Iranian scholar warns Pak 'soft policy' on extremism can come back to haunt it

Pakistan, as a state, has a 'soft policy' on extremism, an Iranian scholar and foreign policy expert has claimed.

According to Dr Sadollah Zarei, Pakistan needs to have a clear policy on the issue as it is not only tarnishing its global image but also damaging it internally.

Zarei further said that based on his interactions with the people and politicians in Pakistan, people as a whole do not approve of extremism, and the state needs to form a tough policy on religious extremists, the Nation reports.s

The expert questioned why the Pakistan government is allowing freedom to certain forces fanning religious extremism in the country.

He also opined that the religious extremism in Afghanistan would ease off once the US withdraws as planned and there would be peace in the region as the forces breeding extremism would subside.

The report added Zarei saying that Pakistan and Iran could work together to end extremism to establish peace in the region adding that Pakistan Army should come forward to stop drone attacks.