Pakistan to ‘effectively’ take up terrorism issue with Afghan govt

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to effectively take up the issue of terrorism with the Afghan interim government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The decision was taken at the second meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in the chair.
The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Secretary Home, DG FIA, DG Passport, National Coordinator NACTA, Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Coordinator National Action Plan and representatives of security agencies.
Addressing the meeting, the interior minister said the prime minister, the army chief and all stakeholders were on the same page in dealing with terrorism, adding no decision would be taken without consulting the provinces.
The meeting reviewed the progress made on enhancing the capacity of the Counter-Terrorism Department in provinces. The minister said that it was very important to fully activate the Counter-Terrorism Department at the provincial level for effective control of terrorism and in this regard Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan will provide all possible help in view of the challenges faced by them.
Mohsin Naqvi said at the federal level the counter-terrorism wing of the FIA will be fully activated. The meeting also reviewed the progress on establishment of National and Provincial Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Centres. It was informed in a briefing that the establishment of National Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Centers had been approved and work was underway to establish the centers in all provinces.
Minister Naqvi said after the reorganization of the Frontier Constabulary, it was being converted into the National Reserve Police.

The meeting agreed to make explosives a federal subject to ensure better monitoring. The meeting also decided to effectively take up the issue of terrorism with the Afghan government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Minister Naqvi stressed that all institutions will ensure strict implementation of SOPs for foolproof security of foreign nationals.