Appearing from Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Muzaffarabad & Quetta

Tuesday, October 20, 2009, Shawwal 30, 1430

Operation Rah-e-Nijat quickens
78 terrorists killed, nine soldiers martyred

Tanvir Siddiqi/Tariq Saeed

Islamabad/Peshawar—The security forces are attaining quick progress in South Waziristan operation as 78 terrorists have been killed while 9 soldiers were martyred during the operation so far. The terrorists had established their own state in South Waziristan while recent suicide attacks across the country were linked with South Waziristan.

This was stated by the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcast Qamar Zaman Kaira and Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Athar Abbas at a joint press briefing here on Monday.

DG ISPR Major General Athar Abbas said that during the last twenty four hours eighteen terrorists were killed in various parts of the South Waziristan while two soldiers embraced Shahadat and twelve others were injured.

He said , our security forces are fully capable to thwart the terrorist activities and they are strengthening their positions in the agency. There are about five to ten thousand terrorists in the agency. One thousand foreign terrorists are also operating in the area.

He said the security forces are fully backed by the local people and we are confident that we will be able to complete the operation within the stipulated time.

Replying a question he said, the security forces taking part in the operation are fully equipped with arms and ammunition and we do not need any foreign assistance in this regard.

DG ISPR referred to the Swat operation and said that with the sustained support of the people the security forces accomplished the task successfully within the shortest possible time and expressed the hope that the same support of the people will remain with us in this operation.

Replying a question Major General Athar Abbas said that splinter groups of the defunct organizations are taking refuge in the South Waziristan areas and are planning terrorist attacks in other parts of the country, that is why this operation had to be launched to dismentle these elements. He said this operation is not against any tribe but is to wipe out the terrorists who are challenging the writ of the government and have taken law and order into their hands.

To another question DG ISPR said the terrorists are receiving weapons and communication system via Afghanistan.

Major General Athar Abbas said the troops have reached at Kaskai, north of the Kund and also secured Tor Ghundai and Shish Warm. Two amunition cache sites have been blown at Spinghara. He said security forces are consolidating their positions after securing Sherwangi area. Stiff resistance was faced there and after heavy fighting the security forces killed number of terrorists and captured their position. He said the security forces are also consolidating their positions south of Razmak while arms and amunition dumps made in the caves between Ladha and Makeen have been destroyed by precision air targeting.

The Information Minister answering a question said that the whole nation stands with the army in operation against the terrorists initiated in the South Waziristan.

He said the government took the decision to take action against the militants in this area when the writ of the national institutions was challenged by the militants.

He pledged that no state within the state would be allowed and the war on terrorism would continue till their complete elimination.

He said so far fourteen thousand five hundred families which left South Waziristan have been registered. These include eleven thousand old families and three thousand five hundred new.

He said immediately these IDPs would be provided one month ration and very soon they will be supplied with the non-food items. He said so far no camp has been established as the IDPs prefer to stay with their relatives or tribes. He said that sufficient funds have been earmarked to look after the displaced persons.

Replying a question the Minister said that the government had already condemned the drone attacks which are proving counter productive. He said Pakistan should be provided the drone technology as our forces could use this technology in a better way.

He said our security forces have dismentled various networks of the terrorist organizations and the government is making efforts to flush out these elements from our soil. He said our security forces are fully alert to deal with any fallout in other parts of the country due to the operation in the South Waziristan.

According to details the security forces conducting grand and decisive operation against the insurgents in South Waziristan have made substantial advances towards militant’s strongholds inflicting more losses on the trouble makers. There are reports of fierce fighting between the security forces and the men loyal to Hakimullah Mehsud in many parts of SWA.

The security forces ground and air offensives, left more militants dead in the troubled agency as the operation entered third day on Monday.

On the other hand, massive evacuation from the affected areas continued and more than 100,000 people have left the region to seek refuge at safer places.

The PAF gunship helicopters and jet fighters are also taking part in the action along thousands of ground troops supported by heavy artillery. Bloody clashes continued between the security forces and the comrades of more hostile and aggressive new Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud in parts of SWA including Ladha, Makeen, Khesoor Sherwangi and Kaskai areas with the security forces tightening their noose around Kotkai area the home town of Qari Hussain, known as Mentor of suicide bombers, as well as Hakimullah Mehsud.

The security forces, have already taken positions on the Kotkai Mountains and in the process setup many check posts in Mundana area where the militants and the forces were engaged in a pitched battle. The security forces faced stiff resistance from militants in Sherwangi area which was eventually secured by the forces.

Forces targeted militant positions with the help of heavy artillery from Manzai. Wana, Jandola, Razmak and Sarokai areas destroying many hide outs of the militants.Arms and ammunition dumps made in the caves between Ladha and Makeen were destroyed with the help of gunship helicopters. The jet fighters and gunship choppers , pounded militant positions in Ladha and Makeen area.

On Jandola – Sararogha Axis the security forces made envelopment maneuver around town of Kotkai. The troops have reached Kaskai feature.

The forces were consolidating their positions after securing Sherwangi. Perimeter of security is being enhanced around Wuzi Sar and Boya Narai. Stiff resistance was faced by security forces in Sherwangi.

After heavy fighting a number of terrorists were killed and their positions were captured. One post of 12.7 mm Anti Aircraft gun was vacated by terrorists without fighting.

The Security forces are consolidating their positions in the south and south west of Razmak.

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