ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Friday said that the government was considering a military operation in the tribal badlands of North Waziristan, DawnNews reported.

Speaking to reporters upon his arrival at the Karachi Airport, the interior minister said that the tribal region of North Waziristan agency is the hub of terrorists. Malik said that the entire nation was united against the “Zaliman”, an Urdu term meaning “oppressors” which he used to describe Taliban militants.

Rehman Malik said that the terrorists had not just attacked 14-year-old schoolgirl Malala Yousufzai, but had attacked the entire nation. He added that the government and military leadership will decide whether there is a need for an operation in North Waziristan.

Malik claimed that they were receiving intelligence reports from North Waziristan on daily basis. Adding that he said that they had reports which said there were terrorist hideouts in the area.

A meeting has been summoned in the General Headquarter (GHQ) Rawalpindi in which Corps Commander Peshawar would give briefing over the security situation of North Waziristan.

Briefing would also be given to the parliament’s standing committee over defence within a few days, sources said.

The interior minister’s comments come in the shadow of the assassination attempt on Tuesday by Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants on the life of young schoolgirl Malala Yousufzai, who belongs to Swat. Two other girls were also injured in the shooting while Yousufzai, who was shot in the head, is currently on a ventilator.

Doctors say the next 48 hours will be critical for the young girl's health. The shooting has drawn condemnation from world leaders and many Pakistanis.