Police trained to fight violent extremism
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Center of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism (CECVE) has initiated a comprehensive program aimed at equipping the police force with modern skills in community policing to combat violent extremism effectively.
Under the guidance of Chief Coordination Officer Dr. Ayaz Khan, CECVE organized a training workshop for police officers and personnel in district Orakzai, with DPO Salahuddin Kundi and administrative officers in attendance.
During the workshop, Deputy Director General of ECVE, Dr. Irfan Khan, and Manager Enforcement, Farooq Khan, delivered a presentation on the importance of implementing community policing with local support to tackle crime, particularly violent extremism.
They emphasized that in developed and responsible societies, law enforcement agencies maintain order through equipment, resources, and cooperation with local leaders, fostering trust, cooperation, and security between police and communities.
Suggestions were made for building positive relations with residents, resolving disputes locally, and addressing community concerns. CECVE offered to facilitate dialogue and mutual understanding between law enforcement agencies and community members, providing training on data analysis, digital platforms, and crime pattern recognition.
The Centre of Excellence offered to facilitate dialogue and promote mutual understanding and cooperation between law enforcement agencies and community members.
Read Ways to fight violent extremism discussed
Training will be provided on the use of the form to identify crime patterns, prioritize resources and improve communication with the community. They will also be trained to recognize and respect diverse perspectives, backgrounds and experiences within the community.
Dr. Ayaz Khan, speaking at a seminar last year at Kohat University of Science and Technology, highlighted the integrated strategy for promoting peace, tolerance, and solidarity among youth, particularly students, to eradicate violent extremism. He emphasized the urgent need for understanding and mutual respect between religious and cultural communities, along with cooperation between governmental, academic, religious, and non-governmental organizations to foster a more secure society.
Dr. Khan stressed the role of high-tech companies in combating the spread of extremist content online, transforming fast communication channels into platforms for positive discourse.
The Chief Coordination Officer underscored the importance of knowledge and awareness in preventing and eradicating violent extremism, expressing optimism about the positive outcomes of cooperation between various stakeholders. He discussed potential collaborations with university authorities to advance these efforts further.
Dr Ayaz Khan shed light on the problem of violent extremism in society, the contributing factors, and the resulting threats to peace, security, and stability.
He informed about the efforts and plans of the Centre of Excellence in eradicating violent extremism.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 17th 2024.