Imran Khan
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Operation Rah-e-Nijat against Baitullah soon: ISPR
ISLAMABAD June 16 (APP): The security forces are in the preliminary phase to launch Rah-e-Nijat operation against militant commander Baitullah Mehsud and his network in South Waziristan Agency, Director General ISPR Major General Athar Abbas said Tuesday. The Army has received requisite orders from the government. Necessary steps and measures are being taken by the Military to launch the operation, he told a media briefing.
The operation called Rah-e-Nijat is meant to deal with the scourge of terrorism.
The ISPR head told a questioner that according to a press statement of Baitullah he has a force of around 10,000 militants.
He said all the necessary arrangements were being made by the security forces to block escape of militants from the area, where the operation is to be launched.
Major General Abbas said further details about Rah-e-Nijat could be divulged to the press only after the launch of the operation.
He said that almost all the settled areas in Swat and Mingora had been cleared of the terrorists and steps were being taken to prevent return of militants.
A four-tier strategy was being evolved for the purpose which included presence of security forces in the area till the people were fully satisfied about safe and secure environment.
Other aspects of the strategy, he said were the restoration of the civil administration in the areaa, besides beefing up of the police forces by inducting fresh blood.
Lastly, he said notables of the areas would involved in pinpointing problems and suggesting remedies.
He said people of these areas could return only after the restoration of basic amenities and facilities.
Curfew from areas like Kalam and Bahrain had been lifted and Civil Administration and police had become fully functional in Shnagla District, he said.
He said during last 24 hours, 13 terrorists were killed and 3 were apprehended in Malakand and Dir while Peochar valley had been completely secured and link up operation from Chaprial to Peochar had been completed.
Security forces captured and destroyed complete training facility at Balasar-Chaprial having 120 feet long tunnels, firing range and training area, he said, adding that a terrorist Shah Sultan who was expert in making suicidal jackets had been killed in Charbagh area.
The ISPR chief said during search operation three terrorists were apprehended at Salhand near Fizaghat and on a tip off two vehicles prepared for suicide mission had been recovered and destroyed at Dangram.
Two tunnels had been discovered and destroyed at Loi Numal in Peochar Valley and 2 at Rampatai. During search operation in Gokand Banda, Sarsanai, Khairabad and Ghodanbanda caches of arms and ammunition were recovered from all four areas.
During operations upto Aligrama seven IEDs and one Anti Tank Mine were recovered and destroyed by security forces which in Nawakili and Watakai recovered cache of arms, ammunition and communication equipment.
During search operation on a tip off regarding presence of terrorists in an area between Hayasarai and Lal Qila, the security force launched on operation and during the encounter 12 terrorists were killed including important commander Abdullah.
Answering a question, he said that a number of master minds and other terrorists had been arrested from various cities of the country and all this success was due to efficient and prompt information provided by the intelligence agencies.
He said Operation Rah-e-Raast was also initiated on the information of intelligence agencies and all the success achieved was due to them. The people working in the intelligence agencies of the country are unsung heroes and their good work is not visible directly to the public, he told a questioner.
In reply to another question he said that the fall out of the operation was obvious as the terrorists can make desperate attempts in retaliation to the operation. However, he said the operation would continue till the achievement of goals.
We will Inshallah over come the situation and take the Operation to its logical end, he firmly said.
When his comment was sought on the setting up of Cantonment in Swat, he said that the ground work in this behalf was being finalized while the selection of location would only be taken after completion of the Operation.
He said 21 trucks of ICRC carrying food items and medicines had reached Mingora where electricity to a large portion had been restored. Wapda staff had moved to Mingora and PTCL staff was also moving to Mingora to restore communication facility. Around 80 % work for restoration of Sui Gas in Mingora had already been restored.
Engineer elements for reconstruction of road and bridges had completed their survey and would start the work in next 3 to 4 days, he added.
