Pakistan's army chief says militants on run

Pakistani army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani Thursday told tribal elders that the security forces will eliminate fleeing militants with the help of tribesmen.

"The security forces have destroyed bases of the brutal and selfish terrorists on the soil of South Wazirstan tribal region," General Kayani told a jirga or tribal council of Mehsood tribe in a letter.

The letter, titled "Promise with Mehsood brothers" with General Kayani photograph, Pakistan's national flag and army's monogram, was distributed among a jirga in Tank, a city near South Waziristan.

"I know that officers and soldiers of Pakistan's army rendered sacrifices for peace in your area but you also sacrificed of lives, houses and peace and frustrated the plans of anti-statements," the general said.

The security forces had launched a major ground and air offensive against thousands of militants of Tehrik-e-Taliban in South Waziristan in October 2009.

The jirga was called by the local administration of South Waziristan to discuss repatriation of thousands of Mehsood tribesmen, who were displaced due to fighting.

"In the next spring you people will be in your area and the government of Pakistan has allocated a large amount for the developmental projects," the army chief said in his letter.

He said that the projects include repairing rugged roads, building new roads, small dams for agriculture, electricity and education.

"I salute to the courage of brave Mehsood tribes and assure that Pakistan army will do anything for peace and tranquillity in your area," General Kayani said.