Nisar says better civil-military ties improved law and order  

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Wednesday said Pakistan's security situation had gotten better following harmony and improved relations between civilian and military forces in the country.

Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly here today following a high-level meeting to discuss implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP), Chaudhry Nisar said that the country was battling both internal and external enemies.

He said that at the time of negotiations with the Taliban, a lot of propaganda was generated about the government and the Army not being on the same page, but the military had fully supported the talks and then Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani had said that there was no better option.

Political differences had existed, he said, noting that the PPP, ANP and MQM had serious reservations but later all parties had agreed upon the negotiations.

"We gave our all to the negotiations," he said, reiterating that the military had fully supported the government on the matter.

Nisar said Pakistan's security situation had improved following 2.5 years of operations against the terrorists.

He also said he had praised former president Asif Ali Zardari when he had expressed approval of the military courts.

Discussing the government’s efforts to negotiate with the Taliban in the past, Nisar said it was the first time the militants had agreed to come to the table. However, the government had realized soon after that they were playing a double-game.

"They were talking to us but also pressurizing us at the same time," he said.

It was at that time the Prime Minister decided to silently initiate civil-military talks over the matter, he said.

The talks with the Taliban continued for three months, but after the Karachi airport attack the prime minister decided in a meeting that we had had enough, he said.

Nisar contended that the high-level meeting to discuss implementation on the National Action Plan, presided by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif earlier today, failed to bring under discussion several crucial issues.

Another meeting would be called on Monday or Tuesday where all of the ministers will be invited, Nisar said.

"We decided in the aftermath of the Karachi airport attack that we would have to use another option," said the interior minister.

That decision was made in May 2014, and on June 7 the same year the prime minister decided that the operation would start a week later, he said.

All political parties had agreed not to oppose the military operation, he said, adding that no military operation can succeed without full backing of the public and the government.

"The dramatic improvement in Pakistan's security situation is the result of this cooperation," he said.

Nisar said that the entire nation needs to unite to root out terrorism from the country.

"The Armed Forces have a big role in the war against terrorism, but intelligence agencies and police also have a role to play," he said.

Nisar said that officers standing guard on the frontlines fight the worst kind of terrorists, even though they are not trained to.

"Everyone must play a role in the National Action Plan. The ministries of the federal government and all four provincial governments have a role to play," he said.

Nisar said he had never criticized any provincial government. Although he did point out weaknesses in the meetings, he had never given a public statement, he said.

Condemning the terrorist attack in Quetta, which killed over 70 and injured more than 110 on Monday, Nisar said the tragedy was horrendous but the people of Pakistan had seen a time when incidents like this occurred every other day.

"These terrorists who are playing with fire and blood in our country are unable to sow conflicts between us," Nisar said, vowing that the nation would fight back with even greater determination and completely exterminate terrorism from Pakistan.

Nisar informed the house that some evidences have been collected during the initial investigation into Quetta incident, adding that it was not a routine terrorist attack.

He also criticized political leaders over remarks against intelligence agencies.