Zarb-e-Azb purged country of terrorists, says DG ISPR Asim Salim Bajwa

RAWALPINDI (92 News) – DG ISPR Maj-Gen Asim Salim Bajwa has said that Zarb-e-Azb is not only a military operation but an idea and its objective is to eliminate all diseases. In a media briefing on the completion of two years of the Zarb-e-Azb on Wednesday, he said that terrorism had spread across the country when the Operation Zarb-e-Azb was launched. “The Zarb-e-Azb has purged the country of terrorists. Abductees were taken to North and South Waziristan and kidnaps and suicide attacks had become a routine matter,” he said. “Flowers of peace have been bloomed in Waziristan which had become a hub of terrorism.” He said that the drone attack is an attack on the solidarity of the country. The DG ISPR said that 900 terrorists were killed in Khyber Agency since June 15, 2014. “A many as 108 jawans embraced martyrdom,” he maintained. He said that the noose had been tightened around the terrorists. “We informed Afghanistan from all aspects before the operation,” he said. Maj-Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa said that in the beginning, they cleared the 36 sq km area, which was rife with explosive materials. He informed that 500 civilians had been killed in Operation Zarb-e-Azb. He said that the country had suffered a loss of Rs106.58 billion due to terrorism so far. “NDS was operating in Khyber Pakhtunkwa through Torkham, while an in-service spy of a country has been arrested first time after the World War II,” he said. The DG ISPR said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will bring prosperity in the country. “Pak Army will provide full security to the CPEC project,” he said. He said that Pakistan makes all-out effort to improve the relations with Pakistan. Asim Saleem Bajwa said that Pakistan had responded to the Afghan firing. “As many as 280 intelligence-based operations have been conducted in Punjab,” he said. He said that COAS General Raheel Sharif met the Afghan president for peace six times. He said that Maj Ali Jawad embraced martyrdom and 19 officials were injured in the Afghan firing at the Torkham border. “The attackers will get a befitting response.” The DG ISPR said that the drone attack affected several issues, including the peace talks. He said that no foreign agency would be allowed to mar peace. “Not a single inch of Pakistan has been given to Afghanistan in Angor Adda. The Angor Adda Gate has been given to Afghanistan after consulting the government,” he said.