London - Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said terrorism has become a global issue and coordinated efforts are needed to curb this menace.
He was speaking at the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London on Tuesday.
The minister asked the West to refrain from imposing any solution to handle terrorism in South Asia.
He said terrorism had its own reasons and dimensions and needed regional solution instead of any imported or imposed one for lasting peace.
Ch Nisar said Islam had nothing to do with terrorism and attempt to link militancy with this great religion was unfortunate. He said international focus and cooperation must continue to eliminate the scourge of terrorism. He stressed the Western countries to be focussed, take Muslims on board, and adopt regional approach to address this menace.
The minister said Pakistan had successfully evolved a counter-terrorism policy. He said terrorist incidents had declined in Pakistan by 38 percent last year, deaths in such incidents by 40 percent and suicide bombings came down by 31 percent.
He said about 14,000 intelligence-based operations were carried out in Pakistan during last 18 months. Nisar said over 30 intelligence agencies were acting against terrorism.
The interior minister said, “Civil and military leadership is on the same page to curb terrorism from our soil”.
He said Pakistan was left alone to deal with the menace of terrorism after the fall of Soviet Union and the incident of 9/11.
NISAR, THERESA DISCUSS
BILATERAL TIES
Expressing satisfaction over the state of relations between Pakistan and United Kingdom, Interior Minister Ch Nisar Tuesday underscored the need for taking bilateral relationship a notch higher by enhancing mutual cooperation in all possible areas.
Talking to his British counterpart Theresa May in London, he called for further tapping the existing potential for cooperation between the two countries.
The two leaders discussed a host of issues ranging from cooperation in counter-terrorism, illegal immigration, organised crimes, counter narcotics, money laundering, Dr Imran Farooq murder case and other issues of mutual interest.
The British home secretary underlined the importance of regular exchange of views on security cooperation and other areas.
The interior minister remarked that such high level visits provided momentum to the efforts aimed at further strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing mutual cooperation.
At the outset, British home secretary expressed her condolences over the loss of precious lives as a result of recent terrorist attack in Lahore. Secretary May appreciated Pakistan's efforts in fight against terrorism and assured Britain's support to Pakistan in that regard.
Recalling the deteriorating law and order back in 2013, the interior minister said that as a result of continuous efforts by Pakistani armed forces and law enforcement agencies, the overall security situation had significantly improved now.
The government remained fully committed to denying space to those desperate elements who target innocent citizens and further their terrorist agenda, he added.
