Security huddle vows to press ahead with war against terrorism

In view of recent incidents of terrorism that have rocked the country, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting to review the country’s security situation which resolved to press ahead with the country's war against terrorism, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The high-level meeting decided that a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) will be formed for investigation into terrorist attack on Chinese engineers in Besham.  

 Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir, heads of intelligence agencies, Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi, Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar attended the meeting at which the country’s internal security situation as well as on the borders were discussed in detail. The four provincial chief ministers as well as the chief secretaries and IGPs of the federating units were also among participants.

Heads of intelligence agencies briefed the participants about the investigation done into the recent acts of terrorism.

The interior minister, on the other hand, updated the meeting on the challenges confronting the country’s peace. He also briefed the participants on the cell set up at the Interior Ministry for the security of foreigners, especially Chinese nationals, living in the country.

Referring to yesterday’s suicide blast at Basham, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) in which five Chinese nationals had lost their lives, Federal Minister for Information Ataullah Tarar said that Pakistan knew how to protect its time-tested friends, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad after meeting on the country’s security situation was over on Wednesday, Tarar said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his meeting with the Chinese ambassador yesterday evening, had not only condemned the incident of terrorism in strongest possible terms but also assured him that Pakistan would continue to wage war against terrorism and that it would hunt down perpetrators of the suicide blast and bring them to justice. 

The minister said despite efforts by the enemies of Pakistan to damage its ties with China, the friendship between both countries would continue to blossom. “We again express our sympathies with our Chinese brethren,” he said, and added that China had always stood by Pakistan in times of crisis. 

Tarar said the meeting recognized the importance of adopting a coordinated strategy to curb the menace of terrorism. He said a mechanism will be devised under this strategy to ensure greater coordination amongst the relevant stakeholders.

The minister said the meeting applauded the role of security forces in the war on terrorism. He said the participants of the meeting were on the same page that no stone will be left unturned to eradicate the menace of terrorism.

Tarar said the whole nation is united in the war on terrorism, reaffirming that every possible step will be taken for the security of important installations, Chinese citizens and the Pakistani people.

Tarar said anti-Pakistan elements want to hurt longstanding relationship between Pakistan and China but they will fail in their designs. He said this everlasting relationship will remain intact.   

He said China has always stood by Pakistan in difficult times. He said the country has always supported Pakistan's stance at the international forums. He said the CPEC is our lifeline and guarantor of economic development. He said Pakistan shares the grief and sorrow of the Chinese people at this hour of grief.

He said that the government of Pakistan was committed to the eradication of terrorism from the country.

The minister said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a guarantor of the country’s economic progress. “There is a marked improvement in our GDP courtesy of the CPEC,” he said, adding, “It will also create millions of job opportunities for our youth.”

Today, Tarar went on to say, the prime minister chaired a high-level meeting on the country’s security situation. “Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, federal ministers, chief ministers, chief secretaries and IGPs of all four provinces and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) chief secretary and the IGP were in attendance,” he informed.

He said there was a need to chalk out a comprehensive strategy to eliminate terrorism from the country. “Today a message of unity has been given to the nation. It has been again proven today that the Center and all federating units of the country are on the same page when it comes to dealing with terrorism.”

The meeting has been convened at a time when incidents of terrorism are occurring in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan almost on a daily basis.

Only yesterday, five Chinese workers along with their driver were killed when a suicide bomber targeted their vehicle in Shangla district of KP.

Their vehicle plunged into a deep ravine off the mountainous Karakoram Highway after the bomber rammed his car into them and detonated his explosives, the police said.

"Five Chinese and their local driver were killed in the attack," Muhammad Ali Gandapur, the Malakand regional police chief, said. 

He added that the vehicle was travelling between the Dasu hydroelectric dam site, under construction by the China Gezhouba Group Company, and the capital Islamabad.

The area had been attacked in the past as well. In a blast on a bus in 2021, 13 people, including nine Chinese, had been killed.

 Reporter: Awais Kiyani