Pakistan`s new security policy seeks to root out terror outfits

Pakistan is working on a new security policy document which will seek to disband militant outfits which were involved in terror attacks.

Islamabad: Pakistan is working on a new security policy document which, among other measures, will seek to disband militant outfits which were involved in terror attacks in neighbouring countries, including India, a media report said on Saturday.

The national security policy is being thrashed jointly by the military and civilian experts and its basic thrust is to root out militancy. "The five-point new national security policy would include dismantling of the terror network, containment of terrorists, prevention of extremism, educating people about the menace and reintegration of extremists into the society," reported The New International. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has asked for the formulation of the policy as he believes that peace and stability was the first step for reviving the stalled economic development. The new policy will be more comprehensive and will also revamp the intelligence agencies which will be directly supervised by the Prime Minister. Dozens of militant groups active in Pakistan not only attack its security forces and civilians but also the neighbouring countries, the report said. Afghanistan, India, Iran and China -- the four bordering nations to Pakistan -- have complained at different occasion being attacked by the militants from Pakistani soil, it added. Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) was involved in the tragic Mumbai attacks of 2008 which killed at least 166 people. The work on the policy was expedited after Sharif returned from China last week where he was confronted with a number of security related concerns during high level meeting to increase economic cooperation between the two countries. Sharif visited the headquarters of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) on Thursday and remained there for more than five hours to get briefings on the security situation. He paid a visit to the ministry of interior yesterday and was briefed about the law and order situation and preparatory work on the national security policy. PTI