Prime Minister chairing a briefing session at the Ministry of Interior. PHOTO: PID
ISLAMABAD: As part of its proposed national security policy, the government will ask ‘brotherly’ Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia and Iran, to clamp down on financers of sectarian and terrorist networks operating in Pakistan, The Express Tribune has learnt.
On Friday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan met to discuss the 33-page draft of the National Security Policy 2013 prepared by the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta). He was accompanied by his security advisers and three members of his cabinet.
According to a federal minister who attended the meeting, a strategy to counter influence from certain states on sectarian violence in Pakistan was discussed as part of the hectic efforts to finalise the new policy.
“Such influence has been a contributory factor towards the growth of sectarian networks in Pakistan… the roots of extremism in the country have often been traced to groups within our neighbours on the western border as well as countries with large Pakistani diasporas such as the Gulf states,” the minister, who wished not to be named, said citing page 17 of the draft. He added that the government has decided to dismantle the links of terrorists in Pakistan from groups operating from outside the country.
Interior ministry officials privy to the meeting said Prime Minister Nawaz also advised the interior minister to launch a crackdown against hate literature being distributed across the country. “Literature espousing extremist ideas must be eradicated from educational institutions, particularly seminaries,” an official cited the premier as saying.
The new policy, according to the officials, observes that clerics have failed to provide the people lessons on peace and as such calls for reforming the education structure. It notes that the current education structure facilitates an extremist mindset and provides terrorist organisations with potential recruits. They said the interior ministry, on Premier Nawaz’s directions, will ask provinces to send recommendations on parallel systems of education in this regard.
The prime minister also directed the ministry to swiftly finalise the anti-terrorism and anti-extremism policies in consultation with all provinces. He asked for the preparation of a well thought-out, workable plan to achieve the desired targets and stressed that restoring peace and eliminating terrorism should be the top priority.
“We have to perform, failure is not an option at all,” an official quoted Premier Nawaz as saying. According to the ministry sources, the prime minister reiterated the need to improve coordination between security agencies. He also called for stopping the influx of illegal aliens into the tribal areas and other parts of the country.
The interior minister is set to hold conclusive meetings with the heads of paramilitary forces regarding the new policy next week.
Nisar, Balochistan CM meet
Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch met Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Friday and discussed matters relating to the preparation of national security policy. The interior minister assured him of the federal government’s complete support in combating terrorism.
“Difficult conditions in Balochistan require all political forces in the province to work together to pull the province out of its current situation,” said Nisar. Malik welcomed the decision to build an economic corridor from Gwadar to Kashgar and expressed confidence that it would usher in a new era of development in the province.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 13th, 2013.
COMMENTS (7)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@Hatf XX: the satement is correct because both the centers fueling ethnic violence lie west to our borders.
"...the roots of extremism in the country have often been traced to groups within our neighbours on the western border..."
I'm sure there's a typo here - he must've meant eastern.
Charity begin at home. Would the Minister will also trace use of Pakistani taxpayer's money in financing terror within and out side the Pakistan? One does not have to be a brain surgeon to know who these actors are .All you have to look at the Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine to see who the financier are.
Pakistan lacks Unity. Pakistanis are Divided, Kept Divided, and now a Polorized country. On many strata the divide and rule by Islamabad bureaucrats kept population broiled in many directions while the Islamabad Establishment continued with their 33 years war with America on burner. The nation economy, primary education, so called security and prosperity to common people lacked over the years to a point of decline of common Pakistanis living standard. We saw Pakistan decline in true sense as divided population do not rise. Today, the Pakistanis with options are finding a place to live outside Pakistan and these are valuable Pakistan Tax Payers. Without Unity among population its difficult to come together on platform of National Security. Karachi a growing populus city is good exmple where Unity and City building is Failing due to weak security and non political will by the establishment in Islamabad. We are poor, divided, poorly educated, so its difficult. We have wasted 33 years,and we see no light of our Security improvement. Lyarites are migrating to Badin and Thatta.
for the first time government of pakistan admits involvement of elements of gulf states in sectarian violence in pakistan
Okay if they really implement these recommendations & this is actually a part of new strategy then like it or not PMLN & NS are on the right path. God speed!
Another joke. Basically outsource your problem to other countries. Why would they choke funding. If they don't, would you server diplomatic ties?