Fighting the terrorists: Defence body looks to strike first policy

Meeting presided over by Gilani, decides to review pre-emptive strategy to avert terrorist attacks.


Irfan Ghauri May 26, 2011

ISLAMABAD:


Faced with an intensified wave of terrorist attacks, the country’s top civilian and military authorities on Wednesday vowed to take pre-emptive measures to eliminate terrorist hideouts across Pakistan.


The Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) - the highest national body on security-related issues that met for the second time this month, mandated the “security, defence and law enforcement agencies to use all necessary means” to eliminate terrorists and militants through a coordinated effort involving all state institutions.

“The DCC expressed full confidence in the ability and the capacity of the armed forces and law-enforcement and intelligence agencies in meeting all threats to national security,” said a statement issued after the meeting presided over by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani at the Prime Minister’s House. The DCC, comprising chiefs of the three armed forces and some key cabinet members, was convened to discuss extraordinary security measures three days after terrorists attacked the country’s major naval airbase in Karachi. Sunday’s brazen attack on PNS Mehran left 10 people dead and two maritime reconnaissance aircraft destroyed.

A few hours before this meeting, another terrorist attack on a police investigation centre in Peshawar, left several policemen dead or injured.

The targeted police compound is located in a sensitive military area of Peshawar, close to the US consulate and the army airbase.

Sustained deadly attacks on important military installations are raising serious questions about the internal security measures at these locations.

The chief of naval staff and secretaries of defence, interior and foreign affairs briefed the DCC on the terrorist attack on PNS Mehran, internal security and the regional situation.

“National security is the foremost priority and all arms of the government will ensure that terrorists hideouts will be destroyed using all appropriate means” the statement said.

It added that national consensus on eliminating terrorism would be implemented through a well-coordinated and comprehensive strategy with the full support of the people and state institutions at all levels.

It was further decided that the DCC would continue to meet regularly to develop further, update and closely monitor the implementation of the counter-terrorism strategy.

Reviewing pre-emptive strategy

Earlier in his opening remarks, Prime Minister Gilani said the rapidly evolving national security paradigm has compelled the DCC to meet twice within a month.

“The diversity and the quantum of challenges to the national security demand that we make a departure from our conventional thinking and carve out alternative strategies,” he said.

“We are here to take a holistic review of the impending threats to our national security, to find answers and to put an end to the concerns being expressed regarding the country’s state of security,” Gilani said in his speech.

In the wake of the terrorist attack on PNS Mehran, serious concerns are being expressed about country’s ability to deal with the problems posed due to terrorism, he noted.

Gilani said a comprehensive investigation has been ordered on the PNS Mehran attack, adding that there was a need to revisit the steps required to avert and pre-empt such attacks.

Nuclear concerns

Concerns have also been expressed about the safety and security of our strategic assets, said Gilani, in an apparent reference to renewed concerns from some Western quarters on safety of Pakistan’s nuclear assets.

“Under the National Command Authority, we have an effective command and control system for ensuring the safety and security of our nuclear weapons and related systems. These arrangements conform to the highest international standards and practices followed by other nuclear weapon states,” Gilani said.

He added that Pakistan is now entering another defining phase in the struggle against terrorism and for reconciliation and establishing peace in Afghanistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 26th, 2011.

COMMENTS (30)

R S JOHAR | 12 years ago | Reply @Akthar: There should not be any doubt in your mind that Pak army is a professional army who is very much competent of defeating all terrorists organisations in the country though it is not feasable to achieve victory in a short period but may take a few years time. However, the only way to win the war against terrorism in Pakistan is to show zero tolerance to militancy and no terror organisation should be supported and considered as friend as they have the clear agenda to rule Pakistan one day.
Krishna | 12 years ago | Reply If you don't eliminate LeT now, It will be eliminated in a few years. However the price you pay will go up exponentially.
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