Afghanistan Ambassador to Pakistan Janan Mosazai has said Afghans have suffered heavily from outside proxy games as it remained the front line state in the fight against terrorism and extremism. He was speaking at a seminar titled, "Social transformation of violent extremism: Afghanistan's response". The event was arranged by the Centre for Pakistan and Gulf Studies (CPGS) in collaboration with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS). The topic of two-day international seminar is countering violent extremism and global action plan.
Afghan Ambassador said that the emergence of ISIS also threatens the security of Pakistan and Afghanistan, respectively. "We will try to build a collateral effort to deal with terrorism especially those propagated by ISIS," he added. He said that Afghanistan remained front-line state in the fight against extremism and terrorism as it was existential threat. Terrorism and violent extremism can not be defeated alone and it needs collective approach and efforts, he said, adding that we must come together to fight the menace of terrorism but it needs support and collaboration of international community.
The ambassador said that the distrust between the two countries needs to be addressed and President Ghani has been able to develop regional consensus on this issue, adding there is a lack of coordination between Pakistan and Afghanistan to foil the sinister motives of the enemy.
"We need to move quickly and reconsider our policies, besides developing a common strategy at regional level," he said. Responding to questions, he said that there was a need to go after the propagators, who are disrupting peace through false justification of terrorism by using such tactics. Dr Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema chaired the first session of seminar.
Speaking on 'Political Nature of Violent Extremism', former director NACTA Dr Manzar Zaidi said that seminaries did not produce terrorists, rather they are sharing social responsibilities of state by feeding and teaching poor. He emphasised that NAP should be implemented in letter and spirit, adding that the government should make all-out efforts to implement national action plan in order to achieve long-lasting peace in the region. Ahmer Bilal Soofi, a former law minister said international norms have been changed since the occupation of Palestine and Kashmir, and one can't capture territory through occupation.
He was explaining the legal implications and limitations of extremism. Speaking on "Evolution of the transnational threat of violent extremism: legal implications and limitations," he said that there should be treaty-based commitment to counter violent extremism and respect the territorial integrity of the states.
"There is a need to create awareness about these issues among the people and religious scholars should play their due role," he added. Senator Mushahid Hussain said that under General Raheel Sharif Pakistan military had a clear sense of things and the Parliament was also onboard. He said that US should stop promoting dictatorial regimes across the Muslim world, as these regimes are causing extremism in societies.
"Islamophobia should be considered a crime and anyone denying it should be dealt like those denying the holocaust," he urged. Ronny Heine, resident representative of Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung in Pakistan while acknowledging the efforts made by Pakistan to curb violent terrorism said that Pakistan had been worst affectee of terrorism and violent extremism. He said violent extremism was an imminent threat and needs global efforts to counter it.
Speaking during the second session on "International perspectives and contemporary response," Argentinian Ambassador to Pakistan Rodolfo J Martin-Saravia said that terrorist should not always be dealt with force but they should be provided by incentives so they may shun way of extremism. Ina Lepel, German Ambassador to Pak, while talking about the German experience of de-radicalization strategies said that Germany had appreciated and promoted the role of Civil Society in countering violent extremism. German societies work hand in hand with civil society, NGOs and religious institutions for comprehensive approach.
Former Director General, Inter Services Public Relations Major General Athar Abbas (Retd) said that while concluding the third session of the seminar said that Pakistan was suffering due to terrorism and extremism in this region. "Pakistan has suffered much and still suffering due to unrest in Afghanistan. We are directly affected by Afghan situation," he said.
He said that Pakistan Army has done an excellent job in eradicating the menace of terrorism. He said that military operation 'Zarb-e-Azb' was going on successfully and it achieved its 90 percent targets. Associate Professor of Quaid-e-Azam University Dr Zafar Jaspal said that there was a need to chalk-out a comprehensive national security policy. He said that they have to take pre-emptive measures including reforms in education.
He said that there was a need of transformative social, political and economic system across the country particularly in Federal Administrative Tribal Area (FATA) and Balochistan. He said that government failed to stop foreign involvement in the country, adding that foreign countries were funding the Madrassas in the name of charity. "We need a comprehensive policy, good governance, justice and rule of law in the country," he said.
Associate Professor Quaid-e-Azam University Dr Nazir Hussain said that NAP was being implemented fully. He said that targeted action in Karachi was also part of NAP, which has been successful. He said that 3000 terrorists have been killed in military operation 'Zarb-e-Azb' and 250 ton explosives have so far been recovered, adding that thousands of people have been arrested in the ongoing operation against militants and the terrorists.
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