Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor on Thursday said the "nature and character" of extremism has changed.

Speaking at a seminar titled "Role of Youth in Rejecting Extremism," Ghafoor said that the militant Islamic State group operating on an ideology "which focuses on targeting minds of our youth."

"It is our collective duty as ‘state’ and individual duty in our respective domain to shield our youth against this threat," he said, adding that the process protecting the youth would involve the "identification of threat and response measures."

He paid tribute to young soldiers who had sacrificed their lives in the fight against terrorism.

"Of all the sacrifices made by uniformed Pakistanis 90 percent contributions are by our youth ," he said.

The seminar, the DG said, was focused on an analysis of "the phenomenon of extremism".

He added that the seminar would explore the fault lines and threats of extremism and look at it through the prism of religion and economy.

It will also seek to explore possible responses to extremism for educational institutions and society.

Army Chief Qamar Jawed Bajwa is also expected to speak at the seminar.