PESHAWAR: Following a series of attacks in the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa province, the KP government has devised a counter-terror strategy to ward off threats to the city.

Secretary Interior Akthar Ali Shah, while briefing the media, after a high-level security meeting on Sunday night, said that two special task forces would be set up for the city to maintain peace and counter militant threats.

One of the committee's will be headed by the Commissioner and the other will be under the Inspector-General (IG) Police.

Akhtar Ali Shah said that Peshawar would be divided into four zones and targeted operations would be carried out in sensitive areas.

The emphasis of these targeted operations will be on bus stands, hotels and private inns which will be throughly searched.

He said that a ready to move quick response force would be present in each zone along with the police.

"We have to comb the affected areas where miscreants might have a presence and then go against them," Shah stated.

The task forces would have representatives of the IGP, IG Frontier Corps and intelligence agencies. The chief secretary and their representatives will also make coordinated efforts to counter threats.

Akhtar Ali Shah said that the committees would also devise short and long-term measures to counter terrorism.

He said that intelligence sharing and gathering would be improved and that public mobilization would also be increased.

Shah said that 2009 was the worst year in terms of terrorist attacks, but "we successfully came out of it and now an effective strategy is on the cards".

Opinion

The risk of escalation

The risk of escalation

The silence of the US and some other Western countries over the raid on the Iranian consulate has only provided impunity to the Zionist state.

Editorial

Saudi FM’s visit
Updated 17 Apr, 2024

Saudi FM’s visit

The government of Shehbaz Sharif will have to manage a delicate balancing act with Pakistan’s traditional Saudi allies and its Iranian neighbours.
Dharna inquiry
17 Apr, 2024

Dharna inquiry

THE Supreme Court-sanctioned inquiry into the infamous Faizabad dharna of 2017 has turned out to be a damp squib. A...
Future energy
17 Apr, 2024

Future energy

PRIME MINISTER Shehbaz Sharif’s recent directive to the energy sector to curtail Pakistan’s staggering $27bn oil...
Tough talks
Updated 16 Apr, 2024

Tough talks

The key to unlocking fresh IMF funds lies in convincing the lender that Pakistan is now ready to undertake real reforms.
Caught unawares
Updated 16 Apr, 2024

Caught unawares

The government must prioritise the upgrading of infrastructure to withstand extreme weather.
Going off track
16 Apr, 2024

Going off track

LIKE many other state-owned enterprises in the country, Pakistan Railways is unable to deliver, while haemorrhaging...