Pakistan begins operation against militants hiding in north and near Afghan border

Zee Media Bureau

Islamabad: A week after the Pakistani Taliban brazenly attacked the Karachi airport, Pakistan on Sunday launched military operation against foreign and local militants hiding in sanctuaries near the Afghan border, reports said.

Pak had mulled launching an "comprehensive operation" after the attack on Karachi airport and finally its Army received a go-ahead from the Nawaz Sharif government today.

Military spokesman Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa said that on the directions of the Government, Armed forces of Pakistan have launched the much-awaited offensive against the terrorists hiding in sanctuaries in North Wazirastan Agency.

"The operation has been named Zarb-e-Azb," he said.

Using North Waziristan as a base, the terrorists had waged a war against Pakistan and had been disrupting normal life in all its dimensions, stunting our economic growth and causing enormous loss of life and property, he said.

"They had also paralysed life within the agency and had perpetually terrorised the entire peace loving and patriotic local population."

"Our valiant armed forces have been tasked to eliminate these terrorists regardless of hue and colour, along with their sanctuaries," the military spokesman said.

He said 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 neutralised across Pakistan.

The long-awaited operation against the militants came after the Taliban attacked Karachi airport, considered a key asset of the country, killing at least 39 persons, including all 10 terrorists.

Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had claimed responsibility for the attack.

With PTI Inputs