(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Pakistani officials claim to have found evidence of new sanctuaries set up by the Tehreek-e-Taleban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliates in the Afghan territory near the border with North Waziristan Agency where a massive military operation codenamed Zarb-e-Azb has been ongoing since mid-June.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif in the meantime has said the operation would continue till complete elimination of terrorists. He told reporters here in a brief chat that the operation has been very successful.
“The organisational network has been broken and their sanctuaries in the tribal belt have largely been dismantled” he said.
“There has been substantial drop in acts of terrorism in the country though sporadic cases as blow back of the operation have been reported from some major cities as the militants have spread out there.
“We will not rest until all militants are eliminated he added.
The new sanctuaries have been established to create difficulties for Pakistan’s military and disrupt Operation Zarb-e-Azb in the troubled agency the Express Tribune quoted an unnamed senior security official as saying.
“It is a worrying development that the TTP is regrouping close to the border right under the nose of the Afghan security forces” said the official who did not wish to be named.
When asked the official did not rule out the possibility of ‘tacit support’ from Afghan security agencies for the new Taleban sanctuaries.
Despite repeated requests Afghan authorities have done little to dislodge militants from their side of the Durand Line he added.
“The lack of action from Afghan authorities has encouraged the terrorists to carve out new sanctuaries.”
Pakistan has long urged Afghanistan to eliminate what it calls ‘safe havens’ of the TTP in northeastern Afghan provinces of Kunar and Nuristan. Fugitive TTP chief Mullah Fazllullah is also believed to be hiding in those areas. Islamabad has sought Fazllulah’s extradition from Afghanistan but Kabul is not forthcoming to such a demand. Ends
The Afghan inaction stems from a trust-deficit with Pakistan. While Pakistan voiced concern over Afghanistan’s reluctance to cooperate against the TTP Kabul continues to believe that the country’s security establishment is still supporting Afghan insurgents. Recently an acting Afghan interior minister reiterated these allegations against Pakistan while speaking at a conference in New Delhi. newskahleejtimes.com
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