252 militants killed in final phase of Operation Zarb-e-Azb: ISPR

Security forces have killed at least 252 terrorists over the past two months and cleared more areas in the remote regions of North Waziristan, in the final phase of the major offensive in the tribal region, the military said on Sunday.

“During the last phase of operation in Shawal, 252 terrorists have been killed with 160 reported to be severely injured. In the last two months, valiantly fighting in Shawal, eight soldiers of Pakistan Army embraced Shahadat (martyrdom) while 39 are injured,” the chief military spokesperson, Lt Gen Asim Salim Bajwa said.

Major terrorist hubs of Mana, Gurbaz, Lataka, Inzarkas and Magrotai and have been cleared, with army troops clearing at least 640 square kilometres of Shawal Valley.

Since the beginning of operation Zarb-e-Azb in June 2014, security forces have cleared 4304 square kilometers of area in North Waziristan and “restored the writ of the government in all areas especially in remote areas of FATA.”

The ongoing operation is being conducted in extremely hostile terrain and harsh weather conditions, the statement said, adding that all heights over 9000 feet have been cleared, terrorist strongholds destroyed and huge cache of arms and ammunition have also been recovered.