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Political leadership briefed on counter-terrorism strategy: Taliban a threat to country’s security, Parliament told

* Army says Taliban in control of Swat, Shangla districts
* ISI DG shows slides, charts and films to convey situation’s gravity
* Says ‘neighbours’ involved in Balochistan insurgency
* Session to continue until next Thursday

By Sajjad Malik and Muhammad Bilal

ISLAMABAD: Parliamentarians were told in an in-camera session on Wednesday that the Taliban pose a serious threat to Pakistan’s security.

Sources familiar with the proceedings told Daily Times that newly-appointed ISI Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha briefed the parliamentarians on the gravity of the threat with the help of slides, charts and films. Gen Pasha had supervised military operations in the Tribal Areas and Swat as the director general of military operations before he was promoted.

Swat and Shangla: He told the parliament that the Taliban had gained complete control over certain districts, including Swat and Shangla, and that the armed forces were trying to contain their influence. The military was capable of dealing with the threat, he said, but also told the public representatives about the difficulties it was facing in the operation.

Gen Pasha explained the methods the Taliban and terrorists employ to brainwash and train young people and use them against Pakistan’s military. He also told the parliament about the torture methods they used on abducted soldiers that included throwing acid in their faces.

The sources said the participants were disturbed by the grim details and most of them remained silent during and after the briefing. Gen Pasha said 1,368 troops had died in the fight since 2001, and the military had killed 2,825 Taliban and terrorists including 581 foreigners.

Some of them were crossing into Pakistan from Afghanistan to fight Pakistani troops in Bajaur, Gen Pasha said, adding that the US and Afghan authorities had been informed.

He said the rules of engagement with the US-led forces in Afghanistan clearly state that only Pakistani forces would take action against targets inside Pakistan, but the US forces had committed 35 aerial incursions into Pakistan so far.

Balochistan: The new ISI chief told the parliament that some of Pakistan’s neighbours were involved in the current unrest in Balochistan, and that certain western think tanks were fuelling the insurgency. The insurgents were systematically destroying gas and power installations to harm Pakistan’s economy. He did not talk about the sources of funding of the fighters in FATA, the NWFP and Balochistan, the sources told Daily Times.

Session: The session was then adjourned to meet at 11am today (Thursday) for a question-and-answer session followed by a general discussion not including military leaders, starting on Monday. The parliamentary session is likely to continue until next Thursday, the sources said. The government will then set up a committee consisting of one member from each political party to formulate policy recommendations. The president, the prime minister and the army chief met after the briefing.

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