RAWALPINDI: Director General Inter-Service Public Relations Major General Asim Bajwa talks about the progress in Operation Zarb-e-Azab in a press briefing.
“In 2014 the country was marred by incidents of terrorism, DG ISPR Lt Gen Asim Bajwa said. “But now the Shawal valley [previously hideouts for terrorists] is now like Paris and Switzerland,” he said.
He said that the Shawal Valley produced pine nuts, an expensive dry fruit. “Terrorists would use profit generate from these crops which amounted to billions for funding terror across the country.”
Peace in the region was restored after huge sacrifices made by the armed forces, he said. “30 Rangers personnel lost their life in the attack.”
He added that 168 combing operations to ensnare terrorists were conducted in the country while 900 terrorists were killed.
Speaking about Daesh he said that the organization took birth in the Middle East but it spread it tentacles to the entire world. “Six Tehrik-e-Taliban commanders pledged allegiance to Daesh. In Orkzai agency Hafiz Saeed was declare the leader,” he said.
He added that Daesh was trying to enter Pakistan. However wall chalking in big cities were done by hired individuals who were given Rs 1,000 each.
“Our security personnel entered North Waziristan and Khyber Agency to destroy terrorist hideouts. 992 hideouts were destroyed, 253 tons explosives were recovered, and 7599 ammunition factories were destroyed,” he added.
2581 land mines were spotted and 35310 rockets were recovered.
He said that the Pak-Afghan border was being sealed so that terrorists could not infiltrate.
Answering a question he said that the Army was conducting an indiscriminate operation and was targeting the Haqqani Network.
Lauding the success of the operation he said, “FATA has been cleared. All terrorist sleeper cells have been busted.”