Major Zafarullah said that North Waziristan Agency had become an epicentre of militancy before the launch of the Zarb-e-Azb operation. He said the area had become a command control centre of militants and the local population was being held hostage by them. He said the situation that prevailed there during those days also provided criminals an opportunity to flourish.
Major Zafarullah said that important proofs and facts regarding militants and their activities had been revealed after the commencement of ground attacks. He said that training camps of suicide attackers, IED-manufacturing factories, heavy arsenals, and modern communication equipment's clearly indicated the presence of militants and their activities in Miranshah. He said 11 IED-manufacturing factories and 23 tons of explosives were unearthed in the area.
He said that so far 400 militants, including local and foreigners, were killed while 130 had been injured through targeted actions of Pakistan Army planes and helicopters. He said that their hideouts were being destroyed. Major Zafarullah said that Boyapul area had also been brought under control through a ground assault from Miranshah to onward Data Khel. He said that some underground tunnels had also been discovered. Those tunnels were being used by militants and their heads as their hiding places.
He said necessary measures had been taken to avoid the escape of militants under the guise of locals during the evacuation of IDPs, adding it resulted into arrest of suspects besides. Moreover, a number of militants and their accomplices surrendered themselves to security forces. He said that investigations against the arrested persons had begun. In response to a query, Major Zafarullah said it was not a hand-to-hand combat; rather information regarding our activities and their results were channeled to us through various sources. On the occasion, Director General ISPR Major General Asim Bajwa highlighted various aspects of the ongoing Zarb-e-Azb operation. He said that Hafiz Gulbahadur would be killed if spotted. He said that the operation had been conducted without any discrimination and not a single civilian casualty had been reported during the operation Zarb-e-Azb.