11 terrorists killed in SWA operation

WANA: Fighter jets of security forces pounded militants’ positions in South Wazirisitan, killing 11 terrorists and destroying 2 hideouts during the ongoing military operation on Saturday.

Two security personnel were martyred and five injured in two separate attacks in SWA, sources said.

According to details, a security man was martyred and three others injured in a remote detonated bomb attack on a vehicle of security forces in Karkunray area near Jandola in SWA. The military forces repulsed and pounded militants’ positions in Karkunray with the help of fighter jets. As a result, 11 terrorists were killed and 8 others injured. Two militants’ hideouts were also destroyed.

Meanwhile, the military’s planes also targeted suspected positions of militants in Tehsil Ladha and Sarvekai.

The militants attacked FC’s convoy in Razmak area of SWA, killing one security man and severely wounding two more.

Political administration has said that the military’s infantry have begun operation against terrorists from three sides.

It said over 4000 to 5000 terrorists are present in the area, most of them are hiding in Mehsud area.

Operation against militants begins in S Waziristan

WANA: An operation against militants has begun in South Waziristan on Saturday.

The political administration sources said security forces advancing in different parts of South Waziristan as ground assaults will be supported by air strikes.

According to reports, two security men were killed and five wounded seriously in attacks on security forces in North and South Waziristan. A security official was killed and three in a remote-controlled bomb attack on security forces vehicle in Kalkola area near Jandola. The injured were shifted to Jandola hospital where one person reported in a critical state. Forces have cordoned off the area after the blast.

Meanwhile, fighter jets pounded militants’ hideouts in tehsil Ladha and Sarokai at the start of the operation. Periodic fire was also heard in Makeen.

Massive evacuation of locals is underway due to operation. The residents of these areas are moving towards Peshawar, Bannu and North Waziristan. However, they are facing difficulties because of curfew.

On the other hand, militants attacked a convoy of FC in Razmak area of North Waziristan. One security man was killed and two wounded in the attack.

Politicians assure full support to Army
By Asim Yasin

ISLAMABAD: The top political leadership of the country on Friday backed the military leadership to take all necessary actions to arrest the new wave of extremism and militancy in the country. It reaffirmed national consensus to establish and maintain the writ of the state and weed out terrorists and militants.

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani had invited the parliamentary party leaders of all political parties for a briefing on the evolving national security situation of the country and to chart out a security action plan to weed out terrorism and militancy at the Prime Minister House.

The meeting, held in-camera for four-and-a-half-hour, was given a detailed briefing regarding the security situation of the country by Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

The meeting was attended by PML-Q President Senator Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Engineer Amir Muqam, ANP President Asfandyar Wali Khan, PML-N leaders, including Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Convener MQM Rabita Committee Dr Farooq Sattar, President BNP-A Senator Israrullah Zehri, President PPP-S Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, leader of parliamentarians from Fata Munir Khan Orakzai, Chairman Parliamentary Committee on National Security Mian Raza Rabbani, Pir Sadruddin Shah of the PML-F and Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani of the JUI-F.

Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Minister for Finance Shaukat Tarin, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira, Minister for Interior Rehman Malik, Governor NWFP Awais Ahmed Ghani, Chief Minister NWFP Amir Haidar Khan Hoti, the DG ISI, the DG IB and other senior government officials were also present during the meeting.

It was the 4th briefing on security-related issues to the national political leadership by Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.The meeting was held in the wake of a series of bomb blasts and attacks on important government buildings, including the General Headquarters.

According to an official announcement, released after the meeting, COAS General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani gave a detailed briefing on the prevailing national security situation and its future ramifications to the political leadership.

Director General ISI Lt-Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha briefed the meeting on the threats and measures to counter them.It says the political leadership, assembled together, noted that there already existed an across-the-board consensus in the country to root out extremism and militancy while restoring the writ of the state.

The political leadership observed that in spite of the successes in Malakand and Swat, the recent upsurge in terror incidents across the country was condemned and it was agreed that these elements posed a serious threat to the sovereignty and integrity of the state.

