Nisar likely to visit US to attend counter-terrorism summit next week

During his visit, Nisar will also hold meetings with officials of US State Department & administration representatives

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan is expected to travel to the United States next week to attend a summit on counter terrorism.

Officials familiar with the development told The Express Tribune that the minister will be accompanied by the national coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta), the top anti-terror body in the country.

During his visit to US, interior minister will also hold meetings with the State Department and with other US administration representatives, a senior official of interior ministry said.

The summit is scheduled to start on February 18 in Washington DC, he added. It is expected to be attended by representatives of around 70 countries. It is aimed at highlighting the domestic and international efforts to prevent violent extremists and their supporters from radicalising, recruiting, or inspiring individuals or groups in the United States and abroad to commit acts of violence, said officials at ministry of interior.

According to an official release by the US State Department, the summit will be built on the strategy White House released in August of 2011, Empowering Local Partners to Prevent Violent Extremism in the United States, the first national strategy to prevent violent extremism domestically.

Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) efforts rely heavily on well-informed and resilient local communities, the statement reads. The summit, which will highlight best practices and emerging efforts from these communities, will also include representatives from a number of partner nations, focusing on the themes of community engagement, religious leader engagement, and the role of the private sector and tech community, it further added.