SHAFAQNA PAKISTAN (Shia News Agency)
Dozens of militants and Pakistani soldiers have died in fierce fighting as part of a new effort by the military to gain control of the Tirah Valley, a notorious militant sanctuary on the border with Afghanistan. The army is seeking to build on last year’s offensive against militants in North Waziristan to seize control of Tirah, a remote valley controlled by the pro-Taliban group Lashkar-i-Islam and a smattering of smaller militant groups, some of which have pledged allegiance to Islamic State. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif, has been visiting the troops fighting on the frontline in Tirah valley. He has repeated the statement that terrorists would not be allowed to stage a comeback to the area, and further that the ongoing battle against militancy would be taken to its “logical conclusion” across the entire country and not only in the tribal areas. He was careful to thank what he called “the tribal brethren” for their support in evicting the militants from the tribal region. The COAS said that the goal was “ultimate peace” and in that there would be few that would disagree with him. He said Pakistan Army besides performing its role as custodian of national frontiers had always been a forerunner in terms of its contribution to national development.
He said physical, mental and social health was a prelude to a strong nation and provision of professional health services to the common man must be everyone’s priority. He said extensive and continuous research was the national need without which no institution could achieve excellence.
However coming back to Operation Zarb.e.Azb, though army has taken over most of the area and cleared it from terrorists but most of the terrorists flee in the bordering area Afghanistan, thus one cannot say that it is ultimate victory. Taliban can return any time and once again reunite against Pakistani forces. They would certainly make an early return as soon as possible. Thus there is a dire need to train the locals to fight out these terrorists so that they could not hole in once again in settled areas of Tribal belt.
pakistan.shafaqna.com
