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ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Saturday asserted that the security institutions were fully prepared to curb terrorist activities in the country.
“Last night, the Ministry of Interior told all armed forces, civil armed forces, IGs (inspectors general of police), chief secretaries, Frontier Corps IGs and Rangers IG to stay alert and watchful,” he said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad.
According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Interior earlier today, law enforcement agencies (LEAs) have been directed to exercise “extreme vigilance” after the recent terror incidents in the country.
Rashid pointed out the recent incidents of terrorism in the country, saying that after the Johar Town blast in Lahore in June last year, another incident took place in the city’s Anarkali area on Thursday. He also mentioned that the Baloch Nationalist Army had claimed the responsibility for the Anarkali blast.
“These terror incidents cannot bring down our nation, morale, spirit and armed forces,” he added. “You will see Pakistan progress,” he said, adding that the country had not just lost around 80,000 lives during the war against terrorism, but also spent $150 billion on it.
Responding to a question regarding investigation of the Anarkali blast, he said the authorities had a lead and were pursuing a suspect. However, he refrained from sharing any more details, saying that “Indian TV channels will tirade against me, they are only able to see either Imran Khan or Sheikh Rashid.”
Referring to the failed talks between the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the government, Rashid said: “Deadlock over negotiations with TTP came due to their unacceptable conditions.”
He said the Afghan Taliban had “played the role of a bridge” in the matter, but the talks failed because of TTP’s unacceptable and harsh conditions. “Our doors are open for the TTP if they want to approach us, abiding by the law and Constitution of Pakistan but if they will fight, we will fight back,” he warned.
Rashid further stated that after the defeat of Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security, India’s Research and Analysis Wing in Afghanistan and of 42 international forces by the Afghan Taliban, “some small groups want to create an environment of terrorism in Pakistan.”
On protest call by the opposition’s alliance towards Islamabad on March 23, Sheikh Rashid asked the opposition to review its decision to hold the march and change the date of the protest as some roads in the federal capital might be closed from March 21 in connection with the Parade rehearsal.
