Pakistan for providing Mujahideens for Afghan-Russo War) to June 15, 2014 (the day country decided to launch full-fledged offence against Jihadi factories in North Waziristan), the nation must look forward and stand together to fight the enemy.
On the completion of the first month of Offence against terrorists in North Waziristan that has a code name as Zarb-e-Azb, the spokesman of Pakistan Army Maj Gen. Asim Bajwa briefed international and national media about progress of the operation. He appeared at almost all important television channels and also invited journalist to a reception. Maj Gen. Asim Bajwa usually talks less but his well-prepared data, compose tone and thought provoking comments were enough to send a message to the nation that Pakistan Army is not only doing its job (as many writers say this is the job of Army to fight and kill or to be killed) rather Pakistan Army is doing this Operation as a Resolve, with full commitment and with sense of ownership and responsibility. Everybody knows that Pakistan Army gave a share of its salaries for the betterment of International Displaced Persons (IDPs) (that are around 0.9 million now) but most of us do not know that our soldiers and officials are providing much financial support to IDPs then they are announcing— this is all at personal level—at human level therefore they do not wish to share with media how much they are supporting IDPs in financial terms. I have a friend whose two nephews are fighting in North Waziristan. I came to know that one of them distributed his whole salary of June-July among IDPs rather asked his mother to send more money. There are thousands of such young boys who are passionately serving and helping IDPs. Alas our journalists are miser to promote such humanitarian aspect of our armed forces.
The beauty of this operation Zarb-e-Azb is zero collateral damage while killing 500 plus terrorists and securing and recovering 25 tons plus IED and ammunition.
According to statistics, armed forces have destroyed 88 terrorist bases in North Waziristan Agency during Zarb-e-Azb in last one month.
Giving a media briefing at Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) headquarters, its DG Asim Bajwa said 26 soldiers embraced martyrdom while 195 others also lost their lives since the launch of military operation on June 15.
He said a key militant Matiullah was also killed in the on-going ground and aerial army raids.
Asim Bajwa said 80 percent of Miranshah has been cleansed of terrorists while clearance operation still continues in the rest of the area.
He said it is possible that some of the terrorists might have fled prior to the launch of military offensive in North Waziristan which had become a stronghold of the terrorists. But, he added, not a single terrorist escaped after the start of the operation.
International media has always been critical over Pakistan Army. This is a norm for international media but unfortunate to say Pakistani media is also getting into the trap of international media. Some media persons were asking me where are dead bodies of terrorists who were killed by Pakistan Army—No dead bodies means No causalities and No success and according to this narrative Pakistan Army had failed to capture or killed a single terrorist and whole operation is eye wash and useless. Alas we can think positively and with our own perception instead of borrowed from those who wish to defame Pakistan Army and do not miss an opportunity that comes on their way.
