Anti-terror drive to be intensified, no new military offensive: Pak PM

Islamabad: Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif clarified in the face of intense opposition criticism that the planned counter-terrorism campaign would entail intensifying ongoing intelligence based operations (IBOs) rather than launching a new, organised military offensive.
Sharif had announced plans to launch a full-scale offensive, named “Azm-e-Istehkam (Resolve for Stability)”, to eliminate terrorism and extremism. The announcement drew sharp reactions from opposition, with analysts saying that Chinese concerns about attacks on its nationals had likely influenced the decision.
Defence minister Khawaja Asif, meanwhile, said a majority of operations under “Azm-e-Istehkam” will be conducted in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, Pakistan’s volatile provinces bordering Afghanistan. “The operation has no political motive, its sole purpose is to counter surge in terrorism.”
“We fought two wars under Zia-ul-Haq and Musharraf for US interests. This operation, however, is being conducted on our own terms, not at behest of China or anyone else,” he said, assuring there would be no evacuations.