ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif on Wednesday said that failure was not an option in the war against terrorism and vowed that Operation Zarb-e-Azb wouldbe completed this year.
In an informal conversation with media at the Parliament House, the army chief reflected on the ongoing activities of the Pakistan army and said that the operation to root out terrorism was progressingsuccessfully.
“I have earlier said that2016will mark the elimination of terrorism,” he said.
Gen Raheel Sharif said that 99 percent terrorism hadbeen brought under control and that the remaining one percent wouldbe eradicated as well.
Talking about Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in the north-western FATA region, he said that the return of 56 percent IDPs has been completed.
Hesaid that the system of governance needs to be established in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and the army has assured the people of FATAthat terrorists will never return tothe region.
He added that long-term peace and rehabilitation of IDPs is the highest priority.
The army chiefsaid that drone attacks violatePakistan’s sovereignty.
Gen Raheel Sharif said that Pakistan army’s efforts against terrorism were laudedduring his recent visitto Turkey where he witnessed multinational military exercises.
The army chief said that Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman is makingefforts for the resumption of the US-Pakistan deal to purchase at least eight F16 fighter jets, amounting to $700 million.
COAS meets Parliamentarians
The COAS in a visit to the Parliament House on Wednesday met with the executive parliamentariansin the capital.
The army supremo met with Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman andexchanged civilities.
Gen Raheel also met with other politicians including Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani, Speaker National Assembly Murtaza Javed Abbasi and other parliamentarians.