Sharif says military operations in North Waziristan will continue till terror is wiped out

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has declared that the military operation called Zarb-e-Azb will continue in North Waziristan until terrorism is eliminated from the country.

Describing the decision to launch the military operation as a unanimous one, Sharif told members of the National Assembly and the National Senate on Monday evening that his government would not allow Pakistan to become a safe heaven for terrorism at any cost.

He claimed that the government had sincerely given peace a chance for four-and-a-half months, but this sincerity had not been reciprocated.

The decision to launch the operation was taken as a last resort, the Daily Times quoted Sharif as pointing out in his statements before the two houses of parliament.

He said the government had made every effort to make the dialogue process result oriented, but the terrorists persisted with bloodshed and violence. The Prime Minister said the dialogue process was pursued with full consultation between the government and the military leadership and now the decision to launch the decisive action has also been taken through consultations and unanimity.

He said terrorism and dialogue cannot go along.

Sharif said that he and his government were fully resolved to make Pakistan an abode of peace and expressed the confidence that the operation to eliminate terrorism would prove to be a harbinger of peace and security.

"This will help us realize our dream of turning Pakistan into a prosperous country," he said.

"Pakistan has paid a heavy price in terms of men and material during war on terror imposed by militants. Personnel of the armed forces, security agencies and law enforcement agencies rendered immense sacrifices and our economy suffered losses worth 103 billion dollars. Terrorism has also dented Pakistan's prestige and reputation. There could have been two opinions on operation and the dialogue process, but now this chapter is closed and the entire nation including media, political parties, religious leaders and tribal people should extend a helping hand to make the operation a success," he said.

He also appealed to the ulema to play their role in promoting the Islamic values of peace, brotherhood and tolerance.