Key points
- FIA’s counter terrorism wings to be fully activated
- FC to be transformed into the National Reserve Police
- Counter-Terrorism Committee meets under interior minister
- Key stakeholders attend high-level huddle
- Meeting reviews progress on enhancing capabilities of departments
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Federal Counter-Terrorism Committee has decided to set up National Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Centres and fully activate the counter terrorism wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) across the country.
The committee met in Islamabad and reviewed steps to combat the resurgence of terrorism in the country.
Pakistan has witnessed a sharp spike in terrorist attacks in recent years, especially in its Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces.
A statement issued after the high-level meeting said the second meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee was held under the chairmanship of Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
Mohsin Naqvi stated that the prime minister, army chief, and all stakeholders were on the same page to combat terrorism.
He emphasised that no decisions would be made without consulting the provinces.
National Reserve Police
“Following the reorganisation of the Frontier Constabulary, it will be transformed into the National Reserve Police,” announced the interior minister.
The meeting reviewed the progress on enhancing the capabilities of provincial counter-terrorism agencies.
The interior minister highlighted that it was essential to fully activate the counter-terrorism departments of FIA at the provincial level for effective counter-terrorism efforts.
Considering challenges
He assured that, considering the challenges faced by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, every possible assistance would be provided.
The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, federal secretary of interior, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general, director general of Immigration and Passport, coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (NACTA), Islamabad chief commissioner, and representatives from various security agencies.
“Provincial Minister for Law Punjab Malik Saheb Ahmed, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Adviser Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, Sindh Interior Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjhar, and Interior Ministers from Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan also participated in the meeting,” the communiqué read.
