Pakistan army today launched the final phase of an ongoing operation to clear the last strongholds of militants based in North Waziristan tribal region close to the Afghanistan border.
Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif was briefed about the military operation during his visit to the tribal region.
The operation will target ravines and forests in the Shawal Valley and Dattekhel areas of North Waziristan, which had been used by militants for years as safe havens, military spokesman Lt Gen Asim Bajwa said.
"Final phase of operation in left over pockets of North Waziristan has begun," Bajwa said.
He said that Sharif had directed to commence last phase operation in North Waziristan to cleanse remnant terrorists from hide outs in deeply forested ravines and jungle.
He said troops were in a high state of morale and ready for last phase of operation and determined to finish work as soon as possible.
He said local support for terrorists even in Shawal Valley had totally diminished and people want to sever their links with militants across the country. The forested ravines of Shawal, Dattakhel had also served as popular infiltration routes between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Army launched operation 'Zarb-e-Azb' in North Waziristan in June 2014 to clear the remote area of militants and had so far cleared more than 90 per cent area of the district.
It says that more than 3,500 militants have been killed in the operation so far.
