Haqqani sanctuaries eradicated: Pakistan’s military

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): Pakistan military authorities have claimed all terrorist groups’ safe havens including the Haqqani Network were eradicated from their soil through a ‘successful’ military campaign.

In addition to the cost in blood of over 75,000 Pakistanis, there had been a loss of more than $123 billion to the national exchequer, the director-general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

In an interview with the Gulf News, Major General Asif Ghafoor said the war on terror had spilled into Pakistan after US-led coalition forces launched a military mission in Afghanistan.

The residual presence of militants was linked to the 2.7 million Afghan refugees living in Pakistan. He stressed the need for the respectable repatriation of the refugees to their country.

“Present violence in Afghanistan should not be linked to Pakistan. Pakistan shall do anything to support the achievement of peace in Afghanistan but can neither fight inside Afghanistan nor will do it again inside Pakistan,” he added.

Pan Monitor/mud