Security forces kill nine militants in Hangu - Pakistan

February 22 - 2014

HANGU: Nine militants were killed when Pakistan armed forces’ gunship helicopters pounded militants’ hideouts in Hangu, Geo News reported Saturday.

According to the sources, shelling by security forces’ gunship helicopters destroyed militants’ compounds and killed nine militants including three key terrorists in various areas of Tehsil Tal.

Four gunship helicopters took part in the operation, sources added. It may be mentioned that Pakistani jets bombed militants’ hideouts in a north-western tribal district early Thursday, killing at least 35 militants, including local and foreign terrorists.

 The aircraft bombarded suspected militant hideouts in Mir Ali area of North Waziristan as part of surgical strikes which they said should not be taken as military operation. Sources told that the first strike killed commander Abdul Sattar when his compound was pounded by the jets followed by the series of strikes on Uzbek, Turkmen, Tajik and Taliban hideouts.

The decision to conduct air strikes in North Waziristan was taken by the military leadership after the approval of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The decision over the attacks on militant hideouts in North Waziristan was made after three consecutive days of meetings between the government and military leadership.

However, the government is still in favour to continue the dialogue process and the committee was directed to make contact with Taliban after they stop their terror activities. At least 172 people including personnel of police and army were martyred in 19 days during dialogues with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

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Army chief says military fully capable to counter threats

February 21 - 2014

ISLAMABAD: Brushing aside the impression about capability of Pakistan’s armed forces in countering terrorism and militancy, Army Chief General Raheel Sharif Friday said the military was fully capable to protect integrity and sovereignty of the country.

“Let there be no doubt that Pakistan’s armed forces are battle hardened and fully capable to counter any internal or external threat posed to the integrity and sovereignty of our beloved country,” he said while interacting with the troops at FC headquarters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

 Earlier this month, the upper house of Parliament witnessed a heated debate on a recent TV interview of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in which he had allegedly questioned the capability of the armed forces to take on the militants.

 The cricketer-turned-politician in an interview had stated that during a meeting the prime minister had quoted former army chief Gen (retd) Ashfaq Parvez Kayani as saying that there was a 40 per cent chance of success of a military operation against militants in the country’s tribal areas.

 The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) appreciated the spirit and high morale of the troops and said that the entire nation acknowledged sacrifices rendered by security forces in the war on terror as part of national effort to eliminate the scourge of terrorism from Pakistan.

Gen Sahrif assured them that these sacrifices will not go in vain. Recounting successes of the security forces in various operations against terrorists, he lauded the efforts and determination of all troops and Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) who cleared the militancy-hit areas, with the help of local population and support of the entire nation.

 “We are fully prepared to confront any challenge in future as well,” the COAS reaffirmed. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan yesterday said that carrying on with peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban amid terrorist attacks throughout the country would be injustice to the victims of such attacks.

Speaking at a press conference, he said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the military leadership do not intend to carry on with dialogue amid terrorist attacks. Earlier on his arrival in Peshawar, the army chief was received by Corps Commander Peshawar Lieutenant General Khalid Rabbani and Inspector General Frontier Corps KP Major General Ghayur Mahmood.

General Raheel Sharif was also briefed by the IG FC regarding ongoing operations in various parts of FATA and the province.

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Security forces undertook FATA strikes in ‘self-defence’: Nisar

February 20 - 2014

Pakistan News : ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Thursday said Pakistan’s security forces are undertaking strikes in FATA in ‘self-defense’, which is a right the government cannot take from the armed forces.

Addressing a press conference he said no operation has been undertaken in FATA since September last year and the current strikes are being undertaken by the security forces in self defence. Over peace talks with the Taliban, Chaudhry Nisar said that the government initiated dialogue process with sincerity and asked the political parties opposing the move as to why they had failed to launch military operation against the militants during their term in the government. Appreciating the role of the committees formed by the government and the Taliban for holding negotiation, he said both played a positive part. Clarifying media reports about information ministry’s alert that declared the federal capital an “extremely dangerous” city, Chaurdhry Nisar said the threat level to Islamabad has slipped down as compared to previous years. However, he added: “Safe City Project would be launched in coming weeks in a bid to protect the Islamabad city.” The security forces would be equipped with modern weapons which are being imported from China, he said. The Interior Minister further said that targeted operation is in progress in Karachi and Quetta against the militants. The government of Pakistan is making all out effort to protect the whole country, he added.

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Intelligence agencies have arrested three alleged Indian secret agents

February 20 - 2014

Pakistan News : KASUR: Intelligence agencies have arrested three alleged Indian secret agents from Kasur, Geo News reported.

According to intelligence sources, Indian passport, currency and arms were recovered from the agents, identified as Kashif, Umair and Shahzad. The intelligence officials have also seized photos of the cantonments and the troops deployed at the boarder from the possession of the Indian agents. They have been shifted to an undisclosed location for investigation.

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