Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: After the arrest of some hardcore terrorists and their facilitators, the civil-military leadership has agreed to enhance the scope of combing and intelligence-based operations in Punjab, sources told Daily Times on Friday.

The decision comes following the recent arrest of six hardcore terrorists from Faisalabad – at least two of them linked to al Qaeda. Security sources said that the arrested men were recruiting and handling suicide bombers as well. They said that when the commander of the central command, Mangla Corps Commander Lt Gen Umar Farooq Durrani, met Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif last Tuesday, the two discussed ways and means to speed up the scope of operations against terrorists and their supporters.

Security sources said that the Pakistan Army, intelligence agencies, Punjab Rangers and the Counter Terrorism Department of the Punjab Police would jointly take part in the operations in various parts of the province.

Meanwhile, Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Lieutenant General Asim Saleem Bajwa acknowledged the development in a press conference and said the military was discussing the role of Punjab Rangers with the authorities concerned, adding that they are determined to wipe out the scourge of terrorism its supporters from every part of the country, including Punjab.

He also brushed aside the impression that combing and intelligence-based operations were not being carried out in Punjab. He said that since 2014, as many as 9,308 intelligence operations had been carried out, while 11,115 terrorists were arrested during those operations.

After some incidents of terrorism, we conducted 477 special operations in Punjab, and the forces arrested 1,399 terrorists and their supporters. He said that 168 combing operations were also carried out, in which 744 terrorists were apprehended. The ISPR DG said, “We are fighting a war against terrorism for ourselves and not to please anyone.”

He said the forces had taken action against the Haqqani network, adding that there were no good or bad Taliban. “Terrorists are terrorists, and we are fighting them without any discrimination.” He made it clear that those demanding Pakistan to “do more” should see our sacrifices and success in the war on terror.