ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has called for a unified national strategy to combat terrorism, stressing that terrorists have no colour, race or religion.
Addressing a capacity-building workshop organised by the Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO) for parliamentarians from Balochistan, Punjab and Sindh, Tarar said Pakistan had sacrificed 90,000 lives in the war against terrorism and that the nation, armed forces and society collectively stood as a strong shield between terrorists and the rest of the world.
Tarar said coordinated efforts by state institutions, federal and provincial governments and the public had helped significantly reduce terrorism, particularly by 2017.
The improvement in security also helped revive investment in the country. However, he said subsequent policy changes weakened four years of national efforts against terrorism and contributed to the resurgence of terrorist activity.
Counterterrorism policies should not be affected by changes in government
Tarar stressed that national security and counterterrorism policies should not be affected by changes in government. Political parties, he said, must agree on policies that serve the national interest and ensure their continuity.
The minister also highlighted the importance of the “narrative war” in countering terrorism and hostile propaganda. Referring to the Pahalgam incident, he said India had launched allegations against Pakistan even before the actual conflict began. Pakistan, he added, effectively responded by presenting its position through international media outlets.
He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s offer of an internationally transparent investigation into the Pahalgam incident had put India under pressure. Tarar argued that Pakistan’s record of fighting terrorism and sacrificing tens of thousands of lives made allegations of its support for terrorism untenable.
MOIB Atta Tarar says Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s offer of an impartial investigation into the Pahalgam incident exposed India’s false narrative and demonstrated Pakistan’s commitment to transparency and accountability.@TararAttaullah@SSDOPakistan… pic.twitter.com/e3RVOBEjfn
— Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) August 18, 2026
“If the attackers entered the area so easily, where were India’s security arrangements, and why were they not detected?” he asked.
Indian involvement in terrorist activities
Citing the arrest of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav in Balochistan, the minister said Pakistan had presented evidence of foreign involvement in terrorist activities inside the country. He said the government, armed forces and Pakistani media had played a key role in presenting Pakistan’s position internationally.
MOIB Atta Tarar says foreign hands are involved in terrorism, while the government is pursuing effective initiatives and narrative-building efforts to improve Pakistan’s soft image. He adds that the development of Balochistan remains a key government priority.… pic.twitter.com/ji6nDl9btJ
— Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) August 18, 2026
Tarar said misinformation and misleading content on digital platforms could threaten public safety and national security, underlining the need for effective legislation, regulation and coordinated mechanisms to counter extremist and anti-state propaganda.
He said the government had established a modern Digital Communications Department equipped with advanced media-monitoring tools, including artificial intelligence and speech-to-text technology. The federal government, he added, was prepared to help provinces establish similar digital systems.
The minister said Pakistan was also using digital platforms to promote its positive image through content highlighting the country’s culture, music, cuisine, arts and tourism. Further initiatives would be undertaken over the next two to two and a half years to strengthen Pakistan’s soft image and improve coordination among the provinces.
Tarar said terrorist groups had increasingly shifted towards “soft targets” after facing setbacks against security forces. He cited the Jaffar Express attack and said security agencies had conducted the subsequent rescue operation with professional expertise.
Balochistan’s development
Tarar said Balochistan’s development remained a key government priority. He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir were committed to the province’s rights, development and prosperity.
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He welcomed the prime minister’s announcement regarding the construction and rehabilitation of the N-25 highway and said the initiative had received support from across the country. He also highlighted measures taken to provide educational opportunities for Balochistan’s students and said the Punjab government had allocated Rs15 billion to support Balochistan’s counterterrorism efforts.
Tarar urged all political forces to work together on national issues and ensure that successful initiatives continue despite changes in government. He cited programmes such as Rescue 1122 and the Benazir Income Support Programme as examples of policies that successive governments had maintained despite political differences.
He concluded that Pakistan needed sustained political consensus, coordinated action and a strong national narrative to eliminate terrorism and secure long-term peace, stability and development.
