Imran Khan shows concern over security situation

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday expressed grave concern over the deteriorating security situation.
He said the government seemed unable to formulate a viable and holistic counterterrorism policy and a strategy to implement the same. He regretted that the government was least concerned about giving this issue priority.
“Talks of an APC are meaningless until the government has a counterterrorism policy to present before it. We need a comprehensive counterterrorism policy where we identify different types of terrorism impacting Pakistan and use politico-economic measures alongside security measures to counter these multiple types of terrorism on an emergency basis as governance is imploding and the state cannot bear the growing pressure.”
He also said, “The security apparatus is overstretched and exposed in the absence of a holistic counterterrorism policy, with the under-equipped and under trained police force is the greatest sufferer.”
As a first step, the PTI head said, Pakistan has to get out of the US war on terror which has allowed terrorists to misuse the narrative of jihad against the Pakistani security forces – the police, paramilitary and military. By delinking from the war on terror, Pakistan would deprive the terrorists of the narrative of jihad and allow it to combat them within a more viable environment, he added.
“While this is not the only policy component of an indigenous counterterrorism strategy, it is a critical component, especially when it is accompanied by an immediate end to acceptance of drones.”
As Khan reminded, the illegality of drones is now well-established internationally and the Peshawar High Court decision is still pending implementation by the federal government. What is equally well-established, Khan said further, is the negative impact of drone attacks through creation of more space for terrorists.
This would be the PTI’s first suggested step in operationalising an effective counterterror policy, especially in the context of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which has been the worst-hit by terrorism directly arising out of Pakistan’s support for the war on terror and covert support for drone attacks on Pakistani soil. The ill-equipped police in KP have made immeasurable sacrifices in fighting terrorists who are equipped with latest weaponry and night-vision devices.
“The province cannot bear the costs of such a disastrous policy any longer. PTI is formulating a strategy to protest the continuing participation in the war on terror and continuance of drones and “we will announce our line of action soon after the bye-elections”, Khan declared, “If the government is still unable or unwilling to present a holistic counter-terrorism policy, immediately extricate itself from the US war on terror and stop drone attacks.”