RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD: Pakistans federal government has finally ordered the military to launch an all-out offensive against militant hideouts in the restive North Waziristan Agency (NWA), formally calling off months-old efforts to strike a peace deal with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliates.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who preferred peace talks, has been under pressure from army hawks as well as the United States to launch a major operation, and the announcement of a full-on offensive once again means the army gained the upper hand. On the directions of the government, the armed forces of Pakistan have launched a comprehensive operation against foreign and local terrorists who are hiding in sanctuaries in North Waziristan Agency. The operation has been named Zarb-e-Azb, said chief military spokesman Major-General Asim Saleem Bajwa in a statement on Sunday posted on the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) website.
Zarb-e-Azb was the name of the sword used by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) during the Battle of Badr, explained one military official. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is expected to take the nation into confidence about the military strike today (Monday) when he addresses the National Assembly.
All the members of parliament and federal ministers have been asked to be present during the proceedings of the house. Sharif is likely to provide a comprehensive background of the talks with the extremists and the sincerity of the government to find a peaceful solution of the situation.
It is expected that a resolution of identical text would be adopted by the two houses of parliament for pronouncing support of the action of the government against the terrorists.
The Express Tribune quotes an unnamed military official as saying that the decision to launch a full scale military offensive was taken on June 10 during the high-level civil and military huddle attended by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and army chief General Raheel Sharif. However, the formal launch of the operation was delayed till the holding of the presidential run-off vote in Afghanistan at Kabuls request.
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