Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Monday claimed that terrorism in the country had been brought down by 70 per cent, adding that no militant network could now operate in Pakistan.
Talking to reporters after a meeting of the federal cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Nisar said the civil-military relationship in the country had never been better, and credited the civil-military cooperation for the achievement of the feat.
He also came out strong against those slamming the federal government for inaction on the NAP’s 20-point agenda.
Nisar, who is seen largely as the government’s point man in coordinating and implementing its counter-terrorism security policy, said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had turned things around since coming into power, emphasising the role cooperation with the army in achieving this end.
Presenting figures to support his assertion, Nisar said militancy had been on an upsurge since 2006 but peaked after the army’s 2009 operations in Swat and South Waziristan, with 2010 being the worst year in terms of terrorism, when 2,061 terrorist attacks were recorded.
But in 2014, this number had gone down to 1,640, while so far this year only 695 incidents have been recorded, of which there were no casualties in 305 terror attacks, he said.
He said that in the nine months since NAP’s implementation, the government has verified 140 millions SIMS. “Today no SIM is used in heinous crimes,” he added.
Nisar said the government has carried out 211 executions and will move on with the capital punishment. “Speedy trial courts have been established in the form of military courts; nine operational military courts have decided 28 cases, while 46 are under trial,” said Nisar, adding that only jet black terrorists will be taken to military courts and no political pressure will be accepted.
The interior minister said that cracking down on religious and sectarian terrorist groups is now a top priority of the government with special focus on targeting those who glorify terrorists. He added that legal amendments have been drafted and sent to the National Assembly after seven recommendations by provinces.
Speaking about the Karachi operation, Nisar said that the Rangers-led operation had resulted in 60-70% improvement in law and order in the port city.
On Balochistan, Nisar said that militant camps are being dismantled regularly, while a substantive dialogue process has begun and a major breakthrough is expected as the civil-military leadership is implementing a dual strategy – operations and dialogue.
“The army played its part in 2009, but the government did not do its job of coordination and providing support to the army,” said Nisar. He emphasised that for 13 years, Pakistan had been fighting a war without a clear strategy.
“We were fighting this war with our ears and eyes closed,” he said.
Nisar went on to say that no one should discuss civil-military relationship in public, “nor should anyone give out reckless opinions on the subject”.