80 per cent of Miranshah cleared of militants: Pakistan army

PESHAWAR: Pakistani security forces have killed over 400 militants and cleared 80 per cent of North Waziristan's main city Miranshah of terrorists during an all out military offensive against the Taliban, a senior army officer claimed today.

Pakistan on June 15 launched the long-awaited operation named 'Zarb-i-Azb' against Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the region bordering Afghanistan to flush them out from their strongholds.

The militants, however, have continued to attack security forces and civilian targets.

Major General Zafarullah Khan, commander of the ongoing operation, told journalists that 80 per cent of the city was cleared of the militants but conceded that the army was still facing resistance in some areas.

In reply to a question, he said the outlawed TTP commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur, if spotted, would be eliminated without any delay.

Bahadur is known to have links with notorious militant groups in North Waziristan, including the Haqqani network.

He said more than 400 militants, mostly foreigners including Uzbeks, have been killed in the ongoing operation.

North Waziristan is believed to be the last bastion of militants who have killed over 50,000 people in more than a decade of insurgency.

The operation was launched following a deadly attack on Karachi international airport which killed 37 people, including the 10 attackers.

Khan said during the operation security forces have recovered over 23 tones of explosives and destroyed 11 factories of IEDs. A two-kilometre-long tunnel in Miranshah was also discovered, he added.

The army official maintained that the civilian population was not targeted during the operation.