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Security forces need capacity building: PM

* Gilani says international community must step forward to help Pakistan

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: While terrorists are launching attacks out of “desperation”, security forces have the “will, resolve and ability” to defend Pakistan, but law-enforcement agencies lack the capacity, said Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday.

“We have the will, the resolve and the ability to fight this war, but we lack the capacity. The world should help us build the capacity of our law-enforcement agencies,” Gilani told journalists after addressing the ‘Green Journalists Award’ distribution ceremony.

The prime minister blamed the previous regime for pursuing a “dual policy of running with the hare and hunting with the hound”.

“We are serious and committed to eradicating terrorism. Our forces have captured and cleared terrorists’ strongholds. The situation will return to normal soon,” he said.

Gilani said terrorists initially targeted law-enforcement forces to weaken their resolve, but “they could not deter the resolve of our forces. He said terrorists then started targeting innocent civilians out of desperation.

“The Taliban [after being defeated] have shifted to other places, but they will not be safe anywhere,” he said.

Referring to reports that the US president is calling on Pakistan to do more, Gilani said Pakistan was doing its best within available resources. “The US should do more now, and help build the capacity of our forces ...US National Security Adviser James Jones shared the contents of a letter with me and the political and military leadership. There was no ‘do more’ policy in it. We are fighting our own war,” he said.

The prime minister said the capacity building of law-enforcement agencies would cost Rs 25 billion – the first instalment of which had already been disbursed.

Replying to a question about providing evidence of India’s alleged involvement in the unrest in Balochistan, Gilani said a decision on the matter would be made at an appropriate time.

Replying to a question about a cabinet reshuffle or an expansion, the prime minister said it was a routine matter that had been approved by the Pakistan People’s Party central executive committee.

According to the APP news agency, Gilani said the government was committed to providing all necessary resources to the Pakistan Navy to build its capacity. The commitment came at a meeting with Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Noman Bashir.

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