ISLAMABAD, June 25: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani visited South Waziristan on Thursday and spent the day interacting with the field commanders and troops.
The visit indicated that the stage was set for a full-scale operation against Baitullah Mehsud and his group.
It is believed that the army chief discussed operational details of the offensive during his stay in Wana, the regional headquarters, and Tiarza, a 'hotspot' in the area. He was briefed on the situation by the general officer commanding.
Gen Kayani urged local tribes to support the government and the armed forces in their campaign to isolate and eliminate terrorists.
According to an official, he said that most of the local tribes were peaceful and terrorist elements wanted to impose their own version of Islam.
He praised troops’ performance and high morale and offered Fateha for security personnel who had lost their lives during the operation.
Gen Kayani said the army was executing a deliberate ‘campaign plan’ to re-establish the writ of the state while ensuring that there was minimum loss of life and damage to property.
He said the security forces had been asked to go for precision strikes and avoid collateral damage even if they had to take risks.
He thanked the people of the country for their whole-hearted support which, he said, was an essential element for the success of unconventional military operations. He paid tribute to the role played by air force in the operations.
Military sources said troops and equipment had been positioned and more troops were available in reserve.
They said a full-scale operation in South Waziristan was likely to be launched soon.
Meanwhile, security personnel apprehended three terrorists and seized arms and ammunition in Malakand and Dir on Wednesday and Thursday. According to the ISPR, a hunt for terrorists was carried out in Akhun Kale, Gamon bridge, Rangeela, Khazana, Wakilabad, Baiddarra and Garai in Swat. A suspected terrorist of Khawazakhela was held in Besham.
A soldier was injured in a clash in Kabal.
A similar operation was carried out around Zhoaib and Lal Qila in Dir.
Two soldiers were injured by a mine and another by firing.A militant commander, Iqbal, and another terrorist were arrested and a signalling device, two rifles with ammunition and two small machine-guns were seized during a search operation in Shewa and Utala areas of Adinzai.
Army engineers were reported to be repairing the Malakand-Barrikot, Barrikot-Udigram and Udigram-Balogram roads.
In Mingora, 43 tube-wells have been made functional.Five truckloads of food and relief goods were distributed among displaced people.