WASHINGTON: The current military operation against militants will continue until the writ of the state is restored, says a senior defence official.

Addressing a convention of Pakistani-Americans, which was also attended by senior US officials, Pakistan’s Defence Attaché Brig Sarfraz Ali Chaudhary said the operation had four major goals: eliminating extremists from North Waziristan, their sleeper cells elsewhere in the country, restoring the writ of the state, and ensuring that only the state had monopoly on the use of legitimate physical force within its jurisdiction.

According to him when the Zarb-i-Azb operation started, the army chief sent a clear message to all those involved in the mission: “there will be no favourites, ensure indiscriminate elimination of terrorists.”

The army chief also asked his officers and troops to “protect human rights, respect local culture and traditions and avoid collateral damage.

He directed the troops to ensure that the “use of force was minimum but effective, targets should be achieved in minimum time, and the air force should be used effectively and precisely,” Brig Chaudhary said.

There were also very clear instructions about ‘the best possible management of the displaced people”, he said.

He said the operation had achieved most of its targets in North Waziristan and was proceeding effectively in other areas.

Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani told the session on “defence and security” that the United States was helping Pakistan fight militants in Fata by providing precision strike technology to its air force.

He explained how the Pakistani government was taking multiple steps to improve the security situation in the country.

Published in Dawn, October 6th , 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play