AS terrorists trying to stir panic in Kharan were neutralised by brave soldiers, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reflected sentiments of the people by declaring in categorical terms that renewed surge in terrorism will be crushed as was done in 2018, asserting terrorists would be picked up from Pakistan’s borders and drowned in the Indian Ocean.
Chairing a meeting of the Qaumi Paigham-i-Aman Committee (QPAC), he expressed confidence that the committee would play a pivotal role in strengthening national narrative against extremism and terrorism.
The continuation of Indian and Afghan-sponsored terrorism in Pakistan has created unambiguous awareness among people that the two neighbouring countries are conspiring to destabilise the country after failure of their designs to harm Pakistan through use of force. Pakistan demonstrated its unflinching resolve to defend itself in the 4-day war with India in May last year as well as by targeting safe havens of terrorists in Afghanistan, the two conflicts that not only strengthened the impression that defence of Pakistan was invincible but also had a salutary impact on overall economic environment. As pointed out by the Prime Minister, Pakistan was now on a fast track towards development, but terrorism remained the most serious challenge. The scale and intensity of challenge is explained by the fact that over one hundred thousand Pakistanis embraced martyrdom in war against terror and there is clear evidence of a nexus between the Afghan Taliban and TTP on the one hand and Indian support for outlawed terrorist outfits in Balochistan. The Pakistan Army and security forces are in high spirit and will surely eliminate the menace as they did in the past. This was evident from the timely action they took to foil nefarious designs of terrorists in Kharan. Around 15 to 20 terrorists affiliated with India-sponsored Fitna al-Hindustan carried out multiple attacks in Kharan City and their targets included the Kharan City police station, the National Bank of Pakistan, and Habib Bank Limited. The security forces effectively responded and engaged the terrorists, prompting them to retreat and during clearance operation twelve terrorists were sent to hell and their design to create a hostage situation at local police station was thwarted.
The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) has vowed that counter terrorism campaign under vision “Azm-i-Istehkam” by security forces and law enforcement agencies will continue at full pace to wipe out menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country. However, nature of the threat demands complete consensus on the issue of terrorism and strengthening hands of security forces by all segments of the society. The terrorists will stand isolated if local communities are sensitised properly and aggressively about their real designs. In this backdrop, the decision of the QPAC that its members would visit different parts of the country to convey a message of peace and counter hate-based narratives is a step in the right direction as people listen to religious leaders more attentively. A two-day conference would be organised in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, bringing together Ulema from all schools of thought to promote peace and discourage terrorism.
Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Chairman and QPAC Coordinator Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi said committee members would visit terrorism-affected areas, interact with local communities, religious scholars and the armed forces, and serve as frontline ambassadors of peace. In an important development, Ulema representing different schools of thought unanimously declared terrorists and Khawarij as enemies of the state and stressed the need to counter anti-state narratives, particularly by positively engaging and guiding youth. Involvement of religious leaders, scholars, opinion makers and local communities will surely strengthen defence against the menace of terrorism.
