Pakistan urges multi-pronged strategy on Extremism root causes
Pakistan Times Foreign Desk

RIYADH (Saudi Arabia): Pakistan on Sunday underlined the need for a multi-pronged counter terrorism strategy to neutralize the ideological appeal of extremism, to address the root causes that breed extremism tendencies and to assist states in surmounting socio-economic problems.

Addressing International Conference on Countering Terrorism, leader of Pakistani delegation, Lt. Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani said; "A long term success requires strategic alliance of an international coalition and countries need to cooperate through intelligence, law enforcement, military, financial and diplomatic channels to identify, disrupt, capture and debilitate terrorists and their network."

He said as a result of the concerted international efforts, the terrorist support base had shrunk but the danger still looms that call for concrete strategy and concerted efforts.

On its part, Kiyani said, Pakistan has signed 11 of the 12 international conventions on counterterrorism besides the OIC and SAARC conventions and it has also recently passed comprehensive legislation on export control on sensitive technologies.

Terrorism is a Scourge

He said terrorism is a scourge that indiscriminately kills innocent people as for it geographical distances do not matter and the terrorist networks, their affiliates and ideology are a clear and potent threat to the nations of the world.

"Incident of 9/11 has taught us that terrorism is a near enemy and the terrorist organizations have demonstrated their capability to wreak havoc even against the most developed parts of the world," he added.

He said, in the aftermath of 9/11, Pakistan found itself in the eye of the storm and at the centre of a war that aimed to eliminate terrorist groups and their franchises and to push back the dark forces of extremism.

Role of Pakistan

"Pakistan, as a member of the coalition against terrorism, has been fighting this war on several fronts. It has been fighting terrorist groups and operatives along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and with more than 70,000 troops deployed there, we were able to crush the backbone of Al-Qaeda and its affiliates."

He said "Al-Qaeda's command and control structure was hit hard and largely rendered inoperative as with our vast intelligence assets, we were able to capture more than 600 Al-Qaeda operatives and other suspected terrorists".

Tripartite Commission

Close intelligence cooperation was institutionalized between the US, Afghanistan and Pakistan and to coordinate and liaise on operational issues, and the three states have also established a Tripartite Commission, he said.

Kiyani told the participants that Pakistan also concluded extradition treaties with 27 countries and Memorandums of understanding with 49 countries while high-level security dialogues on the issue of counter-terrorism were held with key countries from all regions of the world.

He said, Pakistan through domestic and legislative measures as well as the international cooperation, also remained successful in monitoring illicit transactions and choke terrorist financing.

Enlightened Moderation

Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani said as a long term and durable solution against global terrorism, President of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf, expounded the concept of "Enlightened Moderation" that stresses on mounting a concerted campaign against extremism, fundamentalism and sectarianism; to create an enabling environment where a moderate tolerant Islam, reflecting the essence of our faith could flourish.

"This concept also calls upon the international community; particularly the West, to step forward to help resolve political disputes affecting Muslims," he said, and reminding to participants of Pakistan's active contribution in the adoption and implementation of the global counter-terrorism framework of the United Nations.

He said the conference could contemplate to propose the measures like abiding by the universally accepted principles of international law and human rights in the war against terrorism.

Of the the Freedom Struggles

"The fight against terrorism should not be used as pretext to suppress legitimate struggles for right to self determination," he said, adding, "a few individual acts of terrorism by some desperate members of freedom movements are no excuse to de-legitimize the freedom struggles for the realization of the right to self-determination."

Kiyani said, intelligentsia, civil society and media organizations should play their role to create public awareness about the dangers that terrorism poses to society.

He also urged efforts to evolve a consensus among nations on what must be done as "decisions having international legitimacy stand better chance for being respected."

He appreciated the holding of the conference and said, "this bold and commendable initiative of the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its allies and friends will foster better cooperation and understanding to come to grips with a challenge that concern us all."

Prince Saud Al Faisal

Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Saud Al Faisal, on conclusion of the speech, thanked Pakistan delegation leader for making kind and friendly remarks on the role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

He also noted that the remarks of the leader of Pakistani delegation were cogent and there was complete identity of views between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

Prince Saud said that proposal of the International Centre for Combating Terrorism had been endorsed by Pakistan and "we are thankful to them."

Meanwhile, Pakistan actively participated in deliberations of its group and clearly elaborated the international laws that draw a line between right-to-self-determination and the terrorism.

The delegation also deliberated upon people's rights to freedom struggle as well as addressing the root causes of terrorism, issues of foreign occupation and solution of political disputes.●