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Pakistan Army on Wednesday launched 'Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad' across the country, Inter-Services Public Relations, the army's media wing, said in a statement.
Radd-ul-Fasaad — which translates roughly to 'elimination of discord' — will aim at indiscriminately eliminating the "residual/latent threat of terrorism", consolidating the gains made in other military operations, and further ensuring the security of Pakistan's borders, read the statement.
Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Navy, Civil Armed Forces (CAF) and other security and law enforcing agencies (LEAs) will actively participate in and 'intimately support' the armed forces' efforts to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country, the statement added.
"The effort entails conduct of Broad Spectrum Security / Counter-Terrorism (CT) operations by Rangers in Punjab, continuation of ongoing operations across the country, and focus on more effective border security management," the ISPR said.
"Countrywide de-weaponisation and explosive control are additional cardinals of the effort. Pursuance of National Action Plan will be the hallmark of this operation," it added.
The announcement followed a meeting in Lahore between Chief of Armed Staff Qamar Javed Bajwa, the corps commanders of Punjab, the director general of Pakistan Rangers Punjab, and the heads of intelligence agencies.
Earlier in the day, the federal government had approved a request forwarded by the Government of Punjab for the deployment of Rangers personnel in the province.
Punjab had requested the federal government to deploy over 2,000 Rangers personnel in the province, who would be given policing powers to conduct intelligence-based operations (IBOs) against militants, wherever required and with full authority.
Read more: Govt approves Punjab's request for Rangers deployment
Additionally, at the start of the week, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar had informed Senate that the army had been empowered to act against terrorists across the border if it had concrete evidence that Afghan soil had been used to launch recent attacks in the country.
He had said it had been established beyond doubt that foreign soil had been used to orchestrate the attacks in Lahore and Hayatabad.
Recalling Pakistan’s commitment to not allow its soil to be used for terrorist acts in any country, Dar had said the time had come to ensure that no other country’s soil was used against Pakistan either.
Renewed focus on NAP?
Operation Radd-ul-Fasad has been announced as a continuation of the National Action Plan (NAP), the ISPR said in its Wednesday notification.
Widely criticised for its apparently half-hearted implementation, NAP had been formulated after the devastating attack on Army Public School Peshawar in December 2014.
As part of the plan, military courts were established to fast-track terrorism cases. Intelligence-based operations across the country were initiated to disrupt and destroy terror networks in urban and rural areas. The plan had also laid an emphasis on curtailing terror financing.
NAP had also promised to take action against seminaries involved in militancy, but the government had dithered on bringing them under control, apparently for fear of backlash from religious parties as well as militants.
The plan further envisaged countering hate speech and extremist material through the powers vested in the provincial police and other authorities. Pemra and other regulatory authorities were tasked with checking and banning glorification of terrorism and militant groups through print and electronic media. The drafting of the Electronic Media Code of Conduct was also a positive step.
The provinces were further instructed under NAP to raise a counter-terrorism force under a dedicated command structure.
Read more: National Inaction Plan?
Resurgence in terror attacks
Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad was announced in the aftermath of a fresh resurgence in terror attacks in Pakistan.
On Feb 21, security forces killed three suicide attackers who attempted to wreak havoc at a local court in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Charsadda district. The attack had killed five civilians and was claimed by the proscribed Jamaat-ul-Ahraar (JuA).
On Feb 16, the shrine of Sufi saint Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sehwan was struck by a suicide bomber affiliated with the militant Islamic State. The worst in the recent flurry of militant activity in Pakistan, it saw at least 88 killed and more than 300 injured after a suicide bomber targeted devotees during the evening dhamaal.
Earlier the same day, an explosive device had targeted an Army convoy in the Awaran area of Balochistan, killing three soldiers.
On Feb 15, a suicide bomber had struck in Mohmand, killing three personnel of the Khasadar force and five civilians. This attack was also claimed by the JuA.
The same day, a suicide bomber rammed his motorcycle into a vehicle carrying judges in Peshawar's Hayatabad Phase 5 area, killing the driver and injuring its four other occupants. This attack was claimed by the TTP.
On Feb 13, a suicide bomber had struck a protest on Lahore's Charing Cross interchange, killing 13 and injuring 85. The attack had happened right outside the gates of Punjab's Provincial Assembly.
The attack was claimed by the JuA.
On the same day, two personnel of Balochistan's bomb disposal squad were killed as they attempted to defuse an explosive device planted under the Sariab Road bridge in Quetta, the provincial capital.
