Operation in Wana only against Terrorists: ISPR DG
Pakistan Times National News Desk

LAHORE: Operation in Wana, the main town of the tribal belt of South Waziristan was being carried out exclusively against terrorists and not against any particular organisation.

Director General ISPR, Maj. General Shaukat Sultan said on Saturday; "we are not against any particular organisation or group but our targets are the terrorists."

However, he said "we will continue action against whosoever is involved in acts of terrorism".

Of Law and Order

About the overall law and order in Wana, he said "we are trying our best to comb entire the area and purge tribal belt of terrorist elements".

He said terrorism is not a local issue but a global phenomenon, which need to be tackled worldwide through integrated efforts. He said that their (terrorists') bases in Wana were being eliminated through political and military means.

Sultan said that few terrorists belonging to al-Qaeda network have reportedly taken refuge in southern Waziristan and added that Pakistan's law-enforcing agencies were after them.

Of Foreign Terrorists

Regarding the possibility of involvement of any foreign terrorists in Wana, Shaukat Sultan said "we have not so far received any concrete and solid information about their presence in the area. He said "we are very successfully handling the issues in Wana".

Attitude of Opposition

To a question about negative attitude of Opposition towards all the important national issues confronting the country especially the drive against terrorist elements in Wana, he said that terrorism was a national issue which has to be addressed seriously in the larger national interest and Opposition must play its positive role in this regard.

Maj. Gen Shaukat Sultan said that the situation in Afghanistan and Tribal Areas has to be improved significantly as it indirectly affects efforts to eliminate terrorism.

Health of AQ Khan

In response to query about poor health of noted nuclear scientist, Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, he said that "Dr. Khan is being examined regularly by a panel of doctors" and added that the news items in a section of press were contrary to facts.

Of Baluchistan

On development in Baluchistan, he said a mega water projects costing Rs 8 billion will be executed to provide potable water to the people of province. He said all the issues of this province should be tackled politically.

Clarifying a news item in local press of Quetta attributed to him, DG ISPR said he did not hold any political party or politician responsible for creating law and order situation in Baluchistan.

"I had only stated that those involved in terrorism and supporting terrorism are following the agenda of their foreign masters", he concluded.●