Kayani co-pilots F-16 targeting militant hideouts

[Naveed Yaseen]

ISLAMABAD (June 16 2009): The security forces have pounded the hideouts of suspected militants in Bannu as Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, for the first time in the history of Pakistan, co-piloted the F-16 combat aircraft and targeted militants' hideouts.

He was accompanied by Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman in the operation, well-informed sources told Business Recorder on Monday. They said that the security forces targeted the militants' positions, while in reply, they fired rockets from different areas of Bannu.

However, no causality was reported. Meanwhile, a spokesman of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the security forces destroyed an explosive-laden car in Bannu when the occupants, despite warning, did not stop the car. As a result police officials fired on escaping car which exploded.

He said that one terrorist was killed in the explosion of the car, which was to be used for suicidal mission. Six more terrorists were killed in ongoing operation "Rah-e-Raast" in Malakand and Bannu during last 24 hours while six others were injured.

The security forces, during a search operation in Aligrama area, recovered huge cache of arms, ammunition, explosives and other devices, which the terrorists had dumped to use against the security forces, the spokesman said. He said the security forces had cleared the areas of Godhand Banda and Arkot of terrorists and were consolidating their positions in these areas and started search operation to bring the terrorists to task, he said.

He said that the security forces had retaliated an attack on a checkpost in Banmanai Sar area in Swat by miscreants, and the retaliatory fire of the security forces had caused huge dent to terrorists. The number of casualties could not be ascertained, he added.

He said that in Peochar valley, the security forces blocked the escaping terrorists riding on horses and a fierce battle between terrorists and the security forces was continuing. He said that the security forces continued the house-to-house search operation in Matta.

The Spokesman said that terrorists, who had been encircled by local militia "Lashkars" in Upper Dir had attacked them, but the attack was repulsed. Three houses of terrorists were destroyed and five terrorists were killed while six injured.

He said that the security forces had consolidated their positions at Jani Khel Fort and Sara Bangal. Talking about relief activities of the Armed Forces, the ISPR spokesman said that two truckload with relief goods were distributed amongst the scattered IDPs of Mardan. The IDPs of Kalam were advised to report Besham. The security forces had made arrangements for transportation to Kalam, he added.

APP adds: Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Army on Monday expressed complete solidarity and oneness in successfully meeting the challenges confronted to the nation with the spirit of hand and glove.

Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman who visited the base along with senior officers of both the forces also addressed the airmen on the occasion. Chief of Army Staff General Kayani spoke at length on the issue of extremism and terrorism and strongly condemned such trends of a handful of elements.

He said that the Operation Rah-e-Raast was chosen as a last option after exercising various peaceful options. He said that the present situation is totally different from the situation of war where, the enemy is well known but in this situation the enemy is hard to be identified.

He said differentiation between friend and foe is very difficult in this situation. "We want to see peaceful - picturesque and beautiful Swat once again," he said. He said Pakistan is our motherland and we all are bound to defend it at all costs. He said that Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Army are fully united and are taking part in Operation Rah-e-Raast shoulder-to-shoulder.

He said that the efforts are in hand to fully facilitate the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and they would also be provided relief for their repatriation in the due course.

Earlier, the Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman said that Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Army are more united and carrying out joint operations to deal with the curse of terrorism. He said the morale of the country's forces is very high and they are fully determined to check the nefarious designs of those elements who challenged the writ of the state.

He said a small group of people had been forcing the majority to follow their footsteps by terrorising them. "Our ground forces will always see the PAF on the forefront along with them," he said. Expressing satisfaction over the progress of the Operation he said that the security forces have shown good progress. A number of hideouts, ammunition dumps, and training camps of the terrorists were successfully targeted and destroyed with pinpoint accuracy and precision, he added.

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