ISLAMABAD: Daesh, has raised new serious security challenge for Pakistanwhere over the years the form, tactics and nature of terrorism has beenchanged.
“The emergence of Daesh in close proximity to Pakistan has raised newinternal security challenges. The potential for spill over in Pakistan withthe support and collaboration of TTP and its offshoots is not a possibilityto be ignored.
This situation has been compounded by the return of battle-hardenedmilitants from Syria and Iraq,” read new National Internal Security Policy(NISP) approved by federal cabinet last week. Over 120 experts have beendirectly involved in the formulation of NISP 2018-2023 which established amulti-pronged strategy to meet the goals.
“The threat of transnational terrorism is rearing its head again. TTPmilitants have relocated to Afghanistan. Daesh is establishing a footprintin Afghanistan near the Pakistani border with a very real potential ofspillover into parts of Pakistan. This situation has been compounded by thereturn of battle hardened militants from Syria and Iraq,” read the policy,an official copy of also available with this correspondent.
The new policy further revealed that there is adequate evidence thatradicalisation and militancy is no longer limited to Madaris alone. “Youngpeople from relatively affluent and middle-class backgrounds, educated inmainstream universities and schools, are also vulnerable to extremist ideasand narratives.
Terrorism is as much an urban phenomenon as rural and needs to be tackledas such. Cyber space has emerged as a key domain for the spread ofextremist ideas,” read the executive summary of NISP which includes:“Reorient, Re-imagine, Reconcile, Redistribute, Recognise and an adoptionof a Regional Approach.”
NISP Implementation Committee would also be formed to periodically overseeimplementation on NISP 2018. It’ll consist of Minister of Interior(Chairperson), National Security Adviser, Secretaries Interior, ForeignAffairs, Defence, Finance, Revenue & Economic Affairs, Information,Broadcasting, National History & Literary heritage and Religious Affairs &Interfaith Harmony, National Coordinator Nacta, Director General IB,Director General ISI, Provincial Chief Secretaries and all IGPs.
The first of its kind policy approved by the federal cabinet further readthat the educational campuses have seen a rise in incidents of violentextremism. “Threat of cyber-attacks has grown in volume and has become moresophisticated. Besides these new challenges, traditional threats tointernal security in the form of acts of violence committed by religious,sectarian, ethno-political and sub-nationalist outfits persist.”
The NISP also identifies youth alienation and frustration, exclusionaryidentity narratives, a lack of social justice and the rule of law, regionaldisparities, lack of accountability and inclusion and foreign linkages assignificant drivers of insecurity. Furthermore, lack of quality research tounderstand the pathways to and causes of religious and ethnic militancyhave impeded the development of evidence-based programming and policies, itadded.
Pakistan has lost more than 70,000 people and suffered a loss of $123billion over the past 15 years, revealed the new policy. A number of stepshave been taken to choke terror financing, establishing a National TaskForce on combating financing of terrorism, a coordinating body of over 20federal and provincial organisations, stated the policy revealing that 66organisations were proscribed with 7,966 individuals placed under watch asof March 2018. Over 90 percent geo-mapping of religious seminaries(madaris) has been completed across the country while efforts to introducewide-ranging madaris reforms are underway, it added. The port city Karachiwitnesses 97 percent decrease in target killings, 87 percent in the murderrate, 84 percent in business extortion and 72 percent in bank robberies,read the policy.
Registration and regularisation of madaris in a uniform manner in allprovinces will be ensured; policy suggested that all provinces will beencouraged to develop legislation for mainstreaming madaris. “Conditionalstate funding in return for a financial audit, adoption of nationalcurriculum, teaching of science subjects and examinations system will beinstitutionalised. This will not only reduce mutually harbouredmisconceptions and distrust but must also lead to shared research andinsights into the drivers of and solutions to insecurity, militancy, andextremism. Federal government will work with provinces and religiousleaders to initiate wide-ranging reforms aimed at making mosques centres oflearning and religious guidance for people.”
A committee of religious scholars (with representation from all schools ofthought) will be established for the formulation of a recommended syllabi,examination and training for Imams, NISP reads that specialised trainingwill be offered to Imams under the supervision of the committee ofreligious scholars and administered by Ministry of Religious Affairs.
“Qualified Imams will be incentivised through a monthly stipend paid by thegovernment. Recommended guidelines and narrative for Friday sermons will beprepared by the committee of religious scholars in collaboration withgovernment. Funding will be offered to set up libraries at mosques andcentres for Islamic studies under the supervision of Ministry of ReligiousAffairs assisted by the committee of scholars. Mosque committees will bereviewed and reconstituted to ensure effective management.
All funds raised for setting up, maintenance or expansion of mosques willbe audited by the government to ensure transparency,” reads the policy.There are 53 hotbeds of unrest and targets for terrorists in Fata,Balochistan, some areas of KP and Karachi which must be paid particularattention due to social and political contestation, reads NISP. Effortswill be made to build consensus on offering incentives for militants underclear and transparent terms to shun violence, reads the policy. A mechanismwill be developed to review cases of militants who agree to cooperate withthe law enforcement agencies.
“De-radicalisation and rehabilitation programmes will be used to enableformer militants to join the mainstream. Professionals and moderatescholars will be engaged for the said purpose. Children of suspected andcaught militants must be taken care of and former militants, designatedterrorists and members of armed gangs will be barred from politicalactivities for a specified number of years depending on the nature of theiractivities by the commission,” NISP stated. No armed group must be allowedto operate a political wing and participate in electoral processes and viceversa and Nacta will compile data on Pakistani individuals linked withterror organisations involved in war theatres abroad, read the new policy.
Compensation Package for the personnel/people who lose their lives andlimbs will be made uniform across the country, read the policy. SecurityAnalysis & Research Cell (SARC) at Ministry of Interior run byprofessionals will be established to provide research and analysiscapability to develop deeper understanding of security challenges, read thepolicy that SARC will work closely with 60 think tanks, research centres,universities and other stakeholders to analyse cause and effect mechanismsof security issues and provide tailored solutions and policyrecommendations.
A Counter Terrorism and Counter Extremism Centres of Excellence will beestablished at Nacta run by professionals to provide research, analysis andtraining support to various arms of government stated the policy.