ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior Rehman Malik on Tuesday said Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were a “lethal weapon” that needed to be snatched from the terrorists to ensure peace in Pakistan and at the same time in the region.
Practical measures were being adopted with the support of United States to check for IEDs, he told a joint press briefing with US Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law, William Brownfield.
After attending the first round of the fourth Pak-US ministerial-level strategic dialogue on Law Enforcement and Counter Terrorism being held here with specific focus on countering IEDs, he said the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan was a major concern as the Pakistani security forces were being attacked through the IEDs by the terrorists.
He said the world had now realised that the fabrication of this deadly weapon should be stopped.
Giving details, Rehman Malik said Pakistan, in collaboration with United States, would soon start a programme to impart training to our law enforcers to check IEDs.
“We are going to make laws against IEDs, we are also going to constitute a forum with members from law enforcement agencies including the army.”
“We are grateful to the US for their help and support,” he added.
Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law William Brownfield said that the main agenda of the strategic dialogue taking place in Islamabad was to save lives of people around the world, especially Pakistani, Afghani and American lives.
Brownfield said both sides are set to discuss matters related to enhancing professional capabilities of the law enforcement agencies in view of the new strategy announced by the Obama administration.
He said the meeting also discussed ways and means to curb the use of IED explosives and highlighted other bilateral issues.
Both the leaders said Pakistan and United States have common interests and the strategic dialogue was the right step to benefit each other in different areas.
“We need to have common strategy so as to combat the menace of terrorism and extremism,” Rehman Malik said.
Replying to a question, Malik said the majority of terrorist attacks had been conducted in the border area of Pakistan and Afghanistan and confirmed violations from the Afghan side.
“The need here is to protect our borders with a special check on terrorists coming from Afghanistan to avoid terrorist activities,” he said, adding that during the next two weeks he would visit Afghanistan or his Afghan counterpart would visit Pakistan on the issue.
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