ISLAMABAD: At least 3,500 terrorists were killed while over 300 army officials have embraced martyrdom during ongoing operation Zarb-e-Azb in the North Waziristan tribal region, the National Assembly Standing committee on Defence was informed.
The meeting was headed by the Chairman of NA body on Defence Rohail Asghar at the Parliament house on Thursday. Defence Secretary Aalam Khattak and top army officials attended the meeting.
The committee was briefed that security forces have taken control of Shawal mountains while ground troops and Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets will keep targeting militants hideouts till clearance of entire area.
Since May, the military has stepped up operations in the deeply forested ravines of the Shawal valley, which straddles the Pakistani region of North and South Waziristan along the border with Afghanistan, and is dotted with militant bases.
The committee was informed that more than sixty thousand intelligence based operation were conducted across the country and several terrorists networks were busted during the actions.
The NA body also unanimously approved a resolution condemning Indian agrresssion along the Line of Control and Working Boundary. The participants lauded Pak Army for giving befitting response to Indian firing.
He said terrorists have returned to Afghanistan where they are joining the Islamic State (IS) group. Necessary steps are required to counter threat emanating from this group. Several local Taliban commanders have pledged their allegiance to ISIS and their eradication is vital too.
Facilitators of terrorists are being rounded up in the second phase of operation Zarb-e-Azb, he added.
At the end, the committee chairman said that there is no exact timeframe regarding conclusion of operation Zarb-e-Azb.
Pak Army has intensified air strikes and ground attacks, as well as raids on militant hideouts, since December, when a Taliban attack on a school left more than 150 people dead, mostly schoolchildren.
Authorities have claimed major successes in the offensive, and say they have broken the backbone of the militants. Yet scattered attacks still take place in the country, though they are fewer in number and of a lesser intensity than in previous years.
