Raheel orders final phase of anti-terror operation

Islamabad - Sacrifices of the soldiers will achieve objective of a terror-free Pakistan

Pakistan's army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif has ordered troops to launch the final phase of an operation Zarb-i-Azb to flush out militants in a tribal region near the Afghan border.
In a statement, the military said Gen. Raheel issued this instruction on Wednesday during his visit to forward positions of the army in North Waziristan, where the army launched a massive operation to eliminate local and foreign militants in June, 2014. The military claims it has now cleared 90 per cent of the region.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that the army chief was briefed regarding operational gains and impending operations.
The deep and forested ravines of Shawal valley and the area of Data Khel are frequently used as infiltration routes by the militants, the army chief was informed.
The last phase of the operation aims to clear the last remnants of the militants from their hideouts in the forested ravines, isolate them and destroy them in detail, while also severing their links to their abettors across the country.
Gen. Raheel expressed complete satisfaction over the gains and the effects of the operations and acknowledged the resolve of the army troops to fully eliminate the militants.
While addressing troops, participating in the operation, the army chief commended their high state of morale and paid tribute to their resilience and sacrifice.
"The sacrifices of the soldiers will not go waste and we will achieve our ultimate objective of a terror-free Pakistan," said the army chief while addressing the troops.
The ISPR added that the troops have regrouped, reinforced and have moved to jump-off positions for the final phase. Military operation Zarb-i-Azb was launched in North Waziristan on June 15, 2014 following a brazen militant attack on Karachi's international airport and the failure of peace talks between the government and outlawed Tehreek-i-Taleban Pakistan