Pak Army close to winning war against extremists: Kayani

September 4th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Friday said that the army has broken the back of terrorists and the war will continue until the complete elimination of extremists from the country. When COAS Kayani arrived in Swat's scenic place Kalam, Pakistani soldiers accorded him warm welcome.

September 4th, 2009 RAWALPINDI - The Pakistan Army is determined chase the Taliban till the very end, and would continue its offensive against the extremists until they are rooted out from the country, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani has said. Speaking at a function after inaugurating a rehabilitation centre for young Taliban recruits, General Kayani said 'Operation Rah-e-Rast', being carried out in the Swat and the Malakand Divisions, has broken the back of extremists.

August 31st, 2009 LAHORE - A day after the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif's spokesman Zaeem Qadri said that Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani should also be prosecuted under high treason charges along with former President General Pervez Musharraf, the party has denied General Kayani's involvement in imposition of emergency rule on November 3, 2007. PML-N spokesman Siddiq-ul Farooq said Musharraf had imposed emergency rule with the help of a few police officials, and did not take General Kayani into confidence.

August 30th, 2009 LAHORE - The Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) has now demanded trial of Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani under the Article Six of the Constitution. In an interview with a private television, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif's spokesman Zaeem Qadri said the party wants trial of former President General Pervez Musharraf and his close aides for supporting his unconstitutional actions.

July 4th, 2009 RAWALPINDI - Pakistan Chief of Army Staff , General Ashfaq Kayani has said that the internal threat facing the country was more threatening than the external, and that it needed immediate attention. "While external threats continue to exist, it is the internal threat to Pakistan that needs immediate attention," The Daily Times quoted Kayani, as saying.

July 2nd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has said that the military offensive against the Taliban would continue until all the extremists are rooted out from the country. "The fight against militancy and terrorism will end with the complete elimination of militants," Zardari said during a meeting with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Kayani here.

June 26th, 2009 RAWALPINDI - The Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Kayani has said that the security forces would certainly be able to establish control over the region captured by the Taliban and other militants, as the army is "executing a campaign plan" to achieve its target without much collateral damage. Addressing security personnel in South Waziristan where the army has launched an extensive operation against the Tehreek-e-Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, General Kayani stressed that the insurgents would be eliminated, and the government's writ would be re-established in the region soon.

June 15th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani has said that the military operation against the Taliban and other extremists in the Malakand and Swat region was launched to bring those people back on track who had deviated from their path due to certain circumstances. General Kayani said the operation has aptly been named 'Rah-e-Rast' which means the 'right track'.

June 5th, 2009 RAWALPINDI - Pakistan's Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani has said that the military had "decisively turned the tide" against the Taliban in Swat and adjoining districts. "The tide in Swat has decisively turned and major population centres and roads leading to the valley have been largely cleared of organised resistance by the Taliban," said General Kayani while addressing the 119th Corps Commanders' Conference at General Headquarters.

May 17th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Ashfaq Kayani, has said that the Army has a full range of counter-insurgency training facilities,and added and that it does not require any foreign training to tackle militancy. "Except for very specialised weapons and equipment, high technology, no generalised foreign training is required," The Nation quoted General Kayani, as saying.

May 13th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Kayani has asked the security forces to ensure minimum loss of life of civilians in the Swat operation. General Kayani instructed the Army to plan their movement tactfully with precision strikes, so that little collateral damage is done, The News reports.

May 8th, 2009 RAWALPINDI - Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Ashfaq Kayani has said the Army would mobilise all available resources to launch a 'decisive operation' to crush and flush out the Taliban from North West Frontier Province (NWFP). "The Pakistan Army will employ requisite resources to ensure a decisive ascendancy over the Taliban," The Daily Times quoted General Kayani, as saying at the 118th corps commanders' conference held at the General Headquarters (GHQ).

April 24th, 2009 RAWALPINDI - Worried by the increasing threat perception from the Taliban and questions being raised over the Army's capability and willingness to thwart the challenge, Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has said that the military is fully prepared and committed to take on the challenge. Addressing an operational meeting at the General Headquarters here, General Kayani said he is aware of the doubts being raised over the intent of the security forces of the country, and clarified that his forces would not hesitate to retaliate.

April 24th, 2009 RAWALPINDI - Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, on Friday said the Army is determined to root out the menace of terrorism from the region. General Kayani further said the Army would fully support the civilian government in its fight against militancy.

January 16th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's Army Chief General Ashfaque Parvaiz Kayani Saturday said his country wanted to defuse tensions with India following the Mumbai terror attacks but without any compromise or under pressure. Kayani made this statement while meeting visiting British Foreign Secretary David Miliband here, Geo TV reported, citing sources.