No organised Da’ish presence in Pakistan, says FO

A day earlier IB chief admitted the ultra-radical group was emerging as a threat

ISLAMABAD:

A day after the head of Pakistan’s premier civilian intelligence agency admitted that the Islamic State or Da’ish is emerging as a threat in the country, the Foreign Office insisted that the ultra-radical Middle Eastern terrorist group has no organised presence here.

“Let me reiterate that there is no organised presence of Da’ish in Pakistan,” FO spokesperson Mohammad Nafees Zakaria told reporters at his weekly news briefing on Thursday.



Pakistan has long downplayed reports of Da’ish attempts to secure a foothold in the country, but on Wednesday, the director general of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Aftab Sultan, admitted before a parliamentary panel that the outfit was emerging as a threat. He confirmed that a Da’ish network which was recruiting fighters to send to Syria had been recently busted in Pakistan.

The FO spokesman, when his attention was drawn towards the IB chief’s statement during the briefing, reiterated that Da’ish has no organised structure in the country. However, he refused to go into any details on the matter, saying the interior ministry could be approached for more information.

Replying to a question about the Saudi-led coalition, Zakria said details would be worked out at the experts’ level.

Saudi Arabia recently expressed its readiness to send ground forces to Syria to fight Da’ish, prompting questions as to whether it means Pakistan would join the military effort, if launched.

“I may mention that Pakistan has consistently supported all regional and international efforts to combat terrorism and extremism. It is in this context that we have welcomed the coalition against terrorism,” Zakaria said without going into the details.



Pakistan-India talks

The spokesman said there is a realisation on both sides that dialogue must take place. “As to the foreign secretary level talks, both sides understand that dialogue is the only way to resolve the outstanding issues between the two countries.”

Zakria said both sides are in contact to finalise the dates for the talks.

Asked to comment on reports that a Pakistani investigation team had finalised its report regarding the Pathankot attack, the spokesman said he had no information on this.


Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2016.