ISLAMABAD: The government on Tuesday said the operation against criminals and terrorists will continue unhindered across the country to utilise the environment created due to the "phenomenal successes" of Operation Zarb-i-Azb.

The decision was made during a meeting between Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the Prime Minister House this morning.

The spokesman for the Prime Minister House Daniyal Gilani said the meeting reviewed the internal and external security situation of the country, in addition to discussing the progress of Zarb-i-Azb.

It was reiterated that Zarb-i-Azb would be taken to its logical conclusion regardless of the cost, and terrorists and criminals would be hunted down indiscriminately.

The premier while lauding the gains of operation Zarb-i-Azb in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), said the nation is proud of its valiant armed forces, and highly values the sacrifices rendered by the officers and men in the fight against terrorism.

Assuring his full support, PM Nawaz said that entire nation stands behind its armed forces in the war.

The meeting also discussed the law and order situation in Karachi, Balochistan and elsewhere.

Military operation Zarb-i-Azb was launched by the Pakistan Army on June 15 following a brazen militant attack on Karachi's international airport and failure of peace talks between the government and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) negotiators.

More than a million people have fled the offensive in North Waziristan, which is aimed at wiping out longstanding militant strongholds in the area, which borders Afghanistan.