Govt, army will jointly reconstruct NWA: PM Nawaz
10 October, 2014
MIRANSHAH: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Thursday that the government and army would jointly reconstruct the war-torn North Waziristan Agency.
The prime minister expressed satisfaction over the progress of operation Zarb-e-Azb and lauded the sacrifices rendered by the military personnel in their fight against terrorism. He assured full support for the complete success of the ongoing operation.
Nawaz expressed these views while visiting the North Waziristan Agency as he reached its headquarters in Miramshah to boost the morale of security forces fighting against terrorists in the ongoing military operation.
Nawaz became the first elected prime minister to ever visit the war-torn North Waziristan Agency. Army chief General Raheel Sharif accompanied the prime minister during his visit to the tribal region. Upon arrival, the premier was given a detailed briefing by the operations commander on the success achieved so far by then security forces in operation Zarb-e-Azb.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that the armed forces' efforts in the war against militancy and extremism was evident and commendable. "This is not a conventional war where the enemy is known," the prime minister said at a press conference in Miramshah.
"In such wars, the enemy attacks in disguise." "I am really to glad to meet you all here," the premier said. "I hope that we all live with unity and serve Pakistan." He was flanked by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Abbasi, Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions (Safron) Lt Gen Retd Abdul Qadir Baloch and Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, however, was not present. The prime minister was informed that 80 percent area of the agency has been cleared of terrorists. The army is now engaged against terrorists in Ghulam Khan area near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The army has sealed the border so that the terrorists could not escape.
The prime minister lauded the role of army chief Gen Raheel Sharif for leading a war that is aimed at securing Pakistan's future. He also hailed those soldiers who scarified their lives for the bright future of Pakistan. He said they are national heroes. Nawaz visited the Miranshah bazaar and a bomb-making factory used by the terrorists.
Acknowledging the sacrifices of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) during his visit to Bakakhel, Prime Minister Nawaz said the victims would be rehabilitated to their homes respectfully and safely again. He assured that the government would strategically plan the process "so this now wrecked place becomes one of the most beautiful places in the country". Nawaz said making the youth of the region self-sufficient is one of the prime needs and the government is practically planning to transform this region into a developed one.
The prime minister prayed to God to ease the problems of the troubled people. He was briefed about the camp and was told that 2,507 IDP families are living there. The IDPs are being provided all basic facilities in the camp. Each family is being given fifteen thousand rupees a month.
The prime minister was informed that a school has been opened for the IDP children where 942 students, including 305 girls, are studying. About one thousand terrorists have been killed in the operation so far. Pakistan Army has captured a huge quantity of arms and ammunition. This is the first ever visit of any prime minister to Miranshah. The army launched the operation against terrorists in the agency in June this year. Miranshah was cleared of terrorists in the initial stage of the operation.
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