A civil and military huddle on Friday vowed to stem the tide of terrorism in the country with zero tolerance to "Fitna al-Khawraj."
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting of the Apex Committee of National Action Plan (NAP) amid a surge in terrorist attacks and recent tensions with neighbouring Afghanistan.
Chief ministers of all the provinces, the army chief, senior security officials and other relevant authorities attended the meeting to take stock of the recent developments.
Pakistan saw an unprecedented increase in terrorist attacks in 2024, the worst year since 2014 when the war on terror was at its peak. The deteriorating security situation was attributed to the return of Afghan Taliban in the neighbouring country in August 2021.
Tensions deepened last week between the two countries when Kabul alleged that Pakistan conducted air strikes in the border areas, targeting the hideouts of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
A few days later Pakistan and Afghan Taliban forces exchanged intense fire along the border, raising the temperature further. However, guns are silent now after both sides activated diplomatic channels.
A statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office said Shehbaz reaffirmed his resolve to completely eliminate the menace of extremism, emphasising that all segments of society must work together to eradicate this threat for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan.
He stressed the need for curbing the venom being spewed against Pakistan on social media, adding that the elements involved in conspiracies against the country were well known. He stated that those who think the sacrifices of the nation's soldiers would go in vain were gravely mistaken.
The prime minister welcomed federal ministers, the Army Chief, chief ministers, chief secretaries, the prime minister of Azad Kashmir, the chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, and senior officials in attendance.
He congratulated the participants on Pakistan assuming its responsibilities as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The PM highlighted that Pakistan's term in the UNSC would span over two years, during which it would play an active role in international diplomacy to its fullest potential.
He also commended the efforts of the deputy prime minister and foreign minister, along with his team, in achieving this milestone.
The prime minister emphasised that Pakistan would effectively fulfil its diplomatic responsibilities to promote global peace. He revealed that efforts were under way to strengthen Counter Terrorism Departments (CTDs) across the provinces, with Punjab leading the way.
He stressed the importance of equipping the police with modern training, technology, and tools, alongside merit-based recruitment, especially in the wake of the prevailing threats from the enemies and their nefarious intentions.
Shehbaz Sharif underlined the significance of coordinated strategies among federal, provincial, and defence institutions to eradicate extremism.
He acknowledged that recent cross-border attacks were met with a strong response and condemned the external support behind anti-state activities in Balochistan.
He stated that Pakistan's dream of development and prosperity could only be realised by improving the law and order across all provinces, and Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The prime minister reiterated that eliminating the menace of extremism was long overdue. He asserted that national interests take precedence over personal preferences and expressed confidence that all stakeholders shared this sentiment.
He warned of the growing challenge posed by anti-Pakistan campaigns orchestrated by external agents on digital platforms, where lies and distorted facts were being used to create a negative narrative against the country.
Referring to the recent assault on Islamabad, the prime minister expressed regret over the false stories fabricated regarding the sacrifices of Rangers personnel. He assured that the sacrifices of the armed forces, police, and law-enforcement agencies would not go in vain, stating that Pakistan's resilience was rooted in these sacrifices.
He concluded by urging all stakeholders to unite to eliminate extremism and steer Pakistan towards the path of progress and prosperity.
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