ISLAMABAD: The National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta), in the first meeting of its executive board after the Peshawar school massacre on Wednesday, prepared a strategy to implement the National Action Plan (NAP) to root out terrorism and devised a joint intelligence sharing system for close liaison among the centre and provinces, and military and civilian intelligence agencies.
The meeting was presided over by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and attended by Nacta Chairman Hamid Ali Khan, chief and home secretaries of all provinces and representatives of civilian and military secret agencies.
The minister emphasised the need for stronger coordination between the provinces and security/intelligence departments to prevent acts of terrorism.
The meeting approved a joint intelligence sharing system involving all provinces and military intelligence agencies to improve information sharing about terrorism.
“It is for the first time that military intelligence agencies will coordinate with the provinces and share vital information with them,” the interior ministry’s spokesman Adeel Sattar, who was among the participants of the huddle, told Dawn.
He said representatives of the provinces and military authorities thoroughly discussed each point of NAP and submitted recommendations on specific issues.
The provinces were asked to identity terrorists living in their territories, send proposals on seminary reforms and establish helpline for expeditious response to different kinds of threat.
The meeting also discussed publication and distribution of hate literature and suggested stern action against those involved in such practices.
Meanwhile an official press release issued by the interior ministry said that the provincial governments concerned gave their feedback on the steps to be taken under NAP and potential irritants in execution of the plan.
Chaudhry Nisar said that military was making huge sacrifices for the country and the civilian side must also play their due role. “The menace of militancy and extremism can be tackled only through revitalised governance and proactive approach by the federal and the provincial governments by involving masses through awareness,” he said.
Published in Dawn, January 1st, 2015
