Pakistan Army has launched a ground offensive in North Waziristan Agency’s (NWA) mountainous Shawal Valley, regarded as the last haven of fleeing homegrown militants and their foreign cohorts. Meanwhile, the army’s fighter jets on Thursday continued to target militants’ hideouts in the agency for the fifth consecutive day, killing at least 43 suspected terrorists.
“Ground operation in Shawal, North Waziristan begins,” announced Major General Asim Salim Bajwa, the chief of army’s media-wing – Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) – on micro-blogging website Twitter. Maj Gen Bajwa said the army chief General Raheel Sharif has directed the security forces to achieve the objectives as soon as possible. General Raheel lauded the ideal air and ground forces coordination, he said.
Meanwhile, an official of the security forces said fighter jets on Thursday targeted militants’ hideouts in Lwara Madai, Gharlamai, Ocha Bibi, Zvi Naray and several other areas of tehsil Shawal and Datta Khel in the NWA. To begin with, the fight in the Shawal region is expected to be very tough, according to the military and what the militants themselves have suggested. It is not so much a last stand by the militants as the fact that the region is difficult for armies to operate in, the dense foliage and mountainous terrain putting small groups of militants at an advantage, at least when it comes to evading the full force of the military power that is to be used against them. This challenge ahead is indeed cause for sombre reflection even as the country remembers those who have already fallen in the war against militancy. The battle will also be complicated by the Afghan question. Earlier, too many militants escaped into Afghanistan and while the military has repeatedly claimed that this is less likely to occur in the current fight, only the days and weeks ahead will confirm whether that is in fact true. Finally, there is the question of the Haqqani Network and US demands. While the military has claimed not to have made any distinction in the fight against militants in North Waziristan, it also appears to be the case that the Haqqanis have been encouraged to play a more direct role in the Afghan Taliban leadership structure.Furthermore, while the timing of the announcement of the Shawal operation may have nothing to do with the US government’s resolve to withhold Coalition Support Funds, there remains far too much that is unknown about how the military makes decisions vital to securing the country. More transparency in policy and especially the results of goals is needed.
pk.shafaqna.com
