- June 22, 2024
- Kainat Shakeel
- 0
ISLAMABAD: “Operation Azm-e-Istehkam” has been approved by the Apex Committee of the National Action Plan, which is led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and aims to eradicate extremism and terrorism throughout the nation. Important federal cabinet officials, including the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, the Minister of Defense, the Minister of Interior, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Law, and the Minister of Information, attended the meeting on Saturday in Islamabad. Attendees included senior civilian, military, and law enforcement authorities, chief secretaries, chief ministers from all provinces, and chief ministers from Gilgit-Baltistan.
The roundtable reviewed the state of internal security and the current counterterrorism campaign in great detail. It looked at how well the multi-domain principles of the National Action Plan were being implemented and pointed out areas that needed improvement. There was a focus on making these flaws a top priority. The need for a fresh, adaptable counterterrorism strategy built on broad systemic coordination and national consensus was emphasized throughout the discussion. Through the start of Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, which represents national resolve with support from all stakeholders, including the provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Shehbaz approved the reactivation of the national anti-terrorism operation.
The goal of Operation Azm-e-Istehkam is to completely and utterly remove terrorism and extremism. It would enhance efforts to curtail terrorist operations through regional cooperation within the political and diplomatic domains while coordinating and aligning actions across numerous fronts to counter the threats. With the full backing of all law enforcement authorities, the operation will support the armed forces’ redoubled and heightened operations. To ensure that criminals receive exemplary sentences, effective legislation will be enacted to address legal loopholes that impede the prosecution of terrorism-related cases. Socioeconomic initiatives will be implemented in tandem with this campaign to address the legitimate concerns of the public and foster a climate that dissuades extremist behavior.
The meeting reiterated that Pakistan’s survival and well-being depend on its ability to combat terrorism and extremism on its own. It was understood that anyone who tried to challenge the legitimacy of the state would face consequences. The meeting also covered measures to guarantee complete security for Chinese nationals residing in Pakistan. With approval from the prime minister, new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were issued to enhance the security environment for Chinese nationals living in the country.