Counterterrorism Policy Dialogue Calls for Comprehensive, Indigenous, and Coordinated Approach

Islamabad: A Counterterrorism Policy Dialogue aimed at fostering informed debate and generating practical policy recommendations for the Government of Pakistan was held at Islamabad. The dialogue was jointly organized by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), Islamabad, in collaboration with the BNU Centre for Policy Studies.

The event brought together security experts, academics, and journalists, to assess Pakistan’s counterterrorism landscape and identify actionable pathways forward.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President of IRS, emphasized the importance of engaging Afghanistan through peaceful means to address shared security challenges. He underscored that the purpose of the dialogue was to move beyond rhetoric and develop practical, implementable policy recommendations.

Ambassador Saleem highlighted the need for Pakistan to invest in long-term societal resilience by prioritizing literacy, promoting tourism, fostering tolerance, and strengthening cultural values as essential components of countering extremism. Ambassador Mansoor Khan(Pakistan’s former ambassador to Afghanistan) provided a historical overview of terrorism in Pakistan, identifying three major waves since 2001, 2006, and 2021. He pointed out critical gaps in Pakistan’s counterterrorism policy, stressing that an effective strategy must combine kinetic operations, sustained dialogue, and social and economic integration.

Maintaining balance among these three pillars, he noted, remains a key challenge. Ambassador Khan linked regional connectivity projects such as CASA-1000 and TAPI with security, arguing that cross-border challenges must be addressed for such initiatives to succeed. He also highlighted the lack of coordination among institutions and called for trilateral cooperation between Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China, especially in light of terrorist attacks targeting Chinese interests in the region. He stressed that NACTA must play a central coordinating role in the fight against terrorism.

Dr. Rizwan Naseer, (Director of the Centre for Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism Studies-IRS) emphasized the growing threat of violent extremism and the need for evidence-based and community-focused responses. Mr.Imtiaz Gul (Executive Director CRSS) highlighted the economic cost of insecurity, noting that farmers in both Pakistan and Afghanistan have collectively suffered losses of nearly USD 800 million.

He criticized the absence of civilian ownership of counterterrorism policy, observing that no single entity has effectively occupied this critical space. Professor Samina Yasmeen(Professor Emerita and Director, Centre for Muslim States and Societies, University of Western Australia) challenged traditional narratives about Balochistan, stating that the province is no longer entirely dominated by sardars. She emphasized the crucial role of women in addressing social divisions and countering extremism.

Mr. Amir Rana (Director PIPS) traced the evolution of NACTA since 2009, noting its ambitious beginnings under its founder, Tariq Pervez. He criticized the stagnation of policy development, pointing out that Pakistan’s counterterrorism policy has largely remained unchanged since 2014 and has failed to evolve meaningfully.Dr. Rakesh Parkash (Director at NACTA) highlighted NACTA’s engagement with 49 stakeholder agencies and drew attention to emerging challenges, including the proliferation of leftover NATO weaponry and the growing use of cryptocurrencies in terror financing. While acknowledging NACTA’s reliance on kinetic approaches, he stressed that non-kinetic strategies are equally vital.

Mr.Iftikhar Firdous (Founder & Executive Editor, The Khorasan Diary) called for indigenous mechanisms to counter extremism and referenced regional examples, including China’s handling of tribal dynamics, while questioning how NACTA is addressing the evolving threat of IS-K. Mr. Aarish Ullah Khan(Editor Publications & Head of Afghanistan Program at IRS) outlined NACTA’s strengths, such as its efficient control rooms, but emphasized the urgent need for a more effective diplomatic approach toward Afghanistan. The dialogue concluded with a consensus on the need for an inclusive, indigenous, and coordinated counterterrorism framework that balances security operations with socio-economic and diplomatic initiatives.