Pakistan army chief visits troops fighting in mountainous region

Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel Sharif on Friday visited troops in a mountainous region where the security forces are fighting the militants to block their cross-border movement, the military said.

The ground forces, backed by fighter jets, launched operation in Khyber tribal area this week to stop the movement of the militants as they had been using the route for their activities in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Dozens of militants have been killed and their hideouts destroyed, according to the army.

The army chief visited front line troops busy in operations along the Pakistan-Afghanistan Border in Khyber Agency, a statement said.

Sharif showed satisfaction over the progress of operation and appreciated the highest state of morale and professionalism shown in fighting terrorists of various organizations hiding in the most rugged terrain.

Cross-border movement of the militants is a major problem for Pakistan and Afghanistan as they use the rugged mountainous terrain for their movement. Pakistani forces want to close all the routes so they could not enter the country for attacks.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have a nearly 2600 km border, mostly porous.

"We will commit all efforts to clear all remote pockets and sleeper cells of terrorists till their total elimination from anywhere in the country," Sharif told the troops.

The army chief directed enhanced vigilance and pro-active approach to stop any type of movement of terrorists. Endit