Countering extremism: Nisar unveils five-point plan at US summit

Strategy built on strengthening local communities, winning the trust of mainstream peace-loving majority

WASHINGTON: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan unveiled a five-point strategy to counter violent extremism as part of a global action plan during a three-day summit in the US capital.

While representing Pakistan at the Summit Meeting on Countering Violent Extremism, the minister highlighted the initiatives taken by Pakistan to combat terrorism in the country, said an official statement.

The five-point strategy is built on strengthening local communities, winning the trust of mainstream peace-loving majority, building resilience in local communities against radicalisation, addressing the push factors driving people to extremism and lastly focusing on education to promote tolerance.

According to Chaudhry Nisar, violent extremism is an affront to core human values and threatened all societies. There were no accused or judges in this debate.

Chaudhry Nisar informed the audience of world leaders that the people of Pakistan remained steadfast in their resolve to defeat the menace of terrorism.

While sharing Pakistan’s recent actions in this regard, he said Operation Zarb-e-Azb and the National Action Plan (NAP) were tangible and concrete demonstration of comprehensive and determined law enforcement actions being taken by the country.

The interior minister appreciated the US administration for taking the summit initiative that could lay the basis for forging the common ground against the common enemy of violent extremism.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 20^th, 2015.