Islamabad, Oct.17 (ANI): The Pakistan government has given a go-ahead signal to the security forces to launch a full-scale operation in South Waziristan, the Taliban's stronghold.
"Yes, a decision has been taken to launch a full-scale operation... and it will begin very soon... in a day or two... to weed out the terrorists headquartered in South Waziristan," The Daily Times quoted a senior official, as saying.
"The armed forces are fully prepared... the operation is not against any tribe... it is against an organisation there," he added.
Pakistani Army Chief, General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, on Friday briefed the members of the
PPP-led ruling coalition on the upcoming military offensive in Waziristan.
The briefing took place at the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's house.
According to the report, members of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), the Awami National Party (ANP), the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Jamiatulema-i-Islam - Fazlur Rehman (JUI-F) were present in the meeting.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Information Minister Qamruzzaman Kaira, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Ahmad Shuja Pasha and all the Chief Ministers were also reportedly present at the briefing.
General Kayani is also expected to update the ruling coalition members about the overall security situation in the country.
A statement issued after the meeting said the political leadership pointed out that there was already a consensus across the country that extremism and militancy must be rooted out and the writ of the state be restored.
"The recent upsurge of terror incidents in the country was condemned and it was agreed that these elements pose a serious threat to the sovereignty and integrity of the state," the statement said. (ANI)
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