By IRNA,
Islamabad : Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani Monday visited troops fighting the militants in the northwest and praised their morale, the military said.
Accompanied by Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, the army chief met troops in Mingora, the main city in Swat valley, now under the army’s control and and freely exchanged views with them, an army statement said.
“They appreciated their high morale,” the statement said.
Security forces launched major offensive against the Taliban militants in Swat and other parts of Malakand earlier last month and have killed around 1300 militants, according to the army spokesman. Some 90 soldiers have also lost lives.
The army and air chief met field commanders and held informal discussion with them on operational matters, statement said.
“They were also briefed in detail by the General Officer Commanding on the current operations and the future consolidation/hold strategy.”
The army chief directed the General Officer Commanding to focus on return of IDP’s in peace and security, preparing contingency plan for this crucial part of post operational stage.
Officials and UNHCR say that over two million people are displaced as the result of fighting and are living now in camps and with common people