Pakistan defense minister says a decisive operation against militants ordered

Pakistan Defense Minister Khwaja Asif Sunday said that a decisive operation has been ordered against the militant groups in North Waziristan tribal region with consultations of all stakeholders.

The army earlier announced that a ground an air assault was launched on the direction of the government to clear North Waziristan from local and foreign militants.

The long-anticipated offensive was started after the rare peace dialogue between the Taliban and the government faced a deadlock over the Taliban attacks and their tough pre-conditions.

The Taliban attack on the Karachi airport on Sunday last had diminished chances for the revival of the talks as the government had been under pressure to act against the Taliban in their last stronghold.

"On the directions of the Government, Armed forces of Pakistan have launched a comprehensive operation against foreign and local terrorists who are hiding in sanctuaries in North Wazirastan Agency," the military spokesman, Maj. Gen. Asim Bajwa said. The operation has been named "Zarb-e-Azb," a reference to the sword of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) who fought two wars with the sword.

The defense minister accused the Taliban of undermining the dialogue process and that the government has taken the decision to launch the operation after consultations.

"Our forces will fight a decisive war," the minister told the media shortly after the military made a formal announcement to begin the operation. He said the whole nation defends the decision as the Taliban had left no other option.

"Using North Waziristan as a base, these terrorists had waged a war against the state of Pakistan and had been disrupting our national life in all its dimensions, stunting our economic growth and causing enormous loss of life and property," the military spokesman said in a statement.

The operation was launched hours after the military said the pre-dawn air strikes killed nearly 80 militants including Uzbeks and members of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement.

The major opposition Pakistan Peoples Party has welcomed the military operation.

Senior party leader Sharjeel Memon said the PPP will support the military operation for the peace in the country.

But another main opposition party Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf opposed the operation and said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif did not take other political parties into confidence.

The PTI spokesperson, Shireen Mazari, said the party will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to chalk out a strategy.