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Operation to go on till logical end: PM

* Kayani says operation moving ahead successfully, collateral damage being limited

By Zulfiqar Ghuman

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani vowed on Friday not to let terrorists get away with “cowardly acts”, and said the military offensive in South Waziristan would be taken to its logical conclusion.

“Failure [in dealing with terrorists] is not an option, irrespective of the ferocity of the recent attacks. The military operation in South Waziristan will be taken to its logical conclusion. The whole nation is united against those who are out to terrorise the society thinking their demands will be accepted,” said Gilani while presiding over a high-level meeting on national security at Prime Minister’s House. The meeting was aimed at evolving a comprehensive strategy to deal with the situation amid a spike in terrorist attacks.

The prime minister said that stern action would be taken against those challenging the writ of the state.

Collateral damage: Briefing the meeting, Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Kayani said the operation in South Waziristan was progressing successfully, with the army trying its best to limit collateral damage.

The meeting discussed proposals for the elimination of terrorism and extremism, and reviewed the strategy formed by various intelligence and law-enforcement agencies to make the South Waziristan operation a success. The meeting praised the media in building public opinion against terrorism and extremism, but said live coverage of terrorist attacks must be avoided.

The prime minister directed that all educational institutions be reopened after providing them full security.

He vowed to assist those affected by the unrest in South Waziristan. “We will provide them Rs 5,000 a month, in addition to ration and relief goods,” he said, adding that Rs 2.5 billion had been released to FATA Secretariat internally displaced persons from South Waziristan.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik also briefed the meeting on the law and order situation.

Earlier, the army chief, the defence minister, the interior minister, the information minister, the finance minister, Sardar Zulifqar Khosa and the chief ministers of Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan held a separate meeting with the prime minister.

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