ISLAMABAD: The army put the ball in the political leadership’s court on Saturday on the question of whether or not to launch an operation in North Waziristan Agency (NWA).

“It is going to be a political decision,” ISPR chief Lt Gen Asim Bajwa told Dawn.

A similar sense was conveyed at a press briefing at ISPR.

Speculations about an impending operation had grown after a strong reaction by the military and civilian leaders over the attack on teenaged activist Malala Yousufzai.

The attack swung public opinion in favour of a decisive operation against a militancy that has long haunted the country.

The army, Gen Bajwa recalled, had expressed its resolve, more than once, to eradicate terrorism after the Mingora incident.

The National Assembly, while expressing its rage over the attempt on Ms Yousufzai’s life, had passed a resolution saying it “resolves that until the establishment of peace in the great motherland, the rooting out of terrorists will continue”.

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf too, during his visit to the hospital where the girl is being treated, stated that the nation wouldn’t surrender to militants.

The capacity required for undertaking the operation in North Waziristan is said to be already in place, although some logistics reviews may be needed when finalising the details.

“Contingencies are always in place. Moreover, the army is already involved in Operation Tight Screw,” a defence analyst noted.