Mamnoon for countering anti-state narrative

President also puts emphasis on taking swift steps for the effective implementation of NAP

ISLAMABAD: In view of the region's situation which has had ‘deep impact’ on the country's political, social and economic matters, President Mamnoon Hussain has called for devising effective strategies on national security to address internal and external threats.

“The situation in Kashmir, India, Afghanistan, Iran and Middle East has had direct impact on Pakistan. In the current scenario, the concepts of national security have changed and serious efforts are required to counter the anti-state narrative,” Mamnoon said on Friday.

The president, who was addressing at the certificate distribution ceremony of the National Security War Course-19 at the National Defence University (NDU), also urged that: “Swift steps are required for the effective implementation of National Action Plan (NAP).”

President Mamnoon said Pakistan had suffered great loss at the hands of militancy and paid tributes to the government and armed forces for rendering immense sacrifices in this regard. He called Pakistanis a great nation and expressed hope that it would play a significant role in bringing peace at global front.



The president said instability in the recent past had caused many problems to national security. He put emphasis on improving the dialogue among different segments of society to find a common solution.

Mamnoon also called for bringing improvement in the country's health, education and human resource sectors and said capacity-building of law enforcement agencies was essential to eradicating militancy. “There is a need to inculcate a sense of ownership for the country among people particularly youth,” he added.

He expressed confidence that the NDU would focus on preparing opinion leaders and intelligentsia to work out policies on national security and proposed that appropriate legislation in this regard could also be done. He said media should also play a role in promoting peace narrative against extremism.

Earlier, the NDU Acting President Major General Samrez Salik in his welcome address briefed the audience about the features of the workshop, which, he said, provided the participants, representing different segments of society, a platform to discuss security and economic challenges facing the country.

The five-week programme gathered 69 participants including four senators, 10 members of National Assembly, 11 members of provincial assemblies, two members each from legislative assemblies of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan, four army personnel and 30 members of civil society.

The course participants including Senator Rubina Khalid, Member Punjab Assembly Sheharyar Malik and Amir Durrani gave a presentation titled 'Exercise Pakistan Zindabad' including recommendations on lifting of death moratorium, military courts and criminal justice system. APP