327 terrorists killed, 45 hideouts destroyed during Zarb-e-Azb operation: DG ISPR

26 Jun, 2014

RAWALPINDI: As many as 327 hardcore terrorists had been killed while 45 hideouts of terrorists were destroyed in North Waziristan Agency during ongoing operation Zarb-e-Azb launched on June 15.

Briefing the media here, Director General, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), Maj General Asim Saleem Bajwa said that 19 terrorists surrendered before the security personnel.

He informed that 10 personnel of law enforcement agencies laid down their lives while seven were injured in the line of duty.

About internally displaced people (IDPs), he informed that so far 456,292 people comprising 36,804 families had been registered and majority of them had shifted to their relatives in Bannu, D.I. Khan and Lakki Marwat.

He said only a few hundred persons opted to stay in the camps set up for the IDPs.

Giving the details he said during January 29 to June 8, some 195 persons were martyred in 20 terrorist incidents.

North Waziristan had become stronghold of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and hub of terrorists activities, he added.

In this backdrop, it was decided to launch an operation aimed at restoring the writ of the government.

He said, that army troops, FC Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's troops, Khassadar, levis, intelligence agencies and Pakistan Air Force were deployed to flush out the terrorist from the area.

Maj General Bajwa said that 50 army personnel along with 20 NDMA officials were deployed for registration of all IDPs.

Six ration distribution points have been established at Bannu, DI Khan and Tank for provision of food packets and medicines to the IDPs.

While every family was given Rs 15,000 besides one month ration announced by the army, he added.

Out of all enlisted IDPs, 221,000 were administered polio drops, he added.

The DG ISPR said that NADRA mobile, and Smart Card vans were made available to check the identity of the incoming IDPs at the registration centres.

About relief collection points, he said 32 such points had been set up at different cities.

To a question, he pointed out that 400 Afghan families had crossed over to Afghanistan after the start of ongoing operation.

Terming the ongoing operation as war of survival of Pakistan, he said the whole nation had to play its role to support armed forces in rooting out terrorism from the country.

He also urged the media to create awareness among the people to wipe out any misperception regarding the operation.

To yet another query he said, Afghan government had been requested to take action against those terrorists who could cross over to Afghan territory to avoid operation.

He said that Pakistan voiced against the drone attacks as Pakistan armed forces were fully capable to defeat terrorists.

He said that joint control rooms had been set up with UAN - 1135 in different cities where people could share information about any suspicious person or activity.

Read Comments