ISLAMABAD: Pakistan called for a comprehensive international approach to combat militancy at a United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) briefing in New York on Wednesday, expressing full support for the agency’s mandate and advocating for sustainable funding through the UN budget.
The UNOCT, established in June 2017, is a specialized UN body tasked with strengthening international cooperation against militancy and assisting member states in implementing counter-terrorism strategies.
Speaking on behalf of Pakistan, Muhammad Jawad Ajmal, a diplomat at the country’s UN mission, underscored Pakistan’s longstanding battle against militant groups, noting that the country has lost over 80,000 lives fighting banned outfits such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Daesh and the Majeed Brigade of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).
“Terrorism must be tackled at all stages: indoctrination, recruitment, financing and cross-border threats,” he said, identifying poverty, injustice, unresolved conflicts, foreign occupation and the denial of self-determination as key drivers of militancy.
Ajmal also stressed the need to counter Islamophobia, xenophobia and extremist ideologies, including far-right nationalist and anti-Muslim movements, which he said contributed to radicalization and global instability.
He urged reforms in the UN’s counterterrorism architecture, calling for a fairer sanctions regime and adequate resources for the Ombudsperson’s Office to ensure just implementation.
He maintained that Pakistan also wanted tighter regulation of emerging technologies, including cryptocurrencies, artificial intelligence and online communication tools, to prevent their exploitation by militant outfits for recruitment, financing and disinformation.
Ajmal’s statement came just days after a twin suicide bombing in northwestern Pakistan killed 18 people.
The country has witnessed a surge in militant violence in recent years, which Islamabad attributes to cross-border attacks from Afghanistan, alleging they are “facilitated” by Kabul.
However, Taliban officials in Afghanistan have denied the accusation.
Pakistan calls for comprehensive global effort to counter militancy at UN meeting
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Pakistan calls for comprehensive global effort to counter militancy at UN meeting
- The country says ‘terrorism must be tackled at all stages’ like indoctrination, recruitment and financing
- It stresses the need to counter Islamophobia, saying it contributes to radicalization and international instability
Pakistan PM directs ministries to fast-track foreign investment recommendations
- Pakistan’s foreign direct investment fell by over 25 percent during July-November period, official data states
- Premier directs ministries to provide support via embassies worldwide to facilitate foreign investors
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday directed all ministries to prepare recommendations for domestic, foreign investment and development projects related to their sectors, state media reported as Islamabad eyes sustainable economic growth.
The premier’s directives came while he chaired a meeting of the federal ministries on the implementation of economic governance reforms, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
Foreign direct investment inflows in Pakistan fell by more than 25 percent to $927 million during the July-November period, as per data from the central bank. Pakistan’s FDI inflows have never surged beyond $3 billion in nearly 20 years, worrying Islamabad as it seeks to escape a prolonged macroeconomic crisis.
“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed all ministries to promptly prepare recommendations for domestic and foreign investment and development projects related to their respective sectors,” Radio Pakistan reported.
Sharif said it was his government’s top priority to provide institutional and administrative facilitation to investors.
The prime minister instructed federal ministries to provide “special importance” to proposals that promote exports.
“The prime minister directed the concerned ministries to provide effective support through Pakistani embassies worldwide to facilitate foreign investors,” the state media said.
Sharif stressed that equal attention be provided to industrial production, agriculture, and other key sectors to increase investment.
Pakistan’s government has said it is eyeing sustainable economic growth, driven by exports and foreign investment.
The South Asian country has recently signed agreements worth billions of dollars with regional allies such as Gulf nations, China and Central Asian nations to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, livestock, mines and minerals, and other sectors.