The political leadership appreciated the sacrifices and the ongoing efforts of the Army in this regard.In the given circumstances, national consensus was reaffirmed to establish and maintain the writ of the state to weed out these elements.

Meanwhile, talking to newsmen outside the Prime Minister House at the conclusion of the meeting, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said the political leadership was taken into confidence on the overall security situation of the country.

He said the participants discussed in detail the prevailing situation (of the country) and measures needed to address it effectively.Replying to a question, the minister said there was already consensus on the issue of terrorism and the meeting discussed futuristic details. He said the participants appreciated the services being rendered by the armed forces in fighting the menace of extremism and terrorism.

12 die in SWA bombing

WANA: Twelve people, including six militants and a minor, were killed and 18 others seriously injured when fighter planes pounded targets in various areas of South Waziristan Agency (SWA) on Friday.

Sources said fighter planes pounded Makeen, Ladha, Saam, Salay Rogha, Spina Teega, Badar, Bospa, Nano and Barwand areas in the morning, killing 12 people, including six suspected militants.

The six others, including a child, killed in the bombing were believed to be tribesmen. Two women were also among the injured. The wounded were rushed to a private clinic, where eight of them were stated to be in critical condition.

Reports from the area said six hideouts of the militants were destroyed in the air strikes while some houses belonging to civilians were also damaged. Political administration confirmed the bombing but officials did not speak about the number of casualties in the attack.

A large number of people had started shifting from the area after the bombardment. However, without any proper destination and due to closed roads, some of the displaced families headed for villages on the Pak-Afghan border while others tried to enter the settled areas adjoining South Waziristan on foot.

Eyewitnesses said the fighter planes had been targeting parts of South Waziristan for the last three days. However, the militants had moved to mountainous hideouts, leaving the populated areas. It was learnt that the militants were aware of the aerial strikes and were busy in digging caves in the mountains and jungles in South Waziristan for the past few months.

Tribal elders, including Malik Saeed Anwar Mahsud, demanded of the government to open the roads for the displaced families so that they could reach the settled areas of Tank and Bannu. They deplored that the displaced people were stranded at a checkpoint near Tank. They asked the authorities to allow them to enter the settled areas.

They said at least 200,000 tribesmen had been displaced from South Waziristan so far and reached Tank and Dera Ismail Khan. They feared that 300,000 more people were expected to shift to safer areas.

The elders lamented that no relief activities or any camp had been established by the government for the displaced people of South Waziristan prior to the military operation. The tribal elders demanded the establishment of relief camps on an emergency basis to accommodate and provide basic amenities to the displaced tribesmen.

AFP adds: Meanwhile, suspected Taliban launched a rocket attack, killing three soldiers and wounding four at a military camp in South Waziristan Agency, official said. The militants targeted the Landi Noor Army camp in the Shakai area of South Waziristan.

The rocket strike left three soldiers dead and four wounded, a security official said, requesting anonymity. Before dawn, a Pakistani drone crashed near Jandola town in South Waziristan. “The crash was caused by a technical fault and no hostile fire was involved,” a senior official said.


Curfew imposed in SWA ahead of operation

PESHAWAR: The political administration in South Waziristan has announced the enforcement of an indefinite curfew in different parts of the tribal agency amid speculations that a military operation against the militants linked to the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) could be launched very soon.

The curfew would be enforced today (Saturday) at 7:00 am in different areas, including Wana, Shakai, etc, where the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe lives. One apparent reason for imposing the curfew is to facilitate the movement of troops and military convoys from Wana and other areas to places populated by the Mehsud tribe, including Makeen, Ladha and Srarogha.

There are also reports that the government was planning to expedite the shifting of the civilian population from the Mehsud area in South Waziristan to places like Tank and Dera Ismail Khan, so that security forces could freely tackle the militants without bothering about the civilian casualties. Bombing is already being carried out by fighter planes and gunship helicopters in the area, which the military said was aimed at softening the militants’ positions, before deploying troops for a massive ground offensive in the tough and mountainous terrain.