Chronology of military operations in Pakistan
The following are major military operations carried out by armed forces against local and foreign militants in the recent past:
Operation Rah-i-Haq-I in Swat valley and Shangla district (2007)
Operation Rah-i-Haq-II in Swat valley and Shangla (2008)
Operation Sirat-i-Mustaqeem in Khyber Agency (2008)
Operation Sherdil jointly launched with Frontier Corps in Bajaur Agency (2008)
Operation Rah-i-Haq-III in Swat valley and Shangla (2009)
Operation Black Thunderstorm in Buner, Lower Dir and Shangla district (2009)
Operation Brekhna in Mohmand Agency (2009)
Operation Rah-i-Rast, commonly known as Swat Operation, (2009)
Operation Rah-i-Nijat in South Waziristan (2009)
Operation Zarb-i-Azb in North Waziristan along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border (2014)
Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad across the country (2017)
Comments (158)
Good luck...
Time to clean the garbage from the country.
another operation with fancy name. Why wasnt zarb e azb able to completely eliminate these terrorists and why would raad ul fasad succeed? The reason is that they are only fighting the symptoms and not the disease itself. Till the govt doesnt stop backing all sorts of terrorists, till they dont bring out proper tolerant education system and good quality govt schools so that ppl stop sending their kids to seminaries, till they dont stop to support seminaries and dont budge infront of so called Islamic parties, no number of operations with fancy names will succeed.
Police is busy in harassing common citizens, political duties and corruption.
Good move, but where our police stands?
Well done Pak Army. Finish the savage terrorists. Thanks
Pakistan Zindabad.
Brave step by Pakistani forces.
And don't discriminate among terrorists, just clean everything.
All Pakistanis are behind you and trust their armed forces.
Bravo - well done Pak Armed Forces!
May God be with you.
Armed forces are not supposed to act within national borders. That is why we have police.
@MUHAMMAD
Every word said is correct. But have patience It will be taken to its logical conclusion. But step by step ...! Very Best Wishes !!
Best of luck for the sake of Pakistan. Pak army zindabad.
We don't want statements, want action. To be precise action should have been straight away started after the decision. By giving statements is one giving time to the terrorist and people behind it to go underground and keep quite for sometime. Poor strategy.
Shahbash Jawans, teach them the lessons of heir lives once for all, Go and kill the terrorists living across the boarders, Pakistan security comes first, if Punjab is cleaned like a clean white sheet, hopefully Afghanistan will due their duty themselves, and not leave it for the Pakistan Army to do it or them...May God keep you in His strong protection.
Hope they clean out LET and JEM too.
To de-weaponize the country will be also a good thing, and will help eliminate robbery, murders along with terrorism. Best of luck Pak Army, Pakistan zinda bad.
This time army should eliminate all sort of dangers to our country. At the equal note there must be some remedial measures must be taken in order to sustain peace.
Good step. Do it genuinely .
@Z, I really hope so and i am not denying the benifits of zarb e azb but i do feel that our govt is not taking any actions against the ones who are churning this ideology. Lal masjid is still there in the heart of the capital and no action taken. Plus they should have not announced it as this will give terrorist time to go into hiding. I really pray that all this actually pays off, lets see
Pakistan armed forces are best in the world. Expert in all type of warfare, the most successful forces by all account. The beauty is they have never failed the nation. They enjoy 100% love, support & respect of the nation. GOD willing they will decimate terrorism from Pakistan.
@MUHAMMAD Zarb-e-Azb secured the most critical and insecure of areas in FATA i.e North Waziristan. Without Zarb-e-Azb borders will never be secured.
@MUHAMMAD agreed
Very encouraging developments. Hope they are genuine, sincere and become successful. Wish they cooperate with neighbors.
Could have chosen an easier operational name :)
@MUHAMMAD education is a threat to rich landowners and industrialists (read politicians). They see a strong educated Pakistan as a threat to their existence and corrupt ways. Pakistani people are caught between a rock and a hard place and this is where the issue lies. I completely agree with what you say but these corrupt, diseased officials will never allow this approach
The country and its people have suffered enough already. Give them what they deserve, no mercy and send them all to hell! Their beliefs and actions are evil and nothing else.
I hope this is the final operation InshaAllah... At the same time I second Muhammad by saying that YES along with the operation there is an urgent need to educate our society with proper tolerant education and steps should be taken to keep a record of all religious institutes with proper regulations.
