ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Tuesday said the government will enter the war against militants wholeheartedly only if the consensus is reached in the APC, announced to take place sometime later this month, DawnNews reported.
Speaking during a press conference in Islamabad, he outlined some key features of the government’s security policy to counter terrorism in the country, announcing to formulate a joint intelligence secretariat.
The minister said that preliminary draft of the national security policy will be presented to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif within two weeks envisages activation of the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) and creation of Counter Terrorism Rapid Deployment Force.
He said that NACTA would serve as focal point for internal security policy.
Commenting on All Parties Conference (APC) against terrorism, the interior minister said the conference of heads of all parties represented in the parliament will be convened later this month.
He said the government wants all stakeholders including the public, media and civil and military leadership on the same page before tackling the thorny issue of terrorism faced by the country.
Nisar said implementation on the outcome of the APC will be made certain. “The government is ready for peace talks, however, if the decision is taken to wage a war against the militants, then the government will enter it wholeheartedly,” he said adding that the masses will then have to be prepared for the war also.
Responding to criticism hurled at the newly elected government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) regarding delays in announcing the new security policy, the minister said policy making of this magnitude cannot be done overnight.
He said formation of the new security policy will take place in two phases. “One phase will cover internal matters while the second one will look after the external strategies,” he added.
Regarding the intelligence secretariat, Nisar said it will remain active 24 hours and seven days a week. It will work round the clock analyse and sift intelligence reports and action would be taken within hours on the actionable intelligence, he said.
“Officials from all national spy agencies including Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Military Intelligence (MI) will be inducted in the joint intelligence secretariat,” he added.
The minister said that aborted act of terrorism at Bharakahu in Islamabad shows that terrorists are equipped with modern arms and gadgets and police too will have to be modernised to foil their designs.
Referring to India's provocative activities on the Line of Control, the minister said Pakistan wants peace but it is also ready for any eventuality.
