The government has decided to keep army
in Wana even after the completion of the ongoing operation
against foreign militants and suspected terrorists hiding
there, a source told Dawn on Wednesday.
The source said the army had decided to
spend billions of rupees for logistics, arms and other
equipment to be used in Wana for conducting non-stop operation
against foreign militants and terrorists.
In this connection the army authorities
had invited bids for purchase of 100 Armoured Personnel
Carriers (APCs), about 130 trucks and 90 soft-top jeeps,
the source said. The source said the cost of one APC was
stated to be UK pound 450,000 and thus the cost of 100
APCs is equal to Rs4.5 billion.
The army authorities are considering purchasing
second-hand APCs from international market to cut down
expenditure on the purchase of equipment and logistics
for permanent stay in Wana, the source said.
Besides, APCs, the cost of 130 trucks
and 90 soft-top jeeps to be purchased by the army was
stated to be Rs1.2 billion, the source said. The source
said the military authorities were likely to get fresh
aid from the US to purchase the required equipment and
vehicles.
