News Analysis |
Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired the meeting of National Security Committee (NSC) which was attended by the key federal minister, three services chiefs and head of Inter-Services Intelligence and Military Intelligence. At the end of 3-hour long meeting, it was decided that Hafiz Saeed led Jamat-ud-Dawa, an organization which is dubiously looked down upon in the international community would be banned.
“It was decided during the meeting to accelerate action against the proscribed organizations,” it added. “It was further decided that Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Falah-e- Insaniat Foundation be notified as proscribed organizations by the ministry of interior.”Hafiz Hhhananx x
In the wake of recent threats coming from India after the Pulwama attack, Prime Minister Imran Khan has authorized the armed forces to “decisively and comprehensively” respond to any act of aggression from the other side. Including top military and civilian leadership, the National Security Committee is the core body which oversees matters of national security. NSC noted that “the state of Pakistan is not involved in any way, means, or form in the incident”. “It was conceived, planned and executed indigenously,” it added.
Banning Jamat-ud-Dawa could be a step in the same direction which might be followed to further restricting the activities of the banned outfit, Jesh-E-Mohammed.
Indian Prime Minister, though not directly, has hinted out at an offensive route which India would take to avenge the death of more than 40 soldiers who died as the result of a suicide blast last week in Indian Occupied Kashmir. As per reports, Indian Prime Minister has even authorized the Indian Army to reply Pakistan in a way which it seems suitable.
Speed up on National Action Plan
Prime Minister has directed the authorities to root out extremist elements and speed up the process regarding the agreed National Action Plan. NAP was a coordinated and consensus-oriented document compiled after the Army Public School attack back in 2014. The key objective of the document was to form a broad internal strategy to deal with the menace of extremism through streamlining of intelligence gathering and sharing mechanism to prevent events like APS from happening.
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But due to ineptness and lack of will on part of relevant authorities, the progress on the plan has been nominal even after years. PM Khan stressed the need of implementation on National Action Plan, saying, “Having addressed the direct threat to the state of Pakistan, we need to move to ensure that militancy and extremism are routed from the society and the state never becomes hostage to extremists,” the prime minister said.
One of the most significant area which NAP was to cater included the streamlining of several jihadist factions who were part of the fight in Afghanistan against the Soviet and later were transformed into many organizations. Since they have an overlapping history with the state, it remains important that these groups are disbanded in a deliberate manner as to avoid any backlash from elements within, which could affect the security condition of the country.
Prime Minister Imran Khan in his address after the Pulwama attack urged India to do the same and work together in rooting out extremism rather mongering for war which is not in the interest of either state.
Banning Jamat-ud-Dawa could be a step in the same direction which might be followed to further restricting the activities of the banned outfit, Jesh-E-Mohammed. JeM is said to be the organization which has claimed the responsibility of Pulwama attack which led to the death of more than 40 CRPF soldiers.
Since Pakistan is the new hub of economic investment, as evident by recent multibillion-dollar projects announced by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and CPEC, it cannot allow remaining on the thin edge as far as the internal security and geopolitics are concerned.
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Therefore, a consensus seems to be building in civilian and military leadership of the country that economic prosperity and sustainability is the primary goal and all efforts should be directed toward it. Prime Minister Imran Khan in his address after the Pulwama attack urged India to do the same and work together in rooting out extremism rather mongering for war which is not in the interest of either state.