Islamabad:
The Parliamentary Committee on National Security on Tuesday approved a unanimous declaration and confirmed Pakistan’s unwavering obligation to eradicate terrorism in all its forms and promise crucial actions against elements that threaten national stability.
The country’s top civilian and military leadership reiterated this commitment during the first committee meeting during the current Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-LED coalition government. However, the meeting was Boikotted by the most important opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI), among others.
The Committee emphasized that no institution, individual or group acting in collaboration with enemy forces would be allowed to undermine Pakistan’s peace and stability. While expressing regrets about the absence of some opposition members, an official statement said consultations on the case would continue.
The in-camera session, led by the National Assembly’s speeches Ayaz Sadiq, participated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, chief (Coas) General Asim Munir, important federal ministers, parliamentarians and senior military officials.
The military leadership provided a detailed orientation of the prevailing security situation, especially in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The meeting was informed of ongoing terrorist operations, recent threats and the state’s extensive strategy to ensure internal security.
Prime Minister Shehbaz, in his address, emphasized the government’s decision to eliminate terrorism and recognize the victims of security forces. He expressed concerns about the security challenges facing Balochistan and KP, saying that national entity was imperative to address these threats.
The participants at the meeting said the army chief delivered about an hour -long briefing and outlined the military’s operational measures and intelligence -based actions against terrorist groups. In addition, they said, the Director -General of Military Operations supplemented the briefing through a presentation on strategic countermeasures.
According to the official declaration, the committee, although strongly condemning the recent wave of terrorist activities, called on to the immediate implementation of the national action plan and the AZM-E-Stehkam strategy to dismantle terrorist networks, curbs logistically support and eliminate Nexus between terrorism and crime.
The Committee expressed serious concern over the rising abuse of social media platforms from terrorist groups to spread propaganda, recruit supporters and coordinate attacks, emphasizing the need for immediate measures to limit this abuse. It also emphasized the need to establish procedures to block digital networks of terrorists.
The declaration said the committee appreciated courage, courage and professional expertise from security forces and law enforcement authorities (Leaes) in counteracting terrorism and repeating Pakistan’s unwavering obligation to eliminate terrorism in all its forms. The committee also expressed solidarity with the families to those affected by the terrorist activities.
Shehbaz read the statement, which was unanimously adopted by the committee. The forum emphasized the need for a strategic and unified political decision to meet the threat of the full strength of the state and called for national consensus in the fight against terrorism.
By confirming his unwavering support to the armed forces and Leas, the committee recognized their enormous victims and decided for the national defense and said the nation stood shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces, police, FC and intelligence agencies in the war against terrorism.
Meanwhile, it was reported that KP chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur highlighted the province’s security issues and called for improved federal support and improved resource allocation to the merged tribal districts. He emphasized the need to increase the morality of police and security forces and mentioned ongoing efforts to increase their wages.
In addition, the reports, Jamiat Disadvantaged Disadvanture, said-e-Islam-Fazl (Jui-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said disappointment over PTI’s absence from the meeting, saying that all political forces should have participated in the discussions of national security.
Former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari emphasized the need for a strong diplomatic reaction to counteract terrorist network operating from Afghanistan. He warned that instability in Afghanistan fuel for terrorism in Pakistan and called for crucial commitment with international partners.
The meeting ended with the speaker Ayaz Sadiq expressed regret over the opposition’s decision to skip the session, stressing that security challenges required a collective reaction beyond political dividers.
The meeting was called after security concerns escalated after a series of attacks, especially in Balochistan, where militants recently hijacked a passenger train and conducted a suicide bombing on a security forces convoy.
Previously, terrorists had attacked Bannu Cantonment in KP, where 16 terrorists were killed and five soldiers were martyrated. Maulana Hamidul Haw Haqqani was also among six people who perished in a recent suicide attack by Darul Uloom Haqqani in KP’s Nowshera District.