ISLAMABAD June 16 (APP): The security forces are in the preliminary phase to launch Rah-e-Nijat operation against militant commander Baitullah Mehsud and his network in South Waziristan Agency, Director General ISPR Major General Athar Abbas said Tuesday. The Army has received requisite orders from the government. Necessary steps and measures are being taken by the Military to launch the operation, he told a media briefing.
The operation called Rah-e-Nijat is meant to deal with the scourge of terrorism.
The ISPR head told a questioner that according to a press statement of Baitullah he has a force of around 10,000 militants.
He said all the necessary arrangements were being made by the security forces to block escape of militants from the area, where the operation is to be launched.
Major General Abbas said further details about Rah-e-Nijat could be divulged to the press only after the launch of the operation.
He said that almost all the settled areas in Swat and Mingora had been cleared of the terrorists and steps were being taken to prevent return of militants.
A four-tier strategy was being evolved for the purpose which included presence of security forces in the area till the people were fully satisfied about safe and secure environment.
Other aspects of the strategy, he said were the restoration of the civil administration in the areaa, besides beefing up of the police forces by inducting fresh blood.
Lastly, he said notables of the areas would involved in pinpointing problems and suggesting remedies.
He said people of these areas could return only after the restoration of basic amenities and facilities.
Curfew from areas like Kalam and Bahrain had been lifted and Civil Administration and police had become fully functional in Shnagla District, he said.
He said during last 24 hours, 13 terrorists were killed and 3 were apprehended in Malakand and Dir while Peochar valley had been completely secured and link up operation from Chaprial to Peochar had been completed.
Security forces captured and destroyed complete training facility at Balasar-Chaprial having 120 feet long tunnels, firing range and training area, he said, adding that a terrorist Shah Sultan who was expert in making suicidal jackets had been killed in Charbagh area.
The ISPR chief said during search operation three terrorists were apprehended at Salhand near Fizaghat and on a tip off two vehicles prepared for suicide mission had been recovered and destroyed at Dangram.
Two tunnels had been discovered and destroyed at Loi Numal in Peochar Valley and 2 at Rampatai. During search operation in Gokand Banda, Sarsanai, Khairabad and Ghodanbanda caches of arms and ammunition were recovered from all four areas.
During operations upto Aligrama seven IEDs and one Anti Tank Mine were recovered and destroyed by security forces which in Nawakili and Watakai recovered cache of arms, ammunition and communication equipment.
During search operation on a tip off regarding presence of terrorists in an area between Hayasarai and Lal Qila, the security force launched on operation and during the encounter 12 terrorists were killed including important commander Abdullah.
Answering a question, he said that a number of master minds and other terrorists had been arrested from various cities of the country and all this success was due to efficient and prompt information provided by the intelligence agencies.
He said Operation Rah-e-Raast was also initiated on the information of intelligence agencies and all the success achieved was due to them. The people working in the intelligence agencies of the country are unsung heroes and their good work is not visible directly to the public, he told a questioner.
In reply to another question he said that the fall out of the operation was obvious as the terrorists can make desperate attempts in retaliation to the operation. However, he said the operation would continue till the achievement of goals.
We will Inshallah over come the situation and take the Operation to its logical end, he firmly said.
When his comment was sought on the setting up of Cantonment in Swat, he said that the ground work in this behalf was being finalized while the selection of location would only be taken after completion of the Operation.
He said 21 trucks of ICRC carrying food items and medicines had reached Mingora where electricity to a large portion had been restored. Wapda staff had moved to Mingora and PTCL staff was also moving to Mingora to restore communication facility. Around 80 % work for restoration of Sui Gas in Mingora had already been restored.
Engineer elements for reconstruction of road and bridges had completed their survey and would start the work in next 3 to 4 days, he added.
Our forum member S2 had earlier pointed out that Mualvi Nazir group had decided to switch sides and ally with Baitullah - this joint operation is further proof that cooperation will succeed where unilateralim fails.
