Rehman Malik urges government to convene a joint sitting of the parliament on security threats
Islamabad: Chairman Institute of Research and Reforms (IRR) and former Interior Minister Senator Rehman Malik has said that a doable, strategize, and a comprehensive national plan is need of the hour to cope with the escalating security threats after the ongoing unrest in Afghanistan.
He chaired and addressed a seminar organized by Center for Global and Strategic Studies (CGSS) for its interns who visited the Institute of Research and Reforms (IRR) on Friday in Islamabad. The seminar was attended by a large number of students led by Dr. Muhammad Omar Hayat, Head of Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Bahria University and management of CGSS.
Addressing the seminar, Senator A. Rehman Malik said that regionally, geographically, and politically Pakistan is an important country in the world, and being a nuclear power, it has an important place in the international community particularly among Islamic countries. He said that Pakistan has always played an important and positive role in world peace and fought the war on terror along with US. He said that the development of any country depends on its law and order situation. He said that unfortunately, we have an enemy in the shape of a neighbor that has always wanted destabilization of Pakistan. He said that India has a hand in deteriorating Pakistan’s internal security situation and is involved in terrorist activities in Balochistan for which it is using Afghan soil. He said that India’s involvement in terrorism in Pakistan was proved from the arrest of RAW agent Kulbhushan Yadav who has confessed his country’s involvement in fuelling sectarianism and ethnicity in Pakistan. He said that there is a strong nexus between Indian Agency RAW and Afghan NDS against Pakistan carrying and fuelling anti-state activities and acts of terrorism in various parts of the country. India is spreading anti-Pakistan propaganda in every international forum and politically influenced FATF against Pakistan, he added.
Rehman Malik who is the Chairman IRR also said that Pakistan is facing serious threats of violent extremism, sectarianism, terrorism, militancy, and external interference which have adversely affected our economic stability, progress, and social harmony. He said that Pakistan was pushed into the war on terror by US and in last twenty years it continued the single demand of ‘Do More’. He said that today when it has withdrawn its forces from Afghanistan leaving behind a huge mess, yet it is asking Pakistan for ‘Do More’. He said that extremism in the Pakistan region started during the war between the Soviet Union and Afghanistan causing internal security threats. Thousands of Jihadis landed in Pakistan to fight the Soviet Union and were left with nothing to do after the war, he said.
Senator Rehman Malik said that the same is being replicated today as once again, Afghanistan is advancing towards the stone ages with the unending conflict with no gain. He said that the Afghan Taliban are picking up more strength and the march towards Kabul has started and it is very alarming and the world needs to halt further bloodshed of innocent Afghans.
Former Interior Minister said that the world knows who created the Taliban, Al Qaeda, and ISIS and who are suffering for their creation today. He said that our foreign policy has failed as today we are suffering from international isolation. We faced isolation in FATF and failed to bring a resolution in UNGA against the lawless action of Indian PM Narendra Modi of scrapping the special status of Kashmir. He said that United Nations and other international organizations are monopolized by powerful countries and they veto any issue whenever they want. He said that UN is neglecting Indian Forces unprecedented brutalities in Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir and Modi’s crimes against humanity.
He said that the situation in Afghanistan will have implications on Pakistan and the government should immediately convene a joint sitting of the parliament to devise a doable, strategize, and comprehensive national plan. He said that India is not in favor of peace in Afghanistan and is using Afghanistan soil and intelligence agency RAW against Pakistan. He said that peace in Afghanistan means peace in Pakistan and that is why Pakistan has always strived for a peaceful and developed Afghanistan.
Senator Rehman Malik said that the day we prioritize our national interests over personal interests and utilize our natural resources, most of our problems and issues will end. He advised that youth play their role in nation-building and society development particularly in curbing the menace of the drug.
He felicitated the nation on Independence Day falling tomorrow on August 14th and paid rich tribute to the founders of Pakistan and martyrs of the nation. He said that because of the untiring struggle and sacrifices of our forefathers, today we are breathing in a free country. He said that lets reaffirm the commitment to the country’s prosperity, development, and peace.
The seminar was followed by an interactive session in which students asked questions about the Kashmir issue, recent Afghanistan situation, and Pakistan’s foreign policy.
Senator Rehman Malik also presented a set of his books to Dr. Muhammad Umar Hayat, Head of Department, Humanities and Social Sciences, Bahria University Islamabad and certificates and mementos were distributed among students and management of CGSS.
