The Pakistani government has unveiled a comprehensive strategy aimed at tackling the growing presence of terrorist organizations on social media platforms. This announcement followed a high-level meeting of the National Action Plan (NAP) Coordination Committee, which was chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
During the meeting, it was revealed that 206 terrorists were killed in 7,984 intelligence-based operations conducted through October this year. A central focus of the new strategy will be curbing the online activities of banned terrorist groups. To this end, the government will collaborate with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to block relevant social media accounts. Additionally, provinces will implement strategies to combat the use of illegal SIM cards.
The committee instructed all relevant agencies, including the PTA, to present effective mechanisms at the next meeting. Minister Naqvi expressed concern over recent terrorist attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, pledging full support to bolster counter-terrorism capabilities in these regions.
The government also plans to enhance the capacity of police and Frontier Constabulary forces, improve overall security, and equip provincial police forces with modern technology. Minister Naqvi emphasized the need to prioritize the needs of law enforcement, requesting a report within seven days detailing these requirements. Furthermore, the NAP’s role will be strengthened, with reforms underway to restore its original mandate as a key force in the fight against terrorism.
The meeting also reviewed security measures for Chinese nationals in Pakistan, with Minister Naqvi ordering the full implementation of a comprehensive security plan for their protection. Additionally, the government will allocate resources to the coast guard to combat narcotics smuggling in coastal areas.
The progress of ongoing counter-terrorism initiatives, including the establishment of a Counter-Terrorism Authority in Islamabad, was also reviewed. National Coordinator for NAP, Khalid Khattak, provided a detailed update on the implementation of decisions from previous review meetings.
The meeting was attended by the Federal Secretary of Interior, the National Coordinator for NAP, Inspector Generals of Police, the Inspector General of Railways Police, the Commandant of Frontier Constabulary, the Inspector General of Islamabad Police, and senior officials from the Ministry of Interior and law enforcement agencies.
