Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Counter-terrorism experts and internal security professionals have strongly emphasised the urgent need for a multi-pronged internal security policy in order to deal with the challenges of terrorism and extremism in the country, instead of reactive, piecemeal responses.

“Not only that we need to track the progress on National Internal Security Policy 2014-2018, but also identify key challenges in achieving the intended targets”, said Tariq Khosa, former IG police who has also served as FIA director general. He was expressing these views at a closed-door group discussion on “Internal security and challenges”, the tenth in a series of sessions aimed at countering violent extremism, organised by the Islamabad based think-tank Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS).

While speaking at the session, Mr. Khosa recommended what he called a 3-S framework to ensure internal security comprising security (deweaponisation, disarmament, elimination of terrorist and militant outfits, etc.); sovereignty (maintaining the writ of the state and effective reach of security forces in all parts of the country); and sustainability (rule of law and counter-radicalisation of masses) as key elements.

The group called for revisiting the entire approach and vision of the internal security, moving beyond the reactive response to any militant attack. They proposed that the key ingredients of a comprehensive policy of internal security must include countering extremism, militancy, and organised crimes; curbing separatist tendencies; warning about the internal fallout of strategic priorities; governing cyber spaces; and securing country’s borders.

Afrasiyab Khattak, veteran politician from ANP and former senator, emphasised that the parliament must take the lead in overseeing internal security policy. “The current government doesn’t seem serious in ensuring supremacy of the parliament. Not only that the Prime Minister seldom goes to the Parliament, but also despite announcing the formation of Parliamentary Committee on National Security, they have not constituted this important forum as yet”, he added. The participants collectively made the demand for the urgent constitution of the Committee, which should, among other things, re-assess strategic priorities, threat perception and oversight of the policy implementation. The suggested internal security policy shall incorporate key counter-terror initiatives like National Action Plan, though after revising it first.

It was noted during the discussion that much of the internal security problems is rooted in weak coordination among civil and military institutions, various intelligence agencies, federal and provincial law enforcement agencies and counter terrorism structures at different levels. The group raised concerns over the weak capacity of NACTA to lead counter terrorism measures in the country and its failure to establish National Directorate of Intelligence Services for consolidation of intelligence coming from different agencies. The participants reminded for the incorporation of fundamental human rights in the overall framework of new internal security policy in order to restore people’s confidence on state policies.

It was also noted during the session that the surrender of former spokesperson of deadliest terrorist outfit Jamaat-ul-Ahrar marked a new challenge of de-radicalisation of the active militants that might follow the path of Ehsanullah Ehsan. In case of more such surrenders, a new and custom made de-radicalisation program would be needed because the current model was developed for the outfits like Jamaat-ud-Dawa and ASWJ, which constitute a different category than TTP and JuA.

The group made a detailed discussion on the reconciliation process in Balochistan and noted with concern that despite being an important part of NAP, this aspect is not getting much attention and little political effort is being made to address people’s real problems as well as making meaningful headway in negotiating peace with the insurgent groups. The group also called for urgent reforms in criminal justice system, in judiciary, and in overall governance system, which they emphasised, were important to eliminate extremism in the long run.

Members who attended the session included Tariq Khosa, former Inspector General of Police (IGP); Afrasiab Khattak, former senator; Dr Khalid Masud, ex-chairman of Council of Islamic Ideology; Dr Qibla Ayaz, former Vice Chancellor, University of Peshawar; Ammar Khan Nasir, religious scholar; Fayyaz Toru, former IGP; Gen (r) Masood Aslam, defence analyst; Dr Suhail Habib Tajik; Gen (r) Talat Masood, defence analyst; Muhammad Ziauddin, senior journalist; Zia ur Rehman, researcher; Sabookh Syed, journalist; Azaz Syed, senior journalist; Zahid Hussain senior columnist; Syed Arfeen, TV journalist; and Muhammad Amir Rana, director, PIPS.