Military offensive launched to clear border areas of terrorists

rawalpindi — Security forces launched a massive operation (Khyber-4) on Sunday against terrorists hiding in the hilly terrain of Rajgal Valley in Khyber Agency.

Speaking at a Press conference here, Director-General of Inter Services Public Relations MajorGeneral Asif Ghafoor said the operation in Rajgal Valley, a part of Fata, was in sequel to the on-going Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad, and was meant to clear pockets where the terrorists belonging to banned outfits had been hiding.

Besides, he said, the Khyber-4 was also aimed to check terrorist activities in a neighbouring country where the Daesh group had gained a foothold to carry out cross-border attacks.

He hinted that a similar operation could also be launched in the next few days in the Shawal area where concentration of terrorists had also been reported.

About the Khyber-4 operation, Asif Ghafoor said as a first step security forces would secure the border with Afghanistan and then the rest of area, encircled already, would be cleared. He said ground troops would have the support of PAF jets.

He said there was no existence of Daesh in Pakistan but some splinter groups had been making efforts to get in touch with them. He said about 500 families of Rajgal had been living in other areas due to the presence of terrorists.

He said the military and civilian authorities in Afghanistan had been informed about the launch of the military campaign in Rajgal, with the aim that no terrorist would be allowed to flee to take refuge in the neighbouring country.

The DG ISPR said the situation along the Line of Control showed extraordinary trends recently following a charged political atmosphere inside India. The Indian troops, to take out their frustration, had been targeting the civilian population along the LoC.