ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday stated categorically that Pakistan would adopt a “zero-tolerance” policy toward militants challenging the writ of the state, as the South Asian country grapples with a surge in militant attacks in recent months.
A second meeting of Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) comprising senior civilian and military leaders was held on Monday with PM Sharif in the chair. Participants of the meeting took stock of Pakistan’s economic and security situation.
The NSC warned militants that the state would deal with them “with full force” and that the fight against militants would be led by the federal and provincial governments in accordance with the National Action Plan.
Pakistan has seen a surge in recent militant attacks over the past couple of weeks, led mostly by the Pakistani Taliban or the TTP, in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and southwestern Balochistan provinces.
A day after the important security huddle, PM Sharif took to Twitter to announce “major decisions” taken by the NSC on Monday. “State of Pakistan will adopt zero tolerance policy for terrorists challenging its writ,” he wrote. “Peace is non-negotiable.”
Sharif also said that relief, through an economic revival, would be provided to the masses. His statement comes as Pakistan reels from double-digit inflation and is grappling with a depreciating currency, low foreign reserves and a huge current account deficit.
During the NSC meeting, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar gave a detailed briefing on the country’s economic situation. The committee agreed on the need for rationalization of imports and to prevent illegal currency outflows.
“The forum underscored that comprehensive national security revolves around economic security and that sovereignty or dignity comes under stress without self-sufficiency and economic independence,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in its statement after the meeting.
The TTP has increased its attacks on Pakistan’s law enforcers after a fragile truce between militants and the state broke down last year. Islamabad has called on Kabul to rein in the Pakistani Taliban, accusing the banned outfit of using Afghan soil to launch attacks in Pakistan.
Afghanistan has rejected the allegations, prompting Pakistan to vow that it would take cross-border action against the TTP to safeguard its people.
