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The military's media wing on Friday evening claimed to have killed more than 100 suspected militants in intelligence-based operations carried out by security forces across the country, including Punjab, in the past 24 hours.
“The intelligence agencies are making progress to unearth networks behind the recent terrorism incidents,” read a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations.
In its statement, the military claimed that it had found linkages to militant support networks operating from across the border.
“The border has been closed since last night due to security reasons. No cross-border or unauthorised entry will be allowed into Pakistan from Afghanistan,” read the statement.
Security forces have been given special orders to maintain strict vigilance all along the border, it added.
"Army is for security of people of Pakistan against all types of threat. Nation to stay steadfast with full confidence in their security forces. We shall not let the hostile agenda succeed whatever it may cost," the army chief was quoted as saying.
Read: Army chief Bajwa vows revenge for Sehwan attacks: 'No more restraint'
'Testing current policy of cross border restraint'
Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Friday, while talking to US General John Nicholson, said continued acts of terrorism in Pakistan from Afghanistan are testing the current policy of cross border restraint, said a statement from the military’s media wing.
General Bajwa said most of the incidents of terrorism in Pakistan are claimed by terrorist organisations with their leadership hiding in Afghanistan.
“Such terrorist activities and inaction against them are testing our current policy of cross border restraint.”
He asked the commander of the Resolute Support Mission (RSM) to play his role in “disconnecting this planning, direction, coordination and financial support”.
During the conversation with Nicholson, Bajwa also informed him of the list of terrorists handed over to Afghan authorities earlier today.
The US general expressed his condolence over the loss of lives in the attack on the Sufi shrine and assured the COAS of full assistance in regards to his concerns.
Nicholson also shared his plans to improve special coordination between the RSM, Afghan security forces and Pakistan, added the ISPR statement.
Security forces unleash bloody nationwide crackdown
“Both the federal and provincial law enforcement authorities and police started a crackdown across the country before dawn, and scores of suspects have been arrested from different cities,” a government official speaking on condition of anonymity had told AFP early on Friday.
He said the sweeping operation will intensify in the coming days.
The Army had launched a search and strike operation in the Shalman area of Khyber Agency near the Pak-Afghan border, using heavy artillery, security sources said. Four alleged terrorists were killed in the Lower Orakzai tehsil of the Orakzai Agency during the operation, the sources said.
Three alleged terrorists were killed during a search and strike operation in the Reggi area of Peshawar. According to officials, weapons and hand-grenades were also recovered from the militants.
Four more were killed in Bannu during an exchange of fire.
Six militants were killed in the Khyber Agency.
A statement from the paramilitary Rangers said at least 18 terrorists had been killed in operations in Sindh overnight, while police officials said seven more had been killed by them.
Two more militants were killed in a gun battle with police on Sariab Road in Quetta.
Formal protests registered through diplomatic channels
Earlier in the day, Afghan diplomats were summoned to General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi by the Army, which lodged a strong protest against the use of Afghan soil by terrorists to carry out attacks in Pakistan.
The Afghan officials were also handed over a list of 76 "most wanted" terrorists by the Pakistan Army, DG Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor had said in a Tweet.
Afghanistan was asked to either take "immediate action" against the named terrorists or hand them over to Pakistan, he said.
Meanwhile, in a telephonic conversation with Afghan National Security Adviser Hanif Atmar, Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz underlined that the government and the people of Pakistan were in a state of deep anguish and pain at the recent terrorist incidents in various parts of Pakistan, which had resulted in the loss of precious human lives.
Aziz had also told Atmar that the banned terror outfit, Jamat-ul-Ahrar, had accepted responsibility for the acts of terror, and expressed serious concerns that the terrorist outfit continued to operate from its sanctuaries and safe havens in Afghanistan while Pakistan's calls to Afghan officials regarding their existence went unheeded.
Comments (66) Closed
Eliminate them from the surface of the earth...Well done security forces
Awesome,
Why this was not done before? we could have avoided 2 major incidents and innocent lives could have been saved.
Ruthlessness and brutalitiy are only way forward to deal with these terrorists. Glad to know operation also taking place at punjab. Well done nation stands by you
Why was it not done before? Why do we have to wait for a tragedy and people to die for us to take a tiny little action. Useless. Paid for nothing.
@Sam agree with you. We are a reactionary nation. We never learn...
A very commandable job, highly appreciate.
it's about time, the Pak army took this action, no more chances, we need to root the terrorist out of Pakistan. Let them go back to where every they come from there is no room for them here!
This would have been done long ago and save the life of innocent peoples !!! Rather late than never !!!!
Good step but why do we have to wait for such incidents to start these operations? Why not continue operations and get rid of them before they commit such acts!
Good job. Good T bad T....eliminate them. Full stop!
well done.
perfect job
Hope civilians are safe.
@Kamran i think you know the answer to that since it's been happening for years.
