The seven-member committee which arrived in Islamabad on Thursday, called on Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat and gave him a detailed briefing on why it believed that a significant number of Taliban had entered Pakistan from Afghanistan, the source said.
The committee is headed by Heraldo Munoz, Ambassador of Chile to the UN. Other members included Madame Traore (Guinea), Haider Shah (Pakistan) and Carla Serrazi (Chile) along with the Deputy Permanent Representative of Russian Federation and a representative of the US Mission in Pakistan.
The committee is visiting Pakistan to monitor the activities of Al Qaeda and Taliban and their nexus in Pakistan.
The source said the ATSC also inquired about the reports regarding presence of Taliban’s leader Mulla Omar in the NWFP.
In its meeting with the minister, the committee stressed the need for sharing of information about those arrested in Pakistan for their links with Al Qaeda and Taliban.
It also desired that bank accounts of all pro-Taliban and pro-Al Qaeda organizations should be frozen so that they could not continue their activities, the source added.
The meeting which lasted for about 45 minutes also discussed other issues like seminaries and their international links, situation along the border with Afghanistan, anti-terrorism measures and the follow up action taken by the government.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister said there was no room for any kind of extremism and sectarian violence in Pakistan.
Mr Hayat told the delegation that Pakistan had arrested hundreds of terrorists, including some of the most-wanted ones in the war against terrorism. “The commitment and resolve is absolutely unwavering,” he said.
Highlighting the role of Pakistani security agencies, the minister regretted that their role had not been appreciated by the international media. “The international community needs to acknowledge the outstanding contribution of these highly motivated security forces,” he added.
Speaking about the religious institutions, he said an overwhelming majority of Madressahs in Pakistan were involved in academic activities and social welfare work which deserved commendation. “We are planning to bring a new legislation shortly to rationalize their working which would help them make their students valuable assets for civil society,” he added.