KARACHI:
Given the evil designs of our enemies across the borders and a declared opposition by world powers to the CPEC project, there is a need to improve our security apparatus and ensure that they focus solely on dangers imposed by known external enemies. Any additional role on our investigative and sensitive security agencies would compromise their performance. There should be no second thoughts that real national security interests should override short-term internal political objectives.
The handling of the Dasu incident leaves much to be desired. This tendency by certain officials to issue statements within hours after an incident has occurred has caused embarrassments in the past and has done so now. No official statements should be made until reliable information is unearthed by investigators. This over-zealous activism to issue statements creates much doubt in the minds of our foreign friends. The Chinese apprehensions are justified and we need to restructure the priorities of sensitive agencies. Too many cooks spoil the broth. Political obsessions seem to have shrouded the role of those given the task of ensuring our national security.
Furthermore, the recent incident of the alleged harassment of the Afghanistan ambassador’s daughter in Islamabad should wake officials from their deep slumber; all is not well. We must realise the grave dangers that confront us and ensure that undesirable aliens are not allowed to enter our country. It is through these same loopholes that smuggling takes place and weapons enter the country to facilitate terrorism.
Malik Tariq Ali
Lahore
Published in The Express Tribune, July 21st, 2021.
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