PM Sharif, COAS keen to take on TTP chief Mullah Fazlullah

ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – In the wake of ongoing operation against terrorists of all hue, Pakistan’s civil and military leadership has decided in principle to take on Taliban chief Mullah Fazlullah.

Both Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Army chief General Raheel Sharif are keen to capture Fazlullah dead or alive, come what may.

The two held a detailed meeting at the Prime Minister’s House on Tuesday – a day after one of the main attackers of the December-16 Peshawar school attack was apprehended – and discussed the strategy to take out the most-wanted terrorist.

General Raheel, who called on Prime Minister Sharif, was also apprised about the premier’s telephonic conversation with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, according to sources.

The army chief briefed the prime minister about his recent visit to Afghanistan and progress on Operation Zarb-e-Azb, apart from the possible measures being taken for return of IDPs [internally displaced persons] to their homes in Waziristan and northern areas. The implementation of National Action Plan also came under discussion.

Sources said Sharif and Raheel also expressed satisfaction over the resumption of talks between Afghan Taliban and the Afghan government. At the same time, the two vowed to further facilitate this process.

Discussing the recent violations along the Line of Control (LoC) and the working boundary, the premier and army chief agreed to take up the issue with the regional and international powers through diplomatic and military sources.

“They said that India will be portrayed as main obstacle in the line of war against terrorism and powerful countries, think tanks would be tried to convince them that India through its interventions in Balochistan and skirmishes at the border is engaged to divert Pakistan’s attention from operation Zarb-e-Azb,” sources privy to the meeting said.

Frequent meetings are being held between the government and army since the civilian government had surrendered critical internal and external security operations to the military.