Civilian response to terrorism is needed, says Pakistan President Zardari

War on Terror

23 Oct 2008, NewAgeIslam.Com

Civilian response to terrorism is needed, says Pakistan President Zardari

* Zardari says 'total war' must be fought 'in totality', on multiple fronts * Military cannot be left to fight the war alone Also: Islamabad, Kabul to collaborate closely with Pakistan in fight against terror -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Civilian response to terrorism is needed, says Pakistan President Zardari     By Sajjad Malik Wednesday, October 22, 2008  ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari urged civil and political leaders on Tuesday to own the war on terror, saying the military and security agencies could not be left to fight the war alone. "This is total war and should be fought in totality, and on multiple fronts," he told participants of a top-level meeting on the FATA and NWFP security situation at the President's House. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani accompanied him. "Pakistan's civilian political leadership has successfully confronted terrorism in parts of the country in the past, and drawing lessons from that experience, is determined to carry out the ongoing fight against terrorism to a logical conclusion," Zardari said. NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti and Interior Adviser Rehman Malik made presentations on the terror threat and the government's strategy to tackle it. "The fight against terrorism is part of a larger struggle to save the country, the federation and its democratic structure," the president said. "That is why the government has put together the strategy of three Ds – dialogue, development and deterrence – to wipe out the menace." He said the government had expanded the consultative process and consult the parliament on the issue, for the elected representatives from across the political divide to own the war. Zardari was referring to an in-camera parliamentary session on national security, now in its second week. The Military Operations director general and the information minister briefed the session before a debate on counterterrorism policy. The president also accepted a proposal by Law Minister Farooq Naik to for unspecified 'special regulations' under Article 247(5) of the constitution for 'peace and good governance' in the Tribal Areas. The law minister also briefed the meeting about the progress made by a committee to recommend amendments in the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR), a British-era set of laws implemented in the Tribal Areas that Pakistan chose to continue with after Independence. The president said people in the Tribal Areas were not terrorists but victims of terrorism – repeating a statement made by Hoti while addressing the concluding session of a workshop on southern FATA arranged by the Benazir Democracy Institute of the Shaheed Bhutto Foundation on Monday. In Tuesday's meeting, Zardari said similar meetings would be held every month to 'closely monitor the progress made and the difficulties encountered'. Another top-level meeting on militancy in Balochistan involving 'stakeholders and political leaders' would be held in 'the next few days', he said. Zardari said he would also hold a separate meeting with the Pakhtunkhwa chapter of the Pakistan People's Party. Information Minister Sherry Rehman, Environment Minister Hameedullah Jan Afridi, provincial ministers, legislators from FATA and senior officials also attended the meeting. "Various dimensions of the prevailing situation were discussed from the perspective of participants," state media reported.  Courtesy: Daily Times, Source:  http://www.pakistanlink.com/Headlines/Oct08/22/08.htm -----------------------------------------------------  Islamabad, Kabul to collaborate closely with Pakistan in fight against terror ISLAMABAD—Pakistan and Afghanistan on Wednesday agreed to collaborate closely to eliminate the scourge of extremism, militancy and terrorism, with regular contacts on political, military, security and intelligence tracks. The two sides reached this agreement during the talks held here today between Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Afghan Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta, who paid an official visit to Islamabad on the invitation of his Pakistani counterpart. According to a joint press release issued at the conclusion Dr. Spanta's visit, the two foreign ministers emphasized that extremism and terrorism posed a common threat to the two countries as well as to the regional and international peace. During the visit, the Afghan Foreign Minister held talks with his counterpart as well as the President, Speaker National Assembly and the National Security Advisor. The visit took place in the light of understanding reached between Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and President Hamid Karzai during their fruitful meeting in Colombo on August 3, in which the two Foreign Ministers were mandated to prepare a framework of constructive engagement across the board. The talks were very constructive and took place in a warm and cordial atmosphere characteristic of the brotherly relations between the two countries. In the talks, the Foreign Ministers discussed a wide range of important subjects pertaining to bilateral cooperation, regional and global issues of mutual interest and concern. In the spirit of a new beginning to the Afghanistan and Pakistan bilateral relations, the two Foreign Ministers exchanged views on ways to articulate a new vision for their bilateral relations as well as for the region. They highlighted the enormous potential of the region to become the abode of peace, moderation and prosperity for the two countries and the entire region. Pakistan shared a draft Declaration on Directions of Bilateral Cooperation which will be finalized soon. Both sides agreed to comprehensively upgrade their bilateral relations and to hold regularly Strategic Dialogue at the level of Foreign Ministers. The Foreign Ministers will oversee the work of a Specialized Commission in all disciplines notably, political, security and economic sectors. The two Foreign Ministers noted with satisfaction the convening of Jirga Gai in Islamabad on October 27-28. They also expressed satisfaction at the preparatory work for the holding of 7th Joint Economic Commission (JEC) in Kabul in the second half of November and 3rd Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA) in January next in Islamabad. Responding to the serious concern expressed on the abduction of Ambassador-designate of Afghanistan to Pakistan, Abdul Khaleq Farahi, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi expressed deep anguish at the unfortunate abduction of the Ambassador-designate and assured Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta that the Government of Pakistan will leave no stone un-turned for the safe and early recovery of the Ambassador-designate. On behalf of President Hamid Karzai, Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta extended a warm and cordial invitation to President Zardari to visit Afghanistan in the near future. The Foreign Minister of Pakistan also accepted the invitation by the Afghan Foreign Minister to visit Kabul at his earliest convenience. —Agencies http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=918