So does this make us suffer. Why were these guys not eliminated when information about them was known. I fail to believe these knee jerk reactions actually habe any benefits. Our security services must admit we are unable to protect our people.
Well done job, must continue indefinitely
Well done Pak Army. Finish these savage terrorists before they kill more innocent people. Thanks
@Sam Political parties wont allow that before, now they dont have option. Thanks to Army.
Hard but true. Eliminate them
Please be extra brutal to these savages they kill women and children and take pride in them.
Wow sir Best ever thing we r hearing from u sir, best thing ever done for the region and beyond. Finger crossed.
So the army knew who to target & where they were Why was this action not taken earlier
There has to be local facilitator who provided necessary information, logistic support and coordinated with the militants. The key to success is to identify that person (s) and arrest him alive.
Salute Pak Forces. Salam General Raheel
Excellent.
Well job done
Good job!
Good Job
Well, I don't know what to say.. This looks like a temporary eye wash to pacify the people.. If credible information was already available of these terrorists then this should have been done before itself..
Why these action taken before the attack? Now these action look dubious.
My immediate concern is, can we have the PSL finaly in Lahore. This will convey we are safe inspite of the attacks. Come what may, this great game must be played in Lahore
Where is the proof.
How come these terrorists are so healthy. What is their source of income. Perhaps drugs kidnaping paid terrorism. Please expose their financial resources.
All of sudden, they found 100.
Pakistan army should carry out such operations on regular basis than terrorism will be eliminated from Pakistan soil our response should be brutal
fighting with outside enemy is easier then insider.
Killing of terrorists is a short term of solution... we have to address the very dogma that creates terrorists through holistic approach of education , social awareness and rule of law...
Go in root cause. Why they are doing this. Never heard about cause. This is the problem pakistan thinker are very small in number but even they don't think constructively. As ajit doval had said first know your enemy half battle you win.
Good Job! But if the whereabouts of these terrorists was already known,why was this operation not done before!
well done forces well done ! i would like to tell those who raising question why did not conduct operation before this incident ...please army is carrying combining operation for last few years. how may such brutal incident has been avoided by sacrificing their lives ...they are still sacrificing themselves, their family, their children future, their friendship for our better tomorrow...!!therefore what we should do, instead of criticism we have to recognize their efforts and give moral courage and Dua for their success.
@PPK , that is the way going forward but for the interim, keep political expediency aside and ruthlessly use brute force. Obviously if overnight 100 have been eleminated this itself is proof enough that security and intelligence agencies know their hideouts, yet wait for them to strike first killing scores of innocent people.
Who is correct the ISPR or Shahbaz Sharif
@charlieolly cuz the political govt didn't want them to.
No mercy given. These terrorists should be afraid of us now. Hiding in their holes wondering when a bomb will strike and kill them all.
Very strange. if security forces know that where these so called 100 militants were hiding, then security forces were waiting to happen this kind of incident.
Such a swift action only means security personnel knew where to strike but never took action against them. Lets blame everyone else except ourselves.
Well Done
@truth good question,
@Sam cant agree more... we do some action... takes lot of credit... then sleep forever... and wait for next incident... (repeat)
@Bilal paid for nothing. Its them who protect your country, foght your wars. Fight on ur borders for ur protection. While u sit at home. You wouldnt last a day in their shoes.
@charlieolly because YOUR government did not allow them!
Well done security forces.................
Time to take the gloves off with the Afghan Govt. This govt. is not worth a dime. Save our people, seal the borders and choke em.
Pakistan must build wall on Pak Afghan border no matter how much it costs, if Pakistan has to be made a terror free country. We want a prosperous, corruption free and terror free Pakistan. Long live Pakistan! Any one who creates terror must be exterminated brutally. Good effort by security forces.
Non stop operations against terrorists should continue so that such tragic incidents are not repeated. Better late than never.
We are best in claiming after the fact.
Please produce criminals in front of public and trial them. Show it to the world, these claims have no value.
100 killed big mistake, 1000 will born to revenge. No judicial system
Did any one in Pakistan other than security personnel witnesses any dead bodies? Nothing against any one.
I like to see the evidence. Seriously, I am loosing hope!
@Sam ... and I still don't believe them. What is that "evidence would be provided later"? Either you don't break the news, or if you choose to do, then do it with full details and confidence.
probably you need to understand a pattern in 1971 and 2017. Good luck.
Open military courts and give them a chance of fair trial before this kind of punishment ...
@lucky: RS retired last year.
Pakistan has to do more against the intolerance/terrorism atleast till 20 to 30 years.
This simply do not sounds right. In 48-72 hours of Sahwan Sharif incident; we were deployed intel, collect intel, process intel, deploy resources to eliminate bad guys and eliminated the. Not possible, unless Intel was already available. If Intel was available then why did we not took any actions before the incident. Please answer my questions