Tarar calls for stronger narrative battle against terrorism
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has stressed that Pakistan’s fight against terrorism must go beyond security operations and include efforts to counter extremist narratives, misinformation and disinformation.
Addressing a capacity-building workshop in Islamabad, Tarar said Pakistan had made significant progress against terrorism through the National Action Plan and coordinated efforts by the federal and provincial governments, armed forces and other institutions.
He said terrorism had been largely contained by 2017, but a subsequent policy reversal weakened counter-terrorism efforts. Tarar called for continuity in national policies and consensus among political parties on issues of national importance.
The minister said Pakistan also needed to strengthen the legal and institutional framework against cybercrime, misinformation and online extremist content. He highlighted the government’s Digital Communication Department, which uses artificial intelligence-based monitoring and speech-to-text technology to track emerging narratives.
Tarar maintained that terrorism has no religion, colour or race and said the state would not tolerate attempts to impose ideologies through violence.
He also highlighted Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war against terrorism, saying thousands of security personnel and civilians had lost their lives. According to Tarar, Pakistan’s experience demonstrates that the battle of perceptions often begins before an actual conflict.
He further said Pakistan had made diplomatic gains and improved its international image through effective communication and what he described as the “power of narrative”.
Tarar urged political parties and state institutions to develop consensus on counter-terrorism policies so that national strategies could continue regardless of changes in government.
