ISLAMABAD - As the security forces are gearing up efforts for an all-out offensive against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud and his 10,000 persons strong fighting force in South Waziristan Agency, civil and military leadership Tuesday expressed resolve to eliminate militancy at all costs. Baitullah Mehsud and his associates might try to intensify violence out of their desperation to make psychological gains, but we will take the operation to its logical end, Federal Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira and DG ISPR Major General Athar Abbas told a joint press briefing. People of Pakistan and the armed forces are prepared to offer any sacrifice to eliminate the menace of terrorism and extremism from its soil, Kaira said. The DG ISPR said that the government had taken in principle decision to launch operation and security forces were in the preliminary phase to launch Rah-e-Nijat Operation against militant commander Baitullah Mehsud and his network in South Waziristan Agency. The Army has received requisite orders from the government. Necessary steps and measures are being taken by the military to launch the operation, he said, adding that all the necessary arrangements were being made by the security forces to plug potential escape routes of the militants ahead of the operation. Answering a question, about creation of an anti-Baitullah Mehsud Lashkar, Kaira said the government has encouraged the local tribes to crush the terrorists but the government would never kill a monster with a monster. Earlier, in their opening statements, the minister said that repatriation of the IDPs to their respective hometowns would start in a few days, while Director General ISPR said operation in Swat was successfully progressing and would soon come to its logical end. General Athar said that almost all the settled areas in Swat and Mingora had been cleared of the terrorists and steps were being taken to prevent their return to these areas. He said that a four-tier strategy was being evolved for the purpose, which included presence of the security forces in the area till the people were fully satisfied about safe and secure environment. While other elements of the strategy include restoration of the civil administration, strengthening the police force by inducting fresh blood and role of local notables in pinpointing problems and suggesting remedies. Answering a question, the DG ISPR said that a number of master minds and other terrorists had been arrested from various cities of the country and all this success was due to efficient and prompt information provided by the intelligence agencies. He said Operation Rah-e-Raast was also initiated on the information of intelligence agencies and all the success achieved was due to them. The people working in the intelligence agencies of the country are unsung heroes and their good work is not visible directly to the public, he told a questioner. When his comment was sought on setting up of Cantonment in Swat, he said that the groundwork in this regard was being finalised while the selection of the location would only be taken after completion of the operation. He said 21 trucks of ICRC carrying food items and medicines had reached Mingora where electricity to a large portion had been restored. Wapda staff had moved to Mingora and PTCL staff was also moving to Mingora to restore communication facility. Around 80 per cent work for the restoration of Sui Gas in Mingora had already been done, he said adding, survey for reconstruction of roads and bridges had been completed and work would start in next 3-4 days. Qamar Zaman Kaira said major portion of Swat has been cleared and IDPs are being facilitated to go back to their homes, adding that all-out efforts are being made to provide utilities in these areas. He said in Mingora telephone and electricity systems have been restored and soon IDPs rehabilitation process would start there. The Minister also said that rehabilitation of IDPs was a major challenge for the government as terrorists had not only killed the people but also ruined the infrastructure. Qamar Zaman Kaira said a phase-wise plan has been prepared for the IDPs return to their homes and the process would start as early as possible. He said there are 268,674 registered families and the process to provide them cash grant of Rs 25.000 has been started through visa cards being fabricated by United Bank Limited on daily basis. Giving further details, he said 15,819 such cards have been issued and efforts are also being made to prepare 8,000 to 10,000 such cards daily. He said Rs 141 million has so far been distributed among IDPs through visa cards. Replying to a question, he said that all of the IDPs were equal for the government and rehabilitation of all displaced persons was the governments priority. Replying to another question, the Minister said IDPs would also be given agricultural inputs so that after rehabilitation, they could grow crops in their respective areas. Meanwhile, curfew from areas like Kalam and Bahrain had been lifted and civil administration and police had become fully functional in Shangla district. According to DG ISPR, 13 terrorists were killed and 3 others arrested in Malakand, Dir and Peochar Valley during the last 24 hours. He also said that the security forces had captured and destroyed completely a training facility of the militants at Balasar-Chaprial having 120 feet long tunnels, firing range and training area. Athar further added that, a terrorist Shah Sultan, an expert in making suicidal jackets, had also been killed in Charbagh area. During search operation, three terrorists were apprehended from Salhand, area near Fizaghat and on a tip-off two vehicles, prepared for suicide missions, had been recovered and destroyed at Dangram, he said. Two tunnels had been discovered and destroyed at Loi Numal in Peochar Valley and two at Rampatai. During search operation in Gokand Banda, Sarsanai, Khairabad and Ghodanbanda, ISPR said caches of arms and ammunition were recovered from all four areas. During operations up to Aligrama, seven IEDs and one Anti-Tank Mine were recovered and destroyed by the security forces. Cache of arms, ammunition and communication equipment were also recovered from Nawakili and Watakai, he added. During search operation on a tip-off regarding presence of terrorists in an area between Hayasarai and Lal Qila, the security force launched operation and during the encounter 12 terrorists were killed including important commander Abdullah. Mohammad Hanif adds from Bannu: More than two hundred militants have been killed in the operation so far in Jani Khail and Mali Khail tribal areas, ISPR sources disclosed to TheNation on Tuesday. They also said that the security forces had taken control over Sra Darga and Zendi Akbar Khan and Koika Saif Ali areas and established check-posts there. Meanwhile, thousands of people from these places migrated to Bannu and other nearby districts amidst security forces shelling and search operation. The migrated families reached the registration centres, established by the government in Daryuioba, to get them registered. The sources also said that the government had registered so far four hundred families of the Frontier Region, Bannu and were being provided relief goods.