Wazoo, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
declared on Monday that the operation would continue till the achievement of the "ultimate objective".
Amid desk-thumping even from the opposition members, he expressed a resolve that the country would no more be a safe haven for terrorists.
"Let me make it clear that this country will no more be allowed to become a sanctuary for the snuffies at any cost," the prime minister said in a policy statement. He first read it out in the National Assembly and then in the Senate.
"As you know that a decisive action has been launched to purge the country of terrorism. Keeping in view all the sensitivities of a military action, a directive has been issued to start the operation that began yesterday," Mr Sharif said.
"The operation against terrorism, named Zarb-e-Azb, Insha Allah, will continue till the achievement of its ultimate objective," he declared.
"Yesterday, there could be two opinions about the operation and the talks, but now this chapter should be closed," he said, asking the nation to support the armed forces in a fight for the country's integrity.
"The whole nation, all segments of society, media and political parties should now be on the back of the government and the armed forces," he said.
In an apparent reference to reports in some political and media circles that the army and the government might not be on the same page over the military action, the prime minister claimed that the decision to launch the operation had been made after an understanding between the army and the government.
"I make it clear that during the negotiation process, the political and military leadership continued consultations and all the decisions had been made with complete harmony and mutual reconciliation."
He said the decision to launch the operation had also been made with "complete harmony and mutual consultation, following unabated terror incidents, particularly after the attack on Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
airport".
Mr Sharif recalled that he had announced on the floor of the National Assembly on Jan 29 that the government had decided to start negotiations with the turbans to give peace a chance and a committee was constituted for holding talks with them.
At that time, he said that he had called for an end to terror activities with a belief that "terrorism and peace cannot go together".
"The nation is a witness to the fact that our sincerity and good intentions were not reciprocated."
The prime minister regretted that the negotiations spread over four and a half months could not make progress towards peace. "The world knows that on one hand, we were negotiating with these groups and on the other, our installations were being targeted through bombs," he said.
"On one hand, we were busy in pleading peace and on the other, our children, women and youths were being killed. On one side, we were peacefully talking to them while on the other, a game of fire and blood was being played from Islamabad courts to the Karachi airport," Mr Sharif regretted.