The day when there will be no difference between Good Taliban and Bad Taliban that will be the day when real Peace will come to our motherland Pakistan otherwise it's all a waste of time.
Punjab Govt should be taken to task on earlier denials of the hpresence of terrorists in Punjab.
Please launch similar operation across the country against corrupt mafia.
clean up the garbage and send it back to its source across the eastern border where all the logistical support, funding, etc. is received and executed through consulates in Afghanistan! Its our fault for being so passive for so long.
Go ahead/ Whole nation is with you.
Also include punjab in it. 10+ years of operation in kpk but not in punjab which holds more than 60% population of our country and a safe heavens for terrorists.
@Waqar You sadly employ Chinese to deal with that ! Sadly they will not want to deal with this one for sure.
If the army would have started and finished operation in Punjab in first place most of the terrorist attacks would have been saved. Now the time is to eliminate terrorists and their roots from Punjab. Also apprehend the facilitators of terrorists who either in politicians or religious parties.
@Waqar And what about Garbage Makers who continue to make garbage out of innocent and oppressed and make them a fuel of fire?
What about the political leadership sitting in corridors of power silently supporting discord makers and getting fund not only from India but also other corrupt regimes...
@MUHAMMAD : Couldn't agree more, well said. Ideology exists that is the problem.
Close lal Masjid and their network . All your problems will solve .
@MUHAMMAD very right,
secure the border,all the time put the electronic asset (camera),every 50 km along the border install the military permanent camp, visa,passport mandatory for all,
@Justwasif Police is (standing) around VIPs.
Please don't let them flee this time.
Another failure of PML N government Police is totally failed across the Pakistan to secure common citizen... banned Police across the Pakistan & hand over its power to Army
All the Best, Nation stands with you Pak Army!
I am there to any kind of support my forces - dil-o-jaan say
Violence begets violence.
It can not be eliminated only with the use of 'force' if it emanates from within the society. Pak government and army need to change this extremist approach. Earlier operation was targeted towards remote areas, but now this operation is needed across the nation, which indicates very grave situation for a nation as a whole.
First operation at 'countrywide' scale, all previous operations have been area specific. Hope to get this cancer uprooted from our roots.
First operation at 'countrywide' scale, all previous operations have been area specific. Hope to get this cancer uprooted from our roots.
I see many comments in this news paper for banning police and civilian government and hand over everything to army. This is also an extremist mindset. Please make accountable and trust more those whom you elect every five year.
Great
@MUHAMMAD Military operation has its own significant and it is important for the entire nation to be behind our Soldiers to make it successful once military operation is finished then we need to capitalize the gains by conducting all those reforms you mentioned through education and getting rid of Madrassa system .
So does that mean Operation Zarb-i-Azb has ended?
Good luck
Hope this operation will eliminate ALL terrorists
I am the happiest person today.
Awesome!
Awesome awesome awesome! All the best to our Pak Fauj!
We should start the operation clean up to protect our country specially from Afghan refuges who are mostly involved in terror activities. All such operations couldn't to succeed until we sent back all those people who are living here and using all the facilities but used as a proxy for other countries..
Exterminate all terrorists, extremists, fundamentals, rapist's, murderers, robers, hate preachers, corrupts.......
@Waqar :) Also judiciary please clean up the political federal mafias of present and past. Thank you.
@MUHAMMAD oh please we've had enough of this same old beaten down pointless whining and nagging. Go pick up stats about what the operations achieved, educate yourself about what the situation was and how its dealt with, youre not watching a freakin movie, and since you didnt not have something sensible as an argument you keep moaning about the name, what is so fancy about it? is it because you dont know urdu well? So kindly educate yourself instead of wasting your time with pointless bickering like a 13 years old kid.
There should be an anouncement of the severest punishment who will harbour, protect or support these ciminals. This should include families who have knowledge of these activities by their family memebrs, religious parties, politicians and friends or any one who gives them shelter. Also their should be hot lines set up for the public to call anonymously immediately if they have any knowledge, or information of such activities. The nation and the law enforcement and our leadership have to be on the same page for the sake of our land and our nation
Only cutting the branches not the roots.
wHY aNNOUNCE ?
Why is the army announcing this and not the govt.
@MUHAMMAD It is better not to talk when you know less facts. Zarb e Azb was in North, along border. Rad ul Fasaad is totally different and will be done across the country. This will hit different targets than Zarb e Azb.
@MUHAMMAD I don't know from where to start to dismantle your idealistic rant.
@MUHAMMAD well said....
