ISLAMABAD, June 21 (APP): Law and order has significantly improved over the last two years in the country, after Operation Zarb-e-Azb was launched in the tribal areas.
The accomplishments achieved by Pakistan’s security apparatus
in two years are felt by all and sundry, official sources said.
The fruits of the Zarb-e-Azb are matchless, and the nation is
beholden to the armed forces and all other state institutions and
political players, who, setting aside their differences on other
issues, joined hands against terrorists.
On June 15, 2014 Operation Zarb-e-Azb was started aimed
at rooting out menace of terrorism.
The security situation was very precarious when the present
government took power. The mosques, churches, markets and other
places had become soft targets of the terrorists.
At that time, the incumbent government and the security forces
with the mutual consensus initiated decisive action against
terrorism. Now, peace has largely been restored in the country.
Especially, people of Karachi are now carrying out their day-
to-day activities without any fear.
The phenomenal gains made in the first two years of Zarb-e-Azb
became possible only because of a national consensus and single-
mindedness among all stakeholders and key institutions for which the
federal and provincial governments, political parties, Parliament,
the Supreme Court and armed forces deserve immense acclaim and
approbation.
The federal government and political parties hammered out a
consensus and accorded political ownership to the military campaign;
the parliament passed the requisite amendments in the Constitution
and the army law; the Supreme Court validated these changes; and the
armed forces carried out the operation in an exceptional manner.
Every institution earned kudos and congratulations for its role.
The operation was launched in phases and people were provided
opportunity to be shifted to safe areas. The terrorists’ hideouts
were destroyed in Shawal and many operations were carried out in
FATA and Swat for establishing writ of the government with
sacrifices of the troops.
Intelligence Based Operations (IBOs) and combing operations
were carried out in the four provinces to stop terrorists from
spreading. Operations were also undertaken against the facilitators
with the help and cooperation of the citizens.
During the operation, 7,591 IEDs, 35,310 mortar bombs and
rockets and 2,481 land mines and suicide jackets were recovered.
The troops seized about 253 tons of explosive which according
to some calculations was enough for the terrorists to make
ammunition and IEDs for 15 years.
During the two years operation, about 3,500 terrorists were killed
and 992 of their hideouts were destroyed. In achieving this, 490
troops lost their lives while 2,108 others were wounded. The wounded
included those who had either lost their legs or arms or eyes or
much more.
It was no less embarrassment that a real no-go area also
existed in the tribal belt.
Because of restoration of law and order, 61% of the IDPs have returned, while the remaining ones would be back by the end of the year.
During the rehabilitation phase in FATA, schools, mosques and
markets were being built and basic infrastructure was being
developed and 700 kilometer long road was being built in Waziristan.
The new wings of FC and para military forces were being raised to man the check posts allowing the visitors after proper verification along 2600km porous border with Afghanistan.
