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Pakistan ends anti-militants operation in Waziristan: PM

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Dec 13, IRNA -- Pakistani security forces have ended a major ground operation in the country’s South Waziristan tribal region, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said Saturday.

The army launched operation in mid October and has killed over 500 militants, according to military data.

Up to 80 soldiers also lost lives.

Gilani told reporters in eastern Lahore city that operation in South Waziristan had been successful and has been ended now.

He said that the forces will open new front against the militants in Orakzai tribal region. He did not set any date for the new operation.

Military believes that militants from Waziristan have escaped to other areas including Orakzai agency.

The Prime Minister said that operation in Swat valley had also been a great success and that two hundred thousand displaced persons have been repatriated to Swat and Malakand region in the northwest.

“It was a unique precedent in the history that two hundred thousands internally displaced persons have been sent homes in 10 weeks,” Gilani said.

He said that a counter-terrorism institution to be called the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (NACTA) will be countering terrorism and extremism through psychological warfare that needs proper research and analysis of the mindset of militants, the prime minister said.

The NACTA should be a dedicated organisation at the federal level, working as a focal institution integrating civilian, military, provincial and federal efforts.

It should act as a think-tank to give policy options to the government on countering extremism and terrorism,’ he said.

It will have three wings, one of them looking after counter-extremism, headed by some educationist or media person. Second wing will be related to counter-terrorism, headed by a police officer. Third wing related to research and analysis will be headed by some eminent academic.

**1771

End News / IRNA / News Code 838420