ISLAMABAD: Chairperson, Italian think tank Centro Studi Internazionali (CeSI), Prof Andrea Magelleti acknowledged Pakistan's sacrifices and appreciated the government's role in fight against terrorism.
He stated this during a meeting with Minister of State for Interior, Engr Muhammad Baligh ur Rehman with a three-member delegation of CeSI here on Tuesday.
Prof Magelleti briefed the minister on their organization's working and its advisory role for the last three consecutive governments of Italy in the field of Foreign Relations, Defense, Internal Security and Counter Terrorism.
The minister welcomed the delegation and shared with them the experiences of the present government in fight against terrorism and militancy, especially the successes of Operation Zarb-e-Azb and other security initiatives taken under the National Action Plan.
He also informed the delegation that counter terrorism gains were being consolidated and residual threat of terrorism was being eliminated through recently launched operation Raddul Fasaad wherein security agencies were eliminating terrorist hideouts in every nook and cranny of the country.
He informed the delegation that through these intelligence based operations, our security agencies recently foiled a major attack planned on Easter in Lahore.
"We have destroyed terrorist support networks within the country and ensured stricter border control to stop infiltration by terrorist factions operating from Afghanistan", he said.
He said the present government's security policies had brought the much needed peace back to Karachi, the economic hub of the country.
Reaffirming government's commitment to completely stamp out terrorism from the country, he said, "We shall leave no stone unturned and spare none having terrorism links".
Prof Magelleti acknowledged Pakistan's sacrifices and appreciated the government's role in fight against terrorism.
"The counter-terrorism and economic initiatives of Pakistan have brought about stability and a promising future for the region", the minister said.
He said other countries could greatly benefit from the experiences of Pakistani government in countering terrorist threats.
Prof Magelleti said his organization would be pleased to facilitate counter terrorism cooperation between Italy and Pakistan, particularly in the field of training and capacity building.
The minister welcomed the organization's support and said the government would keenly consider the cooperation prospects with Italy in combating terrorism. (APP)