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SWA operation to be completed within 2 weeks

* Military moving in fast to avoid fighting in winters

By Sajjad Malik

RAWALPINDI: The army will wrap up Operation Rah-e-Nijat within two weeks, bringing down the terrorists in South Waziristan, military sources told Daily Times on Saturday.

“We will clear South Waziristan within the next two weeks and accomplish the objectives of the operation ahead of the stipulated time,” the sources said.

They said foreigners, mostly Uzbek and Arab terrorists, had strongholds and hideouts in South Waziristan, where they exerted influence over local militants to fight the Pakistan Army and launch terror attacks in different parts of the country.

Sources said they did not know the whereabouts of Taliban leader Hakeemullah Mehsud, but did not rule out the possibility of Taliban sneaking through the army cordon in small groups.

“The terrorists cannot escape in vehicles, but they can escape in groups of two or four, as there are dozens of passes, known to the locals, that can be used to cross into North Waziristan, Afghanistan, Balochistan, Orakzai, Bannu or Lakki Marwat,” they said.

Talking about the presence of foreigners in the area, they said most of the Uzbeks were concentrated in Janata, a small town off the Razmak-Makeen Axis.

“Janata is exclusively populated by Uzbeks. Even the Taliban cannot go there without their permission,” sources said, adding that the military would soon reach the village.

Moving in fast: The said the military moving in as fast as they could, since it would start snowing in three weeks. “Even now, it is very cold at midday and the snow will only hamper the fighting,” they said.

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