Press Release

European Union funded Support to Pakistan's Action to Counter Terrorism with Special Reference to Khyber Pakhtumkhwa

18 July 2017, Peshawar - Today, "Understanding the Counter Terrorism Response - Case Analysis of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Report was launched by UNODC in collaboration with the Home and Tribal Affairs Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and NACTA under a European Union funded programme. 

The report was completed under the auspices of "Pakistan's Action to Counter Terrorism with a special reference to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa" projectwhich is supported by the European Union and aims to build national capacities of law enforcement and criminal justice agencies in effectively countering terrorism. 

The Home and Tribal Affairs Department of KP constituted a committee which consisted of members from the Police, Prosecution and the Judiciary who provided practical recommendations for further strengthening the criminal justice response to terrorism. 

The committee has put forward 30 recommendations which reflect the capacity, process, legislative improvements The recommendations would also act as a road-map and a cornerstone to UNODC and the  EU's intervention in the province under the "Pakistan's Action to Counter Terrorism Project."

During the report launch the UNODC Country Representative Mr. Cesar Guedes highlighted upon the importance of the recommendations and stated that an evidence based approach would continue to be adopted while delivering technical assistance for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's response to terrorism.  

Coordination both at federal and provincial levels is essential when responding to terrorism and NACTA remains committed to assist provinces in improving information sharing and for developing a collective response said the National Coordinator of NACTA Mr. Ihsan Ghani. 

This exercise serves as an example of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's strong commitment for promoting greater coordination between law enforcement and criminal justice agencies to develop a robust response to terrorism added Mr. Siraj Ahmad the Home Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkwa in his remarks. 

During the launch H.E. Mr. Jean-François Cautain, Ambassador of the European Union,stated the security is important topic in the EU-Pakistan cooperation. The Ambassador emphasized that the report launched today is the first step in implementation of 7 million euros counter terrorism project funded by the EU, and it highlights the issues that may be overcome and lead to success in fighting terrorism only by close cooperation of all criminal justice institutions in the country.

Chief Justice of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Honorable Mr. Yahya Afridi was the Chief Guest on the occasion and in his closing remarks he appreciated the assistance being rendered to the institutions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by UNODC and the EU and added that only through a collective response we can overcome the menace of terrorism. 

For further information kindly contact:

Rizwana Asad, Communications Officer UNODC via 0301-8564255, rizwana.asad@unodc.org