By USMAN ANSARI
ISLAMABAD — The military operation underway since Sunday in the North Waziristan region of Pakistan’s Tribal Areas, Operation Zarb-e-Azb (a reference to the sword carried by the Prophet Mohammed), indicates Pakistan has finally lost patience with all terrorist groups and not just those opposed to the Pakistani state, say analysts.
However, they acknowledge the struggle will be a long one.
According to the military’s Inter Services Public Relations media arm, Chief of Army Staff Gen. Raheel Sharif “emphasized that all terrorists along with their sanctuaries must be eliminated without any discrimination,” and the operation is targeted at “terrorists who are holed up in the Agency and have picked up arms against the state of Pakistan.”
Though the operation appears to be driven by the military, in an address to lawmakers Tuesday Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif stated, “The Zarb-e-Azb operation will not end till all terrorists are eliminated.”
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