Clearing Waziristan of militants: Kayani briefs Zardari and Gilani about strategy

ISLAMABAD :Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani called on President Asif Ali Zardari at the Presidency, and discussed the ongoing military operation, with particular reference to the recent offensive launched in the South Waziristan against the militants, led by Baitullah Mehsud.

This is the second meeting of its kind among the top brass within less than a week amid an impression that the authorities are seriously planning to flush out the militants, led by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Baituallah Mehsud, of South Waziristan where the forces are facing tough resistance. Sources said that the authorities at the meeting agreed to use all the available resources to defeat the hard-liners with effective counter-insurgency strategy.

The sources said that the COAS briefed the President and the Prime Minister about the military strategy to handle the challenge, saying arm forces were fully determined to flush out the militants of the soil under an effective strategy. The President and the Prime Minister said that entire nation was with the armed forces and proud of the sacrifices rendered by them for the sake of national sovereignty and stability.