RAWAPINDI, Pakistan: The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) has said that writ of the government has been established in insurgency-hit Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Swat area, and operation would continue in some pockets to eliminate terrorists.
Briefing the media representatives in Rawalpindi on Wednesday which marked the 2nd anniversary of the anti-terror military operation Zarb-e-Azb, the Director General ISPR Lt. General Asim Bajwa said that the operation would continue till eradication of the menace of terrorism.
Talking about the achievements of Zarb-e-Azb, the DG ISPR said that it is because of restoration of law and order that 61 percent of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have returned to their homes in FATA.
Bajwa said that since the operation was launched in June 2014, 2100 terrorists have been killed during operations in different parts of the country while 490 troops also embraced martyrdom during these operations.
The DG ISPR said that more than 19,000 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) were carried out all over the country which led to dismantling of terrorist networks and destruction of their hideouts. He said there were many no go areas, which have also been cleared.
Asim Bajwa said that 1200 terrorists were either arrested or killed in Karachi and as a consequence there has been significant improvement in law and order situation in the city. He said there has been marked reduction in incidents of target killings, kidnappings for ransom and extortion.
The director general ISPR said that the operation has been carried out without any discrimination and intelligence-based and combing operations would continue throughout the country. He said that 280 IBOs have been conducted in Central, South and North Punjab.
Moreover, he said that as declared by Army Chief General Raheel Sharif there would be now focus on border management on Pak-Afghan border to check infiltration.
Bajwa said that a border management mechanism is being developed under which Frontier Corps (FC) and Para-Military forces would be raised to strengthen crossing points.
The DG ISPR said that there are eight established crossing points on Pak-Afghan border besides numerous informal points. He said construction of gates and fencing is part of the border management to ensure that no one enters the country without proper documents.
Replying to a question, he said that agents of Afghan intelligence agency National Directorate of Security (NDS) used to cross into Pakistan through Torkham border. He said that our intelligence agencies are fully alive to the designs and activities of hostile agencies and would foil their plans.
