Army gives green signal to govt on completion of operation Rah-e-Nijat by the end of March

SOUTH WAZIRISTAN/ISLAMABAD: Army has given green signal to federal government to complete operation “Rah-e-Nijat” in South Waziristan by the end of March as per schedule.

Defence sources and political authorities had told Online Monday the strategy adopted by army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and his commanders had remained successful in South Waziristan and it had yielded results upto the expectations.

Defence sources revealed the operation was launched on October, 17, 2009 and it was decided in the meeting of corps commanders that it would be completed within shortest possible time.

Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani during his meeting with president Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani a few days earlier told that army had achieved its targets of operation in South Waziristan. Supply line of militants had been cut off and their training centres had been dismantled. Army had established its own system by jamming the communication system of the militants and all the key hideouts of militants located in Wana, Shakai, Serarogha and other areas had come under the control of army. Resistance on their part had come to end, the majority of the militants had been killed and leadership had run away.

The military leadership had not made any formal confirmation about the killing of Hakimullah Mehsud. Army was all poised to play its role to ensure return and rehabilitation of over 150000 displaced persons.

Military leadership had urged federal government to strengthen its hold on the areas secured from the militants and whatever responsibility would be assigned by the federal government would be discharged by it.

Sources told army had evolved strategy in April to ensure return of displaced persons to their homes while over 2000 terrorists had been killed during the operation, hundreds of them were injured and key leaders had been arrested.