ISLAMABAD: National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yusuf o Thursday asserted that organised terrorist networks were operating in Afghanistan, adding that the Afghan soil was still being used against Pakistan.
Yusuf expressed his views while briefing the National Assembly’s (NA) Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs on the internal and external security situation.
During the briefing, the national security adviser pointed out that the government was “not completely optimistic” about the arrival of the Taliban government in the war-torn country. “A complete solution to all problems should not be expected with the Taliban coming into power,” he added.
He also informed lawmakers that the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had unilaterally broken the month-long ceasefire agreement with the government. “Those who declare war on the country will be dealt with an iron fist,” he said.
Yusuf also briefed the committee about the recently approved NSP. He highlighted that former foreign affairs minister, Sartaj Aziz, had started working on forming the National Security Policy in 2014, and that seven years later the policy was ready and tabled in the Joint Parliamentary National Security Committee.
However, he maintained that the policy will not be activated until parliament approved it. The national security adviser said that the economic sovereignty and security of the country and its citizens, debt relief for independent foreign policy and the Kashmir issue were important components of the security policy. However, governance was not part of the policy yet, the NSA added.
“Promoting education, food security, hybrid warfare and eradicating organised crime are also part of the policy, which is a five-year policy”, he said, adding that it entailed both long and short-term measures.
Meanwhile, in a tweet, Yusuf said it was a “pleasure” to brief the NA body. “Had a very productive discussion on the National Security Policy (NSP) and Afghanistan. I am grateful for the appreciation we received for our work from members of the committee,” he added.
