Pakistan army has broken the back of TTP

Pakistan Daily

U.S.Central Command chief Gen David Petraeus lauding the Pakistan Army successes in Malakand and South Waziristan regions said that Pakistani Taliban are no longer in possession of the tools of terror that they once had in their eastern South Waziristan stronghold.

"Well, I don't know that you would characterize it as having defeated the TTP and/or the other elements that are associated with the Pakistani Taliban. But they have certainly set them back very considerably," he answered while speaking at a US Think Tank when asked if Pakistan has completely defeated the militant movement.

Gen. Petraeus told a gathering of experts at the Institute for the Study of War that it is important that Pakistan's vital anti-terror strides are recognized.

The Centcom leader noted with appreciation that the Pakistani army has cleared and held Swat Valley, Swat District, the Malakand Division of Northwest Frontier Province and has conducted important operations in Bajaur, Mohmand, and Khyber in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

"And then most recently, of course, about three or four months ago, launched an important operation in eastern South Waziristan, the tribal areas controlled by the extremist element that was led by the former Baitullah Mehsud, who was killed in the Fata last year, a very important action. And that has put considerable pressure on, again, the Pakistani Taliban and some of its affiliates."

In his appraisal, Petraeus noted a strong public backing for Pakistan's anti-militant operations that emerged following the Taliban's challenge to writ of the government in Swat valley.

"It has been, I think, of enormous importance that we recognize this important development because until about ten months ago, I think there was generally an assertion by a number in Pakistan that the Pakistani military was being coerced into fighting the U.S. War on Terror," he said, according to a transcript of the discussion available Tuesday.

He also acknowledged the fact that in dealing with the massive task of clearing and holding an area in the mountainous region and then rebuilding the conflict-hit areas, the available resources remain limited.

"The Pakistani Army and the Frontier Corps have carried out really quite impressive counter-insurgency operations. There are certainly limitations in the resources available to them. There are limitations in the governmental agencies and resources that they can bring to the rebuilding effort because, of course, it's not just clear and leave, it's clear, hold, and build, and even transition. And again, the Pakistani military's approach has been quite impressive.

"So I think all in all, they have shown quite a facility for carrying out these operations, a recognition that you have to hang onto what you fought to clear. You know, the act of taking over that area of eastern South Waziristan, where there was so much infrastructure that contained explosives, IED factories, car bomb factories, and arms and ammunition storage sites, and planning locations, training facilities, all the rest of that-that's not in their hands now, in TTP's hands.'

At the same time, the general remarked that the Pakistani fight against militancy is work in progress and additional pressure on other organizations will be helpful to the overall effort.

"So this has been a very significant development, but again, very much a work in progress, to be sure."

Article Source : http://www.daily.pk/pakistan-army-has-broken-the-back-of-ttp-15345/

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