Malik flip-flop, now rules out military operation in South Punjab

Islamabad, Jun.9 (ANI): Backtracking from his earlier stand, Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik has ruled out any immediate military offensive in South Punjab, where militants have wreaked havoc killing scores of innocent persons in the recent past.

Malik told reporters here that the federal government would conduct a targeted operation in the province only after receiving credible intelligence inputs.

He also negated media reports regarding confrontation between the Punjab government and the federal government, and said both were cooperating with each other to eradicate the menace of terrorism.

It is pertinent to mention here that Malik had admitted that South Punjab, where more than 44 percent of country's madrassas are, was fast becoming a terror hub.

Malik had said that following the 'successful' military operations in Swat and FATA, the government was now chalking out a strategy to dismantle the terror network in South Punjab.

"Forces working on agenda to destabilise Pakistan have started their activities in the heart of Pakistan (Punjab), after being defeated in Swat and FATA. Terrorists won't be able to demoralise us as government is determined to launch more attacks against the terrorists," he had said. (ANI)