Islamabad: The Pakistani Taliban on Monday warned all international organisations and individuals to leave the country or face violence as it is in a “state of war”. “All international agencies, airlines and investors should immediately suspend all commercial ties with Pakistan and leave the country as we are in a state of war. Otherwise these foreign institutions or individuals will be responsible for any harm coming to them,” TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan army on Monday launched an all-out offensive using jets and tanks in the restive North Waziristan, killing 177 Taliban fighters including foreigners, while six soldiers were killed in an IED blast, the first military casualties in the operation. “Air force jets targeted six hideouts of the militants in Shawal area. In these precise strikes 27 terrorists were killed. There is no civil population in the area,” military spokesman Major Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa said.
The military said they shot dead seven militants trying to flee Mir Ali, a major town in North Waziristan. Another three were killed when they were planting roadside bombs near Miranshah. In a U-turn, former cricketer Imran Khan’s party said it would support the military operation against Pakistani Taliban.
