ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan announced that Pakistan's new national security policy draft was complete, and would be made public within a few days.
Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, Nisar said the draft policy would address the terrorist threat. He said the government was keeping dialogue as the number one option in dealing with the situation, given that this is what was decided in the All-Parties Conference.
If talks fail, the interior minister said the state would pursue strategic action against terrorists, and lastly, would launch a full blown operation if both talks and strategic action failed.
He said the draft would be presented to the Cabintet committee on National Security, after which it would be presented in the cabinet. After the cabinet's approval, the policy would be announced.
Nisar added that the security policy was divided into three parts, of which one -- dealing with sensitive issues of national security -- would remain secret.
The interior minister said the policy had a time frame for its implementation, and in a year's time it would be institutionalized and operational.
What will the policy contain?
Accoding to an earlier report, the draft of the National Security Policy 2013 has been prepared by the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta).
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 new policy, according to officials speaking earlier this year, 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.
The policy envisages a structured education and awareness campaign to counter the ‘distorted version of Islam’ disseminated by terrorists, and offer a counter discourse based on Islamic values of peace and tolerance.
The five layers of the national security policy are: to dismantle, to contain, to prevent, to educate and to reintegrate.
It proposes that Pakistan follow China’s security model in Hong Kong and Mahathir Mohamad’s security policy in Malaysia to tackle terrorism and extremism.
The document advocates a shift from a mono-faceted approach relying on the use of force alone to a multi-layered approach addressing all dimensions of the problem at nearly all levels. It calls for reappraisal of Pakistan’s foreign policy, especially vis-à-vis its neighbours. It also suggests police reforms and review of anti-terrorism laws to rid them of lacunas.
The new policy proposes specialised counter-terrorist financing units at the provincial level and strengthening of the existing unit in the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
The new policy says that the state should devise a mechanism to reintegrate those who either leave so-called jihadi organisations or who get disengage from such acts on any account. The state can utilise former militants through dialogue and also imprisoned terrorists or other suitable strategy to do so.
The policy highlights several causes of terrorism and extremism in the country which, according to NACTA, should be addressed. These causes include 1.) Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s and consequent developments of ‘jihadi networks’ through US assistance 2.) the spread of extremist ideology through literature, madrassas, media and other propaganda techniques, and 3.) international linkages facilitating the cause of terrorists and extremists in one way or the way.
COMMENTS (13)
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Good to see the sincere & dedicated efforts of the incumbent government. No doubt a lot needs to be done despite significant reduction in suicide attacks and drone strikes during 2013 vs. 2012. Wish you success in your endeavors!!
Reading the above article it appears to be a step on the right direction. However first and foremost all religious Madarsass should be banned except few who may be allowed to operate on stringent supervision by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
The class divide perpetuated by two breeds of education system must be eradicated on for the have and the other for have not's. There should be a genuine recourse to tackle proverty by establishing writ of law in the Wild West of the nation.
De-indoctrationation of jihadi mind frames must be pursued on urgent footing. The culpable youths of the nation must be rescued from the clutches of illiteracy, despair, and hopelessness and exploitation by anti-elements through promoting free and accessible technical education on war footing.
@ PeaceMonger Your news is incorrect. Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has always been ahead of Imran Khan Niazi since their school days at Aitchison College Lahore. In an interview, their Teacher at Aitchison College, Sir Geoffrey Langlands has appreciated Nisar as a "good student" and that Imran "was never a good student" (This implies that Imran Khan has always been surviving on sports, but not on academics). The interview was televised on Aik Din Geo K Sath on 8th November 2013. Prior to the general elections, PTI trolls ran a smear campaign against Chaudhry Nisar http://www.aaj.tv/2013/04/chaudhry-nisars-inter-certificate-is-fake-hec/ the PTI trolls were backed by PPP and the then intelligence agencies to whom Chaudhry Nisar was giving really a tough time as Chairman PAC. However, http://tribune.com.pk/story/510915/degree-verification-letter-cec-apologises-to-chaudhry-nisar/ ET showed the courage to reveal the truth without any pressure from the then intelligence lords!
I agree that the clerics and religious bodies and parties are the source of violence, hatred and divisions in our society. These mullahs should be confronted and dealt with strong laws for spreading hate against pakistani citizens irrespective of their religion. We dont have to wait to stop funding of these extremist and terrorists organizations by Saudis and other countries.
He's as bad as Malik - long on talk and short on substance. If Pakistan was serious about dealing with the terrorist it would take 3 obvious steps. 1) Offer to negotiate with proviso that it had to commence by a reasonable date and acceptance of Pakistan Constitution was mandatory 2) Close down the hate factories/madrassas which are the source for extremism and 3) make it clear to the military that it either steps up to the plate or it loses funding. It's unlikely that Pakistan has the will/ability to do any of the above.
"Talks and strategic 'actions' " have already miserably failed. The terror threat can only be eliminated with a ‘full blown operation’. A ‘Government’, whose writ wobbles with the thought of lifting the ban on YouTube, fearing the back lash of the disoriented minority, can never have the nerve to take them on even half heartedly, let alone sanction and stand by a full operation. By “asking” the ‘brotherly’ Saudis and Iranians to stop using Pakistan as their battle ground for their proxy wars, simply exposes how spineless the current government is. And another hollow claim : “structured education and awareness campaign to counter the ‘distorted version of Islam’ disseminated by terrorists, and offer a counter discourse based on Islamic values of peace and tolerance”. The ‘distortion’ was planted in the Zia era, across the board. It will have to be reversed with the same zeal, across the board.
There is no change in the strategy as this is what has been tried by all govts so far. The fact of matter is this menace will take time to leave us. We have been working on dialogue which failed and we had to use force which brought satisfactory results and lastly now we are working on rehabilitation. All we have to do is show patience and confidence in our institutions. We have come far into this and almost there. Let us be united.
@ Careful reader If you have really read the details carefully, you will some day realize that there are significant differences between dictator Musharraf's strategy and the present Government's strategy. The Government has already promulgated "Protection of Pakistan Ordinance 2013" which is the first-ever serious endeavor to empower the law enforcement agencies. http://tribune.com.pk/story/620059/anti-terror-president-approves-pakistan-protection-ordinance/ On the other hand, the previous regime has directly handed over "suspects" to the CIA (read Musharraf's book-In The Line of Fire- written by Humayun Gauhar). Pakistan is still diplomatically handling the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui. Musharraf had detained a large number of people on the basis of "suspicion" but failed to produce any evidence. As a result the Missing Persons Case is still haunting the intelligence agencies.
Will the GOP specify the time frame the dialogue channel shall be kept open to the unwilling TTP and how many more deaths of the innocent people acceptable to it which is already touching half a lac mark ?
Would it be implemented with true spirit?
BREAKING NEWS! Mr.Nisar will be joining the PTI in 2015. Remember, you heard it first from PeaceMonger !!
Hopefully they will keep stuck to 1rst layer (dialogue) until their term is not passed, then this layer will conclude as failure and next govt will revise policy, and terrorism never ends....
This is the exact same as musharraf's policy of enlightened moderation but not stated as eloquently as musharraf. The other thing musharraf did was improve the economy to get rid of the need for violence. These nawaz league guys are pure jokers playing games with the country.