DG ISPR Lt General Asim Saleem Bajwa held a press conference on June 15 for highlighting the successes achieved since the inception of the Operation Zarb-e-Azb. The briefing was significant as June 15 marked the second anniversary of the operation’s launch. General Bajwa mentioned the area reclaimed from terrorists hiding in FATA, and the number (3500) of militants eliminated. In the process of defending the state from militant groups, 490 soldiers lost their lives. Moreover, large chunks of FATA, including North and South Waziristan, previously inaccessible are now being redeveloped with National Logistic Cell (NLC) and Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) working round the clock. Sub-operations such as Khyber one and two were quite helpful in eliminating militants from Tirah Valley and Bara. Furthermore, the Shawal Valley operation was also quite significant for it was a major militant stronghold that required extensive military force to be dealt with over a course of many months. Armoured and air support in the form of battle tanks and fighter jets became necessary for smooth conduct of the operation. Back in 2014, the Resolute Support Mission, then known as ISAF, refused to cooperate on border patrolling when Pakistan requested for conducting the operations. According to General Bajwa, 61 percent of the IDPs have returned to their localities in FATA regions despite having some difficulties readjusting themselves on an initial stage. Recent reports suggest that military officials have systematically removed rooftops in the local areas for security reasons. While this action may be unwelcoming on part of privacy factors, the step seems necessary to ensure that remaining militants in the region do not have the means to hide themselves or their caches of heavy weapons. Furthermore, it was also stated that Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were heavily deployed by militants in the local areas for preventing the movement of troops. It was claimed that the number of IEDs placed in the region was the highest in the world that could have caused massive casualties for security forces. Since the operation is in its last stages, an intelligence and counter-insurgent operation called Operation Kinetic is also being carried out in multiple stages to ensure peace and stability. Report on the Karachi operation claimed that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and its associates had largely been flushed out, along with militant wings of political parties. Update on the nexus between RAW) and Afghanistan’s NDS showed that the two agencies had deep cooperation in carrying out subversive activities inside Pakistan ever since Kulbhushan Yadav, an alleged serving official of RAW and the Indian Navy, spilled the beans on a sophisticated terror network controlled from Kabul and Chabahar. Pakistan has indeed come a long way in upping the military and diplomatic ante on security matters, and the recent border management steps along the western border highlight state’s commitment in that regard. Despite recent border skirmishes with the Afghan National Army, Pakistan’s resolve remains strong in ensuring border security, having decided to construct border gates on all points of entry. Steps are indeed being taken in the right direction for the region’s greater good. Whether it is border management, counter-terrorism or stance on drone strikes, Pakistan is doing what it takes to ensure protection of its citizens. *