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Army chief celebrates Defence Day with troops in North Waziristan
RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif celebrated Pakistan’s 48th Defence Day with troops in North Waziristan.
Upon his arrival in Mir Ali, COAS Sharif was briefed on the progress of Operation Zarb-e-Azb. The Army chief expressed his complete satisfaction over achievements and progress of the operation made so fay in North Waziristan Agency.
According to an ISPR press release, COAS acknowledged all fighting soldiers involved in Operation Zarb-e-Azb for writing new chapters of valour and sacrifices.
He also appreciated the expertise and efforts of aviation and intelligence who have immensely contributed in precise targeting of terrorists and disrupting their command arrangements. Planned with a clear end state and long term objectives, our operation will accomplish elimination of terrorists from these areas and from across the country, followed by complete rehabilitation of the affected areas, he emphasized.
COAS also directed that terrorists and their affiliates should not be allowed to return to areas once cleared by the security forces.
Appreciating special integrated security teams which have carried out sweeping pre-emptive operations in major cities, killing and apprehending hundreds of hard core terrorists, he directed continuation of such operations.
COAS was briefed on the continued relief operation and supply of goods for TDPs and directed that conditions be created for their safe and happy return to their respective areas as soon as possible.
COAS paid rich tributes to Shuhada (martyrs) and the wounded who rendered supreme sacrifice for defence of the country. He also reiterated that elimination of this menace was a national undertaking and only with sustained focus of the entire nation, we can jointly accomplish our objective of a terror free Pakistan.
COAS also visited temporarily dislocated persons (TDP) camp at Bannu on his way back and spent some time with TDPs.
Courtesy www.thenews.com.pk