Coordinated efforts needed to curb terrorism: Nisar

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LONDON: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said terrorism has become a global issue and coordinated efforts are needed to curb this menace.

He was speaking at the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London on Tuesday.

The Minister asked the West to refrain from imposing any solution to handle terrorism in South Asia.

He said Terrorism has its own reasons and dimensions and needs regional solution instead of any imported or imposed one for lasting peace.

Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said Islam has nothing to do with terrorism and attempts to link militancy with this great religion is unfortunate. He said international focus and cooperation must continue to eliminate the scourge of terrorism.

He stressed the Western countries to be focussed, take Muslims on board, and adopt regional approach to address this menace.

The Minister said Pakistan has successfully evolved a counter terrorism policy. He said terrorist incidents have declined in Pakistan by 38 percent last year, deaths in such incidents by 40 percent, and suicide bombings came down by 31 percent.

He said about 14,000 intelligence based operations were carried out in Pakistan during last 18 months. He said over 30 intelligence agencies were acting against terrorism.

Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said civil and military leadership is on the same page to curb terrorism from our soil.

He said Pakistan was left alone to deal with the menace of terrorism after the fall of Soviet Union and the incident of 9/11.