ISLAMABAD, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani Sunday visited Wana, a major town in the country's tribal area of South Waziristan to meet the field commanders and troops deployed in the area.
The official APP news agency reported that during the day-long visit, Kayani appreciated the morale and spirit of the troops employed in the Operation Rah-e-Nijat, or Path of Salvation.
He said that the army is not conducting operations against any tribe or area, but against handful of terrorists who have not only destroyed the peace and tribal traditions of the area but have also made the majority of the people hostage to their anti-state agenda.
Kayani reiterated that the operations are being conducted by the Pakistani Armed Forces without any outside support.
The security forces launched the operation at 3 a.m. local time Saturday morning (2100 GMT Friday) in the South Waziristan tribal agency bordering Afghanistan.
The army said about 30,000 soldiers are in place to take on an estimated 10,000 hard-core Taliban militants in the lawless area. About 500 commandos arrived in the region on Friday.
The military said that the operation is launched in six towns of the area and is likely to continue for six to eight weeks, but no final deadline can be given.
