Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas. — Photo by Reuters

ISLAMABAD: DG Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major Gen. Athar Abbas has said regular army and FC have been sent to border areas with Afghanistan to stop militants' attacks.

Talking to Radio Pakistan, he said Pakistan will not allow militants to carry out attacks on our check-posts, border villages and kill our civilians.

The DG ISPR said about 100 personnel of police; levies and paramilitary forces have so far been martyred in militants' attacks from across the border during last 3-4 months.

ISAF was informed about these attacks, besides pointing out the location of hideouts of militants, but no action has so far been taken which may prove that safe havens and bunkers have been destroyed or militants have fled from there, he added.

He said apparently it seems that there is no presence of Afghan army or ISAF in the vast area from where militants are operating against Pakistan, about 37 security personnel were martyred in Chitral attack, which was first such attack and is a matter of great concern for us.

Replying to a question, he said there is a report that the militants have attacked in Bajaur, but no casualty has so far been reported.

He said Dir is the most affected area of militants' attacks and terrorist group fled from Swat is involved in these attacks so that they can come to Swat via Dir. We strengthened all border check-posts and increased their numbers in Dir.

He said militants have safe havens in Kunar, Nooristan and Nangarhar and there are no security forces in most of these areas of Afghanistan.

It seems the militants are being supported locally and operating freely, he added.

He said Pakistan cannot launch operation across the border.

He said Pakistan took up the issue with the Afghan Army personnel and ISAF, but we did not see any effective operation in that area.

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