@Onekhan TRANSPARENCY FOR THE PUBLIC REMEMBER?
@shazad It is very now very clear educated and people born in western countries involved in the terrorism not only in Pakistan every where in the world. These propaganda against feudal and political democracy also created by religious people so dump every bad thing on them.
What about Hafiz Sayyed? and jamat ud dawa...., LAshkar e Jhangvi include them too...?
@MUHAMMAD "Why wasnt zarb e azb able to completely eliminate these terrorists and why would raad ul fasad succeed?" Please note Zarb e Azb was for borders and Raad Ul Fasad is for across the country May our brave army succeed in their endevour
Good luck Pakistan Army.
Good... Time to clean the terrorist from the country.
@MUHAMMAD a sane voice from Pakistan.
@Justwasif business as usual; making money and protecting the so called vips
@Kabir InshaAllah.
Eliminate all the terrorists
GOOD ....lets hope this one bears some positive results.
Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad should have priority in apprehending the terror financers & supporters; to choke the life-line.
Best news in a long while. Hope they nip the roots of this evil and help save the country's integrity and longevity. May God help us.
good luck sir,.....
good decision
Well done army nation is with you
@MUHAMMAD very well said brother.
great work...!
May God bless Pakistan and whole nation to achieve the peace once for ever...Ameen !
@SG We the common people will need to play our part as well. The Govt cannot do everything without the help of their citizens. Keep alert and report suspicious activities to the main hotline line (this need to be implemented soon)
@No bull EXACTLY!!!
@omar ...Good reply.
@IMTIAZ ALI KHAN ... You are welcome. We will get right on it.
All the best!
No plan can succeed until the Authorities are willing to touch the Untouchables, how many with Authority are a part of the Untouchables, point being its practically near impossible.
awesome decision. should have come earlier. Pakistan Army zindabad.
Operation after operation but no definitive outcome.
@Onekhan Because we like to embellish our under achievements.
@aj You are advocating absolute tyranny and distrust that would destroys family structures and the country itself.
"Raddul Fasaad " will definitely be as effective as " Zarbe Azub" and will certainly wipe off all germs of Terrorism from our country BRAVO GEN. BAJWA AND HIS TEAM
Another day another operation.
Fasad is coming from people who have irrational beliefs.They can't be defeated,only replaced by rationalism and knowledge.
Well done Pak Army. People are 100% with you.
First start with a name that indicates that you care for your people and their language. What does Radd-Ul-Fasaad mean?
Why all the operations title named in Arabic?
Need Real Good luck in hood
@MUHAMMAD
Because Zarb-e-Azb was focused on FATA, this operation is focused on other geographical areas within Pakistan.
Countrywide de-weaponisation is the key. There is no need for civilian population to have automatic weapons. Unless weapons are controlled no peace will come.
Everyone should watch the movie, Lions for Lambs, and see what's going on in our country! If we have sincere leadership weather Civil or Military, we will never have these problems. Why countries economically more poor than us, Bangladesh, Maldeep, etc have more peace than us!!!
Still fighting war that should have ended decades ago. Was it because we were unclear or half hearted? And what is to confirm that this would be the final war on terror. Is it a Strategy like the US incumbent to wage wars to ensurr 2nd terms? Why have wars on terror become our excuse and not a solution anymore?
@MUHAMMAD Operation Zarb-i-Azb was done in North Waziristan along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border only whereas Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad is across the country. Hope this time they remove all the terrorists and militants from our country
Threat is External and terrorists living in the country and working for external enemy of Pakistan. Border area action is excellent but also smuggling of weapons and info through trade is the main cause of terrorist attacks. Wvry person in Pakistan should be registered freely by law and newly born. This will keep the country safe and more secure. Terrorists can be caught easily.
@MUHAMMAD In addition there should be social justice -In my opinion that the paramount to gain stability.
A fancy name doesn't help inflict terror in the hearts of the wrong doers. Just clean the country up regardless of their affiliations. There's not good or bad terrorist. If any person is taking up arms, simply destroy them. Also, it is time to strengthen the police and justice system in order to lower the dependence on army and rangers for keeping peace in the cities. Only if these institutions weren't corrupted in the begging majority of the issues today wouldn't have existed. Invest in free quality education so that our kids stay away from the streets. This will reduce the use of drugs, kidnapping, and hiring of kids by the terrorists. Education is a long term investment and good education today would reap benefits after 25 years, so start now. It's not too late.
