Politics
20:05, 17-Jul-2017
Pakistan military takes fight to ISIL near Afghan border
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Pakistan on Monday launched a major military operation in the restive Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) bordering Afghanistan aimed at preventing ISIL militants from gaining a foothold.
Military spokesman Lieutenant General Asif Ghafoor said the operation was intended to virtually fence the country off from the growing ISIL presence in Afghanistan.
"This operation was necessary because Daesh (ISIL) is getting established there and we have to stop the influence of Daesh spreading into Pakistani territory through the Rajgal valley," Ghafoor told The National, referring to a valley surrounded by mountains reaching up to 14,000 feet.
ISIL has already claimed multiple attacks in Pakistan, including one on a famed shrine in February that killed 75 people.
4038km