Pak Army launches nationwide military ops ''Radd-ul-Fasaad''

Islamabad, February 22

Pakistan Army on Wednesday launched nationwide military operation 'Radd-ul-Fasaad' to eliminate terrorists and consolidate gains of counter-terrorism operations made so far, days after a suicide bomber killed 88 people at the Sufi shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sindh.

'Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad' — which translates roughly to 'elimination of discord' - has been launched across the country, the army's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement.

According to the statement, the operation aims include the elimination of the residual and latent threat of terrorism, consolidating gains of operations made so far and ensuring the security of Pakistan's borders.

"The Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Navy, Civil Armed Forces as well as other security and law enforcement agencies will continue to actively participate and support the efforts of the Pakistan Army to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country," the statement said.

The operation will entail conduct of broad spectrum security and counter-terrorism operations by Rangers in Punjab, continuation of ongoing operations across the country and focus on more effective border security management.

It will also include a countrywide de-weponisation and explosive control as additional cardinals of the effort, the statement said, adding that the hallmark of the operation will be pursuance of the National Action Plan.

The decision to launch operation came after army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa held a high-level security meeting in Lahore which was attended by all Corps Commanders in Punjab province, DG PR Punjab, and intelligence officials.

Pakistan army had launched 'Operation Zarb-i-Azb' in North Waziristan along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in 2014 to flush out the militants from the area.

The army launched 'Operation Rah-i-Rast', commonly known as Swat Operation in 2009 and 'Operation Rah-i-Nijat' in South Waziristan in the same year.

The crackdown comes in the wake of a series of suicide attacks across Pakistan last week, killing dozens. — PTI