Radd-ul-Fasaad will be successful as Zarb-e-Azb.
@MUHAMMAD You got a point. But this operation as far as it looks is not targeting only militant hideouts, it's aim is also to eliminate financing schemes for these elements and to secure the borders. Zarb-e-azb was to take the main cancer out, now they are cleansing and securing the borders and making an effective border management plan which was not done before.
Would be easier for extremists if the name was in local language.
The operation should be indiscriminate and across the board. Deweaponzation drive would be most welcomed.
Eliminate and neutralize all Terrorists and their backers. Eliminate them from their roots
Good to see something is being done. However, it would have been more successful if they had launched this operation without advertising and hyping it up (for public passivation). As such, most of the snakes have probably already gone into hiding.
Hopefully, military personnel read these comments also. Terrorism has been in our country for more than 40 years and it is going to take some efforts to eradicate. Whole nation needs to be united and help out our military. We have seen bloodshed for long and it is about time to have peace and harmony so our country can progress like other countries. We want employment and education opportunities for our youngsters. Lets support our valiant military Jawans in actions and success. Sincerely
Destroying the armed terrorists alone won't end the problem. Address also the root cause of terrorism in Pakistan. Anyway, all the best.
Oh .. No ..... not again.
Name change is only because something can be associated with new COAS tomorrow ! .. in my view, it will not help eliminate root cause until unless Good / Bad terror theory is alive !
Well done Pakistan Army.
Another operation ??? Whats new this time ????
A very needed operation to make country illegal weapon/ ammunition free. All the best.
Has Zarb e Azb failed to acheive the desired results, or this operation will be performed by a new force.
First you must analyze the problem. Why there are terrorists? Where from they come? What do they want? Terrorists are also local only. They take to weapon for two reasons. They are illiterate, unemployed and poor people. They are brainwashed, lured and provided weapons to kill people to create lawlessness and extremism. What is the solution? Eradicate extremism from the society. Provide employment. Stop the blame game and be sincere to eradicate extremism. The day extremism is curbed, terrorism will vanish.
There are times when this is needed to be said and I mean it " Pak fuj Zindabad!"
Pakistani defense forces seem more organised, disciplined, capable and equipped as well in handling menace of terrorism as compared to its neighbors.
Clean, But present generation is lost & it can only be better for generations to come.
again we are looking for symptoms not for the root cause........
Asslam O Aliakum Sir... I like Your Decission And I hope INSHALLAH All terrorist killed in killed...
Pakistan Zindabad
Pakistan Army Payendabad
Action planned against the seminaries involved in terror is not to be pursued as it will result in antagonising the religious fanatics and the terrorists. Apparently this contradicts the basic aim od removal of terror from the society.
How many more operations to kill the same old disease - twisted ideology
Best of luck...please eliminate all and do not differentiate as good and bad.
GO Ahead Chief, may all the people in power have good intention for it.
@Iqbal Aswani You really know it all; may be you know what no one else knows.
@Manish " What does Radd-Ul-Fasaad mean?" Radd means to reject, Fasaad can be translated in this context as wilful chaos or turmoil.
@Ahsan Gul "We want employment and education opportunities for our youngsters." Then choose your leaders accordingly. The one we choose, want employment and education opportunities ONLY for "their" youngsters.
This is the 12 Operation against militants in less than a decade.
What a great initiative. This is sure to win the nobel peace prize in 2017 itself.
@MUHAMMAD well said brother
@MUHAMMAD well said brother
Must be only for the bad terrorists...
How many are actually terrorist and how many innocent (kids, women and old) were killed??
Nothing will happen till we are sincere to the cause. Problem is we are far from sincere. Life will go on and our people will continue to die. Sadly.
It should be called "RID ALL FASSAD"
@MUHAMMAD you've nailed it.
@BAXAR - did you read with attention my comments - we are saying exactly the same. Of course, dictators and self serving politicians have been robbing our country right and left and still Pakistan is in corrupt hands. Not only Pakistan needs clean escape from these politicians but also from their growing up children who are also aspiring to be like their parents. Sincerely and thanks for your response.
Radd-Ul-Corruption operation is also indespensible
We are PakFauj. This is not new for us. Our courage is older than enemy...
We sincerely want your forces to eliminate the terrorists. Because, if our neighbhour's house is set on fire, our house will not be safe either.
It's useless unless mindset of masses are changed.
No benefit unless mindset is charged . The source of extremism needs to be destroyed. Also religious diversity should be encouraged in areas suffering from extremism.