Pakistan government finally launched military operation in lawless North Waziristan tribal agency and  over 120 militants have been killed in fighter jet bombings since Sunday.

Islamabad, June 16/Nationalturk – After lot of ifs and buts, Pakistan government finally launched military operation in lawless North Waziristan tribal agency and according to security officials, over 120 militants have been killed in fighter jet bombings since Sunday.

Pakistan military launched operation Zarb-e-Azb ( Sharp and Cutting)  against local and foreign terrorists in North Waziristan on Sunday evening.

“It would be a comprehensive operation against the terrorists who had established sanctuaries in North Waziristan,” Pakistan military spokesman said.

He said the ground operation has been launched in North Waziristan on the directives of the civilian government.

“The security forces have besieged Miranshah and Mir Ali, the two main towns of North Waziristan. The civilians have been allowed to leave the area and surrender points have been established at various spots for the militants who are willing to surrender. The displaced people will be provided transport and shelter,” he said.

‘Operation launched against local, foreign militants’

The spokesman said  the operation has been launched against the local and foreign militants, who were using North Waziristan for terror activities.

“Using North Waziristan as a base, these terrorists had waged a war against the state of Pakistan and had been disrupting our national life in all its dimensions, stunting our economic growth and causing enormous loss of life and property.  They had also paralysed life within the agency and had perpetually terrorised the entire peace loving and patriotic local population,” he said.

“Our valiant armed forces have been tasked to eliminate these terrorists regardless of hue and color, along with their sanctuaries. With the support of the entire nation, and in coordination with other state institutions and Law Enforcement Agencies, these enemies of the state will be denied space anywhere across the country,” the Pakistan military spokesman added.

‘Afghan forces asked to seal border’

Pakistan military spokesman said Afghan forces have been asked to seal the border to stop the fleeing militants, and aerial surveillance has also been conducted in the area.

“Army has been given the task of eliminating the terrorists. The process of identifying terrorists’ sanctuaries has been completed,” he said.

Pakistan security officials said thousands of troops will participate in the military operation.  “About 25,000 to 30,000 troops will be involved in the operation,” they said.

Pakistan military jets bomb militant positions

The Pakistan military fighter jets bombed militant hide-outs and positions in Shawal and Mir Ali areas of North Waziristan on Monday morning. “The local and foreign militant hideouts were targeted and destroyed. About 20 militants including some Uzbeki militants were killed in the fresh aerial bombing,” the officials, pleading anonymity said.

Earlier, on Sunday morning, Pakistan military fighter jets conducted aerial bombings on militant hideouts at Deegan village of Boya tehsil and Datta Khel tehsil in North Waziristan.

Pakistan military spokesman said over 50 militants were killed in the bombing. However, security officials have said the toll is higher and about 100 militants including Uzbeki militant and a top commander were killed in the bombing.

A security official, pleaded anonymity, said a senior Uzbek militant, Abu Abdur Rahman Al Mani, who was mastermind of recent terrorist attack on country’s busiest airport in Kashmir, was killed in the Sunday air strikes in Deegan village.

Security beefed up

After launch of military operation in North Waziristan, security agencies have beefed up security across the country, especially around key government and military installations.

The security in and around the jails, including  Adiala Jail in capital, where a number of hardcore militants are languishing currently, has been beefed up.

A security official said security was put on high alert in big cities including Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore, Quetta and Karachi.

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