Roundup: Pakistani forces rip up Taliban as country remembers army school victims

Pakistan observed the first anniversary of the terrorist attack on an army-run school on Wednesday when a vast majority people feel the Taliban threat has been substantially reduced after post-attack operations.

The attack on the Army Public School on Dec. 16, 2014 that had killed nearly 150 people, mostly children, prompted the launch of a National Action Plan (NAP) to combat terrorism.

The 20-point plan expanded powers of law enforcement agencies to carry out thousands of intelligence-based operations in urban areas against the militants, their financiers and sympathizers. The actions had an unprecedented support of all mainstream political parties.

Defence and political affairs' experts believe the post-NAP actions delivered a heavy blow to the Tahrik-e-Talian Pakistan and other militant groups who had already been targeted by a major offensive codenamed "Zarb-e-Azb" in their stronghold of North Waziristan tribal region.

Highlighting the achievements, the army said last week that the security forces have killed 3,400 militants during the operation.

Military spokesman Lt. Gen Asim Bajwa said a total of 837 hideouts of the militants have been destroyed and few last pockets close to Pakitan-Afghan border are being cleared.

The TTP and other armed groups are now fighting a war for their survival in rugged mountains as they have lost ground to the security forces.

Security experts said the post-NAP operations have undermined the capability of the TTP and other armed groups to launch any major attack.

"As the NAP delegated more powers to the law enforcement agencies they carried out vigorous campaign against the militants across the country. The actions were also effective to go after those who had sheltered fleeing militants in cities," Syed Nazeer, a former army brigadier, said.

Nazeer told Xinhua that positive aspect of the NAP was that it had received across-the-board support in the country and the actions had decreased violence, suicide attacks, mass killings and serious threats.

Ayaz Wazir, a former diplomat, said the security situation has improved and the Taliban have almost vanished following the NAP.

"The actions have undermined, to a great extent, the capability of the Taliban to carry out any major operation," he said.

The government statistics this year show major terrorist attacks have declined by 70 percent.

The TTP and its allies have been ousted from their sanctuaries in the lawless tribal regions and their top TTP leaders have fled to neighbouring Afghanistan.

This will remain a challenge but experts said cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan could help in countering this threat.

The nation pays homage to the school children massacred during the Taliban attack one year ago.

A gathering at the Army Public School was scheduled to be attended by the country's top civil and military leaders to show unity to the bereaved families. Endit