Pakistan marks two years of decisive war against terrorists

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday stressed the need to fight poverty, unemployment, instability alongside battling terrorism as the country marks two years of the operation Zarb-e-Azb.

The Operation Zarb-e-Azb, a military offensive against local and foreign militants, was launched on June, 15, 2014.

In a statement, the prime minister, who is recuperating in London after an open heart surgery, said backbone of terrorists have been broken and they would soon be thrown into the dustbin of history.

“We need to turn Pakistan into cradle of peace…Pakistani nation is a brick wall against internal, external foes,” said he.

He said the nation was united for the defence of the country. The Pakistan army backed by the Air Force launched a full scale military operation in North Waziristan after a group of militant stormed Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport killing over 30 people.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Raheel Sharif, who led the country's crucial war against battle hardened terrorists in North Waziristan, also visited North and South Waziristan agencies near Afghan border on Tuesday.

He spent the day with tribal people and army officials. The army chief's efforts are also focused on the rehabilitation and return of the locals who were displaced by the military's drive.

The army chief assured that the internally displaced persons' settlement would continue and completed within 2016.

“Focus within FATA (Federal Administered Tribal Areas) now will be on efficient border management to prevent cross border movement,” he said.

For enduring stability, Intelligence Based Operations IBOs and combing operations will continue with same vigor across the country, he said.

Beside killing thousands of terrorists in military operations in the tribal areas, the country also lifted a moratorium on capital punishment during the course of war after a militant raid on an army school in Peshawar, sending hundreds of convicts to gallows.

The country is struggling to implement a National Action Plan which was envisaged to root out terrorism.