As Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad which was launched in 2017, completed its fouryears, Director General Inter Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) MajorGeneral Babar Iftikhar on Monday said army is capable of thwarting allthreats to security and sovereignty of Pakistan irrespective of the cost.
Addressing today, Director General Inter-Services Public Relation (DG ISPR)Major General Babar Iftikhar said that the operation which is backed by theentire nation, achieved unparalleled success at a monumental cost paid inmen and material.
He said that the operation has not only improved the domestic securitysituation but also enabled Pakistan to appear more stable and reliable onthe international stage.
“The tactical intent of the operation was, and is, a peaceful, stable andnormalized Pakistan where people’s confidence in the state is restored andterrorists and extremists are reduced completely ineffective by restrictingtheir freedom of action,” DG ISPR said.
While highlighting the role of the public in security operations, MajorGeneral Babar Iftikhar added that “While armed forces fight terrorists,terrorism and extremism can only be defeated by the civil law enforcementagencies and society as a whole.”
Pakistan Military Spokesperson said that it is clear that an ideology canonly be countered by a superior ideology.
In this context, he added, the efforts involved implementation of theNational Action Plan, bringing the tribal areas into the nationalmainstream, and cutting extremist activities through assisting thegovernment in educational, madrasah and police reforms.
Major General Babar Iftikhar said that Pakistan grand strategy in its waragainst terrorism was based on four concepts: “Clear, hold, build andtransfer.”
Major General Babar Iftikhar said that between 2010 and 2017, various areaswere cleared of terrorists after major operations as per the clear and holdphase and the writ of the state was being restored in the tribal areas.
Army Spokesperson Major General Babar Iftikhar said the armed forces andthe masses have been successfully facing national security challenges andwill continue to tackle them as a nation in the days to come.
Pakistan Military Spokesperson said in the past four years, more than375,000 intelligence-based operations (IBO) were carried out under RaddulFasaad in which the IB, ISI,CTD, MI, police, Rangers and FC all played akey role.
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He added that, “Of these, more than 34,000 IBOs were carried out in Punjab;over 150,000 in Sindh, more than 80,000 in Balochistan and in KP, more than92,000.”
He highlighted that following the operation, more than 5,000 people of thetribal areas have been reintegrated into the national mainstream.
DG ISPR said that the sixth population census was successfully organizedfollowing a betterment in the overall security situation. During thecensus, seven personnel of the armed forces embraced martyrdom, he added.
Speaking on the situation of Karachi, Pakistan Military Spokesperson saidthat as a result of the successful operation in Karachi, normalcy returnedto the city.
He said that Karachi was at the sixth place in the international crimeindex, and now, it is at the 106th slot.
Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad is a codename of a combined military operation bythe Pakistani military in support of local law enforcement agencies todisarm and eliminate the terrorist sleeper cells across all states ofPakistan, started on 22 February 2017.
The operation is aimed to eliminate the threat of terrorism, andconsolidating the gains of Operation Zarb-e-Azb which was launched in 2014as a joint military offensive.
It is further aimed at ensuring the security of Pakistan’s borders. Theoperation is ongoing active participation from Pakistan Army, Pakistan AirForce, Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Police and other Warfare and Civil ArmedForces managed under the Government of Pakistan. This Operation has beenmostly acknowledged after Operation Zarb e Azb.
The operation entailed the conduct of Broad Spectrum Security (CounterTerrorism) operations by Rangers in Punjab, continuation of ongoingoperations across the country and focus on more effective border securitymanagement.