Former Pak DG ISPR Athar Abbas says Kayani delayed N Waziristan operation

Maj Gen (retd) Athar Abbas, the former director general of ISPR said that the decision to launch an operation against terrorists based in North Waziristan Agency was taken three years ago, but the action was delayed on the then army chief's orders.

According to the Express Tribune, Abbas, told the BBC in an interview that the army brass had decided in principle that preparations will be completed from 2010 to 2011 for an operation in North Waziristan which will kick off the same year.

The operation was put on the back burner following the then army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani's reluctance to give his consent to the same.

Abbas said that Gen Kayani thought he would be held accountable for sending troops into North Waziristan, which is why he dilly-dallied on the operation due to which the army wasted too much time and suffered losses.

While the delay in deployment helped extremists strengthen their foothold, recruit more fighters, raise more resources and develop a network, the US created difficulties in launching the Waziristan operation

He added that each day America would issue a statement suggesting that Washington was building pressure on the Pakistan Army for an operation in North Waziristan.