Pak frames new policy against militant attacks

Pakistan's Interior Minister said that attacks by militants will be met with an appropriate military response

Unveiling a new national security policy Wednesday, Pakistan's Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan underlined a major policy shift, saying attacks by militants will be met with an appropriate military response.

Giving details of the policy in the National Assembly here, Nisar said that the matter was discuss with all political parties and the decision was agreed upon unanimously, Dawn online reported.

Stating that only the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) had assisted the government in the formation of the new policy, he thanked the party for its recommendations. He added that none of the provinces had contributed to policy formation.

Stating that developing a political consensus was imperative to deal with terrorism, the interior minister said that it was not appropriate to score points on the issue when it was not just peace but the state's existence at stake.

Appealing to the country's political forces to be wary of developing differences on the issue, Nisar said if the state failed to establish peace, little else would matter.

Saying the issue was complicated and its resolution not easy, Nisar said the Parliament should have a single opinion on terrorism, according to the Dawn report.

He called upon all political forces to assist the government in dealing with the issue as it had assumed gargantuan proportions.

Stating that the policy would be improved step by step, the minister said its implementation and effectiveness would be reviewed during the next six months.

He added that the 100-page policy document comprised three parts, one of which was secret.