ISLAMABAD - Military top brass yesterday approved a comprehensive plan to carry out combing operations across the country to pre-empt potential sleeper cells and terrorists hideouts.

The plan approved at the Corps Commanders Conference chaired by Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif would simultaneously aim at enhancing the reach of local and provincial Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs). Military media wing ISPR in a statement said the forum was briefed in detail about the internal and external security situation of the country and dwelt at length on operational preparedness, training and other professional matters.

The army chief lauded successful completion of the Shawal operation and paid rich tribute to the sacrifices of the troops of army, Frontier Corps and Rangers who are valiantly fighting war against terrorism to make Pakistan a safer place.

The major development comes two weeks after Pakistan Army was called in for help the Punjab government for operation against infamous criminal gang in Kacha area and after the completion of Pakistan Army’s last phase of full-scale military offensive in NWA. Announcing the conclusion of the Shawal operation in North Waziristan Agency on April 18, Army Chief General Rsaheel Sharif had vowed to undertake large scale pre-emptive combing operations in areas other than the Fata. The final phase of operation was launched in February in North Waziristan’s deeply forested ravines of Shawal Valley and Datta Khel that had been used by terrorists for infiltration between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Talking about breaking the nexus between terrorists and their facilitators sitting outside the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), General Raheel directed to undertake large scale combing operation immediately to seek out terrorists, their sleeper cells and facilitators in areas other than Fata and enhance reach of the law enforcement agencies.

Speaking to officers and men while visiting Shawal Valley, the army chief said: “Standing shoulder to shoulder with us, the entire nation highly values the sacrifices being rendered in this fight against terrorism.”

According to ISPR, more than 250 terrorists were killed and 160 were injured, their key hideouts were smashed and more than 800sq-km of area had been secured inflicting heavy casualties on terrorists. While eight soldiers of Pakistan Army embraced Shahadat (martyrdom) and 39 injured.

Major terrorist hubs of Mana, Gurbaz, Lataka, Inzarkas and Magrotai and had been cleared, with army troops clearing at least 640 square kilometres of Shawal Valley.

Since the beginning of operation Zarb-e-Azb in June 2014, security forces have cleared 4304 square kilometers of area in North Waziristan and “restored the writ of the government in all areas especially in remote areas of Fata.”

The operation was conducted in extremely hostile terrain and harsh weather conditions, the statement said, adding that all heights over 9000 feet have been cleared, terrorist strongholds destroyed and huge cache of arms and ammunition have also been recovered.

In addition, there was virtually no communication or infrastructure in the region when the final phase of the operation was launched in February this year. Army troops had also managed to make 150km of tracks on the treacherous terrain while fighting the war. Shawal heights are fully covered with snow, while visibility remains poor.

In North Waziristan Agency, 37012 families (36 per cent of temporarily displaced persons) have returned to their homes. At least 94 development projects of various natures have been completed in both phases of the operation while 153 projects are underway in Phase-3.

Progress of infrastructure projects of North and South Waziristan were reviewed by Army Chief General Raheel Sharif on Saturday in the light of the already approved master plan.