Politicians stand behind Army

ISLAMABAD — The Parliamentarians unanimously put their weight behind the ongoing military operations against the militants in Swat and Malakand Division and made it loud and clear that the writ of the Government would be established at all costs.
The national political leadership of the country was given a detailed in-camera briefing here at Prime Minister’s House by the Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on the operational aspects of the ongoing operations in Swat and Malakand Divison to flush out miscreants with minimum collateral damage. He also briefed the leaders of parliamentary parties on the efforts being made by the Armed Forces for the security and well being of the internally displaced persons.
The briefing could be divided into two parts: first, pertained to the ongoing military operation in the troubled area while the second covered the problems relating to IDPs and the ways and means to address them, a participant of the meeting disclosed to The Nation on condition of anonymity.
During the briefing, which lasted for over six hours, most of the time was consumed by question-answer session. The Army Chief was assisted by Coordinator Special Support Group Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmad; DG-C ISI, Maj Gen Mohammad Zaheerul Islam and Director General Military Operations Maj Gen Javed Iqbal.
Parliamentary leaders were of unanimous view that no one would be allowed to challenge the writ of the government adding that optimum facilities would be provided to people displaced from Swat during the course of operation.
A source privy to the deliberations of the meeting informed that Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani informed the meeting that the security forces had gained control of many places and termed the operation ‘highly successful’. He further said that miscreants were on the run and fleeing to other areas.
Regarding the casualties, the Army Chief said that normally in such type of operations, the casualties were on the higher side but they had adopted a strategy to successfully contain it.
The sources further disclosed that the Army Chief had announced that Armed Forces of the country were fully capable to defend the motherland. The operation in the troubled areas, he said, was going on successfully. He expressed his resolve that militants would be flushed out of the area.
Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani also briefed the political elite of the country about the steps being taken by the Army for the security and well being of the internally displaced people (IDPs) and admitted that much more efforts were required for provision of basic facilities to them in the camps.