Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday made it clear that the “tendency to label every man with a beard and every woman wearing hijab as potential terrorist should cease now”.

Addressing a seminar, Carving Out a Vision for Brighter Tomorrow: Addressing Challenges and Opportunities for Enhanced Regional Cooperation, he said security in today’s world is a multi-dimensional and a multi-faceted issue which cannot be ensured just by closing borders and pretending to feel safe. The seminar was jointly organised by the National Defence University and Royal Danish Defence College.

“No solution from America or the West can be imposed on our region and vice verse,” he added.

He said that the situation in South Asia cannot be seen and understood through foreign security paradigms and foreign solutions cannot address security related issues of the region.

Security, he said, was no longer a local or a regional issue but it has global manifestations and connotations.

“To win the war against terrorism, there has to be an international coalition but this coalition should be based on mutual and greater understanding of regional dynamics and regional compulsions.”

The Minister said that no solution from America or the West can be imposed on our region and vice verse.

To win the war on terrorism, the support of over 1 billion Muslims is essential. The West, he said, should get out of the trend of Islamophobia and blaming Islam for everything. Nisar said that the support of Islamic countries in the fight against terrorism is crucial in order to win this battle of hearts and minds.

He observed that Muslims have been the hardest hit and the biggest victim in the ongoing fight against terrorism. With regards to Pakistan’s approach towards peace and enhancing regional cooperation, the Minister said, “Pakistan has been showing maximum urge and inclination for promoting peace and tranquility in the region.”