COAS says Zarb-e-Azb irreversibly eradicated terror networks in Fata

Opens Younus Khan Sports Stadium in NWA,
shortest trade route to Afghanistan

PESHAWAR: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif said on Tuesday that the Zarb-e-Azb operation had irreversibly eradicated terrorist networks in Fata.

According to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release, the army chief was speaking at a jirga of elders during his visit to North Waziristan. He also paid a flying visit to South Waziristan.

General Raheel was briefed about the progress of stablisation operations, return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and development projects in Fata.  Expressing satisfaction at the progress of return of IDPs, the army chief commended the efforts of everyone involved in ensuring their smooth and timely return with dignity and honour.

General Raheel directed them to complete the return of remaining IDPs within stipulated time before the close of the year 2016. As part of a comprehensive rehabilitation and reconstruction effort, significant projects were commissioned on Tuesday. An 84 kilometres long Bannu-Miranshah-Ghulam Khan Road funded by USAID and constructed by the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) was also opened. 

The ISPR said this would become the shortest trade route to Afghanistan wherein travelling time between Bannu and Ghulam Khan border post will reduce from six hours to one and a half hour. With this road, it said, the 705 kilometres long strategic central trade corridor to Afghanistan has been completed for all kind of movement across the border up to Central Asia.

General Raheel also inaugurated state-of-the-art Younus Khan Sports Stadium with a
packed crowd of viewers watching an inaugural match played between Fata Eleven and Younas Khan Eleven.

The army chief hoped the enormous talent of Fata youth will be honed with upcoming educational and sports facilities. He said with no dearth of talent, their aspirations to rise at the international level would be accomplished.

While addressing the jirga of tribal elders, General Raheel said Zarb-e-Azb operation had irreversibly eradicated terrorist networks from Fata. "We have made considerable gains in our operations and reached close to our objective of total elimination of terrorism from our soil," he added.

Paying glowing tributes to tribal people, General Raheel lauded them for extending full support to the security forces in the effort for restoring peace and stability of the region. He assured the tribal people that the Pakistan Army and government were determined to ensure that all promises made for their socio-economic development are fulfilled to open avenues of prosperity and socio-economic turnaround. "We will give a secure and prosperous Pakistan to our future generations," he declared.

The tribal elders thanked the army chief for cleansing their area from terrorists, bringing peace and ensuring a quality reconstruction work.  Earlier, General Raheel and his wife also visited South Waziristan to see one of the newly opened Army Public Schools in Chagmalai and spend time with the children.

Speaking at the occasion, the army chief commended the faculty and the students for exhibiting such excellent standards of education in the tribal area. He appreciated the locals for their keenness to send children to schools. "Only education can help elevate our future generations to growth and prosperity," he emphasised.

During the visit to Miranshah, the wife of General Raheel Sharif had a separate interaction with a huge gathering of local ladies. She appreciated their sacrifices and heard their issues related to resettlement. Earlier on arrival, the army chief was received by Lieutenant General Hidayatur Rehman, Corps Commander Peshawar.