SWAT: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif pledged on Monday that terrorists will not be allowed to return to Swat. He was speaking during his visit to the Kalam Festival in Swat on its concluding day, ISPR said in a press release issued on Monday. It said that during his visit army chief General Raheel Sharif appreciated the people of Swat for playing a vital role in support of security forces in revival of peace in the area and bringing festivals and tourism back to the valley. The COAS said that the “dark age” of terrorism prevailed in Malakand Division until a few years back and it had become impossible to hold such functions in Swat. But sacrifices and firm commitment of the soldiers of Pakistan Army, civil forces and the local people has eliminated terrorism from Malakand Division. Expressing hope that tourism will flourish in the beautiful land of Swat, COAS assured that army will always stand by the people of Swat and help build capacity of civilian institutions.
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