Addresses graduates at NDU; says extremism
can be eliminated by promoting education
ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain on Friday said that after defeating terrorism in the battlefield, there was a need to crush the terrorist mindset as well.
Addressing the graduates of the National Security and War Course here at the National Defence University (NDU), the president said terrorism and extremism could be eliminated by promoting education. He said following the success of operation Zarb-e-Azb, another national narrative needed to be determined to ensure peace in the country.
He said civil and military officials, media and educationists could contribute their input in devising a national narrative in eliminating terrorism.
He said terrorists had exploited religion to spread hatred and anarchy by brainwashing the disadvantaged and less educated people.
He said the government was fully conscious of the challenging tasks ahead besides tackling internal and external problems.
"It is a matter of satisfaction that the present leadership of Pakistan is working honestly to ensure national and regional security and the people are supporting the government in this historic struggle," he added. He expressed confidence that a bright and prosperous future was awaiting the country. He also suggested benefiting from the expertise of friendly countries in curbing militancy and extremism.
He said there was a paradigm shift in the concept and understanding of national security at state-centric to societal levels. He mentioned that the country's geo-strategic location and events in the region had a direct impact on domestic situation as well as at its international standing. He stressed that it was the time to take stock of the situation and work in collaboration as a team to ensure that national interests take primacy.
He said poverty eradication was significant as it paved way to despondency and hatred. He expressed satisfaction that new opportunities of employment were being generated with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
He said situation would be improved with the CPEC becomes operational and urged upon the youth to learn requisite expertise to get maximum benefit from the emerging opportunities.
He said deprivation from essentials of life creates a sense of loss in the people which weakens the government and its institutions. "If the government institutions and their officials discharge their responsibilities with commitment and in the spirit of faithfulness to the State, then I believe it would be easy to meet this challenge," he opined.
He lauded the contributions of NDU in refining and defining national security concepts of the participants and enabling civilian policy-makers to acquire a better understanding of issues concerning national security. He said the NDU's course on national security was significant not only for the armed forces officers, but also for senior officers from friendly countries.
Congratulating the graduates, he said they were now equipped with requisite skills to handle intricate and complex professional matters concerning national security. He urged upon the graduates to focus on complimenting the national response against the threat and challenges faced by the country.
He said senior officials from friendly countries that received training at NDU would provide a new impetus to relations between Pakistan and their respective countries. He gave away certificates among the participants of the course.
President NDU Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar in his speech said the NDU's training courses were compatible with the changing global scenarios. He said NDU stands out as prestigious institution and a leading think-tank of the country that provides a platform both for military and civilian experts to share views on national issues.
Twenty-seven officers of civil bureaucracy belonging to police, secretariat, audit and accounts, Inland Revenue and Pakistan administrative services attended the course.
Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, members of parliament and civil and military personnel attended the event.