Pakistan's General Raheel Sharif reviews security at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa apex committee meeting

PESHAWAR: Pakistan army chief today reviewed the security situation in federal tribal areas and the ongoing military operations against Taliban militants in the country's northwest at a high-level meeting here.

The Apex Committee meeting, attended by General Raheel Sharif, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Khan and Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, reviewed the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and the security situation in FATA and the province.

The Apex Committee is a newly-formed mechanism to coordinate security and to implement the recently-approved National Action Plan (NAP), at provincial level.

General Sharif paid tributes to the resilience and sacrifices of the people of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and KP province.

He said "the entire nation stands united to fully uproot the menace of terrorism and extremism" after the brutal Taliban attack on an army-run school in Peshawar on December 16 which killed 150 people, mostly children.

"With unflinching resolve and courage, our proud tribesmen of FATA and people of KP stood up to atrocities of the terrorists, pushed them back and marginalised them in the society," he said.

He assured the forum of army's full support for judicious and speedy implementation of the National Action Plan to eliminate not only the terrorists but also their abettors, facilitators and sympathisers from the province and FATA.

General Sharif also assured the forum that the army will join hands with the provincial government and FATA administration to expedite the return of IDPs, beginning next month, and ensure a comprehensive resettlement.

To build the capacity of Frontier Constabulary, he announced to give 4,000 AK-47 rifles to them soon.

Governor Khan and Chief Minister Khattak appreciated the support of the Pakistan Army and reiterated their resolve to rid the province of terrorism and extremism and pave the way for development and well-being of the people.

Pakistan Army in June 2014 launched a major offensive against militants in the northern region after at least 10 militants armed with automatic weapons attacked the Karachi airport. Thirty six people, including the attackers, were killed in the incident.