ISLAMABAD, Nov 10: Law-enforcement agencies of the country in their war on terror have busted 20 gangs of terrorists and arrested 200 terrorists who were operating countrywide, said Federal Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao.

In an interview with a private TV channel, the minister reiterated Pakistan's pledge to flush out terrorists from its soil and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

To a question, the interior minister declared Pakistan to be a safe place for foreign investment as well as for foreign tourists.

He said that after the 9/11 incident, many terrorists had entered the country from Afghanistan and were busy in organizing terrorist activities.

"Now, the terrorist network has been busted, and these elements are on the run," he said. However, he admitted that some terrorists were still working on their agenda, but the country's agencies were fully vigilant in monitoring and combating any untoward situation.

The interior minister disclosed that the agencies, through their pro-active operations, had averted many terrorist incidents which could have caused huge losses.

Replying to a question, Mr Sherpao said that clashes in the South Waziristan Agency were not increasing, and the government was targeting militants only to avoid collateral damage.

There were about 500 foreign militants in the area whose number had now gone down to around 100, he said.

The minister said that the militants were ready to die, and it was not an easy task to control them.

"When they take someone hostage, it becomes quite difficult to get him released unharmed," he added.

"That is why it is taking time, and we are exercising the option of Jirgas," he said.

Mr Sherpao said, "The government has compensated the members of Jirga who suffered losses.

"The terrain is very difficult, and some casualties of the law-enforcement personnel occurred because of the improvised explosive devices," he added.

To a question about tension in Balochistan, the minister said, "A special committee of the Upper House is visiting Balochistan and has met all the nationalist leaders, including Akbar Bugti and Mengal. We are in touch with all these elements."-APP