ISLAMABAD: The federal minister for interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on Wednesday that the government has introduced basic change in its policy on terrorism and decided to target terrorist leadership in their headquarters.
The interior minister was presenting the first ever National Security Policy of the country in the National Assembly on Wednesday. He said that the 100-page policy document comprised of three parts, one of which was secret, adding that the government had consulted with all political forces for its formation.
Nisar said that the government gave priority to dialogues with those who wanted to talk. He said that talks were held with commitment and transparently. However, he said, unfortunately the violence in the country did not come to an end.
The house was told said the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the wake of grave violent incidents decided to suspend the talks as violence and talks could not move forward simultaneously.
The minister said that the national counter terrorism authority will be made fully functional to deal with all the terror-related issues. He said that a rapid response force will initially be established in Islamabad with manpower of 500 personnel.
Chaudhry Nisar said that this force will be replicated in all the four provinces after consultation of the provincial governments. He said that this anti-terrorism force will be fully equipped to enable it react rapidly to any terror incident.
Similarly‚ an internal security department will be established to enhance cooperation among civil armed forces, the interior minister added.
The federal cabinet in its meeting held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of the prime minister in Islamabad approved the country’s internal national security policy, demanding the militants to give up arms struggle and announce unconditional ceasefire.
