At least 2,763 militants have been killed in Operation Zarb-e-Azb, a military offensive launched against militants in North Waziristan a year ago after the attack on Karachi airport.
“The operation has moved to (the) last few pockets close to Pakistan, Afghanistan border and so far, 2,763 terrorists have been killed,” DG ISPR Asim Bajwa said.
He also stated that 347 soldiers and officers have also embraced shahadat since the start of the operation on June 15, 2014.
Further, General Bajwa said “9,000 IBOs have been apprehended, thousand terrorists and abettors have been killed and 218 hard core terrorists have been killed in cities.”
The DG ISPR added that 837 militant hideouts have been destroyed and 253 tonnes of explosives recovered during the operation.
“One year since start of the operation, significant achievements have been made in Fata, North Waziristan Agency and Khyber Agency,” General Bajwa said.
Delving into further details, DG ISPR claimed, “18,087 weapons, including HMG, LMG, sniper rifles, rocket launcher, AK-47s have been recovered from militant hideouts in NWA alone.”
“The whole nation came together to totally eliminate terrorism,” he said, while acknowledging the country’s media and civil society for playing an effective role.
Furthermore, the military vowed that the operation would continue to achieve a terror-free Pakistan.
Pakistan Army launched Operation Zarb-e-Azb on June 15 last year following a deadly attack on the Karachi airport after talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan failed.
Army chief General Raheel Sharif has on multiple occasions affirmed that operation would continue till the elimination of the last terrorist.
Earlier, it was announced that the operation would extend to Shawal Valley and Balochistan as well.
Pakistan Army has cleared large areas of North Waziristan Agency and Khyber Agency from terrorists through military operations and the next step is to clear Shawal Valley.