‘Elements released under SC directives involved in attacking security forces’

ISLAMABAD—Top military authorities have said the elements released under Supreme Court orders are attacking security forces and targeting national installations.
"We have irrefutable evidence those who were set free under the directives of Supreme Court are attacking security forces, targeting national installations and worsening the situation" Military senior officials said while giving briefing to senior representatives of media at GHQ Rawalpindi Wednesday.
" We will not allow extremism to move forward and spill into other parts of NWFP. However more measures will be taken to crush extremism, they vowed. Army is countering extremism like a challenge; they said adding army has been reactivated in tribal areas and Swat from October 23. It has fortified its position on hills in Swat and 100000 troops are participating in war against extremism in Balochistan, tribal areas and other parts of NWFP, they added. The major target of army in North Waziristan is that noose is tightened around Bait Ullah Mehsood " We are doing so as Bait Ullah Mehsood is leading extremists. We will arrest or kill him", they maintained.
They underlined " we are cooperating and coordinating with the international forces engaged in operation in Afghanistan. Different targets in NWFP have been hit duet to this cooperation, they added. Promulgation of emergency made no difference in operation against terrorists, they said. Army was working like it was working earlier and emergency had afforded no huge benefit to army, they held.
They went on to say efforts were underway to control the situation in Waziristan. Attention is being focused on the challenges being faced by us, they hinted. Forceful operation was launched against the foreigners in war on terror and over 488 foreigners had been killed so far, 24 had been arrested and 324 were injured, they informed.
They did not disclose how many detained foreigners had been handed over to US and other countries. They were of view it was not all Talibanization what was going on in Swat. It is rowdyism, they told. Morale of the law enforcement agencies had collapsed and they did not want to counter extremism. Now army has come. It is a big challenge for us that we ensure restoration of peace and security there. We will utilize all our resources and stamp out extremism and terrorism from there.
To a question they told 28 suicide attacks were carried out following operation in Lal Masjid. Security forces were ambushed in 192 incidents. 602 security personnel and 1305 civilians were killed during suicide attacks. They told the army movement was very restricted due to MMA led government in NWFP, therefore, terrorists activities increased manifold. Now army has entered into Swat fully.
They pointed out 966 security personnel were martyred and 2259 injured in war against terrorism since 2001.
They said 200 security personnel surrendered in North Waziristan and the extremists had to be set free in return for release of these security personnel. It is very shameful, they added.—ISPR