QUETTA: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said the government’s main objective is to win the war against terrorism and fully restore law and order in the country.

Speaking at a passing-out parade of a special contingent of the Anti-Terrorist Force (ATF) and police here on Thursday, he said that it would be a prolonged war and victory would need months of hard struggle.

About 200 officers and jawans of ATF and police, 18 women among them, have completed a one-month anti-terrorist training under the supervision of Pakistan Army.

Provincial Governor Mohammad Khan Achakzai, Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Commandant Southern Command Lt Gen Mohammad Naseer Khan Janjua, Provincial Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti and Inspector General of Police Amlish Khan attended the ceremony.

“We have to combat terrorism with courage, tolerance and patience and wise decisions,” Mr Sharif said. Political and army leaderships and people have joined hands to fight and defeat terrorists.

The prime minister said the government had reorganised the counter-terrorism department and decided to set up a counter-terrorism force comprising educated and highly trained youths. They are getting training in special intelligence operations and investigation.

He said that after Punjab, the special combat unit was now ready to perform in Balochistan.

Mr Sharif said Pakistan would have to win this war because it was a matter of survival of the next generation.

The counter-terrorism force is being equipped with advanced weapons and equipment and its ability is being augmented to enable it to respond swiftly to threats posed by terrorists.

He urged officers and jawans of Balochistan ATF and police to perform their duty with discipline and a sense of responsibility and impartiality.

The federal and provincial governments, he said, were trying to implement the National Action Plan and root out terrorism.

The prime minister said special services group of the army had played an important role in the training of Balochistan police and ATF. He praised the chief of the army staff for taking special interest in the training.

Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch thanked General Raheel Sharif and Commandant Southern Command Lt Gen Naseer Janjua for training Balochistan police officers and soldiers to perform the arduous task.

He said the nation faced the menace of terrorism and the police force would serve interests of the people of the province.

“Efforts are being made to depoliticise the police force and appointments and promotions will be made strictly on the basis of merit,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2015

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