SWABI, Nov 9: Federal Minister for Interior Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has urged the world community to collectively fight against the threat of terrorism. “Pakistan has already taken steps to counter terrorism,” said Mr Sherpao while talking to newsmen here on Wednesday night.

About the suicide attack at military base in Dargai that killed 42 soldiers, he said: "The attack was a reaction to the Bajaur incident, and a clear example of Pakistan being a victim of terrorism itself.”

It is a serious attack on the army, he said, adding that investigations were under way, but no arrest had been made so far.

To a question, he said that terrorists were being trained in Bajaur madressah.

The government had tried its best to avoid the incident, he added.

"The political agent, tehsildar and other officials were stopped from visiting the madressah," he said, adding: "The Bajaur attack was an action against the terrorist training camp."

The minister disagreed that the Dargai incident and raining of rockets during the NWFP governor’s address to a jirga in Wana on Tuesday had shaken the internal security of the country.

"The internal security is stable and could not be affected by such incidents," he said.

To a question, he said the Dargai attack would not affect the deal made with the local Taliban in Waziristan. "The Waziristan deal remains intact,” he said.

Mr Sherpao said that the war on terrorism had not been shifted to the Pukhtun region. Terrorists had also struck other areas of the country, he added.

On the occasion, he also announced that a divisional passport office would be established in Mardan.

Opinion

Editorial

A hasty retreat
Updated 28 Nov, 2024

A hasty retreat

Govt should not extend its campaign of violence against PTI and its leaders, thinking it now has the upper hand. Enough is enough.
Lebanon truce
28 Nov, 2024

Lebanon truce

WILL it hold? That is the question many in the Middle East and beyond will be asking after a 60-day ceasefire ...
MDR anomaly removed
28 Nov, 2024

MDR anomaly removed

THE State Bank’s decision to remove its minimum deposit rate requirement for conventional banks on deposits from...
Islamabad march
Updated 27 Nov, 2024

Islamabad march

WITH emotions running high, chaos closes in. As these words were being written, rumours and speculation were all...
Policing the internet
27 Nov, 2024

Policing the internet

IT is chilling to witness how Pakistan — a nation that embraced the freedoms of modern democracy, and the tech ...
Correcting sports priorities
27 Nov, 2024

Correcting sports priorities

IT has been a lingering battle that has cast a shadow over sports in Pakistan: who are the national sports...