UNODC-PACT in collaboration with NACTA handed over 20 converted Armoured Vehicles to the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Police with the financial support of the European Union (EU)

21st June 2021, Peshawar. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Country Office Pakistan, in collaboration with the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) under the framework of Pakistan’s Action to Counter Terrorism (PACT) project handed over twenty (20) converted Armoured Vehicles to the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Police with the financial support of the European Union (EU).

The handing over ceremony, held at Central Police Office Peshawar, was attended by the EU Ambassador to Pakistan Her Excellency Ms  Androulla Kaminara, Mr Jeremy Milsom UNODC Country Representative in Pakistan, and Mr Muhammad Ali Babakhel Director General (Research) NACTA.

Ambassador Kaminara presented the keys of the 20 converted AVs of CTD KP to the newly posted Inspector General Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mr Moazzam Jah Ansari.  Before the formal handover the EU Ambassador in her speech appreciated the work of the police, specifically the CTD, as many of them have lost their lives on the front line in the fight against terrorism. She expressed her gratitude to all stakeholders of the PACT project, including KP Police, for their continued support in the implementation of activities; NACTA for providing overall guidance and oversight; and UNODC as dedicated implementing partner. She further added that ‘the PACT project in KP has been guided by the conviction that for the fight against terrorism to be effective and sustainable, it has to be conducted according to principles of the rule of law’, and  that ‘the project has contributed in two ways: on one hand it has strengthened the capacity of the law enforcement agencies and judiciary to respond to terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while on the other it has strengthened trust in these institutions’.

On the occasion Mr Jeremy Milsom reaffirmed UNODC’s continued support to the law enforcement and criminal justice agencies of the Province, and noted that the armouring of vehicles would contribute positively towards enhancing the mobility of the Police when responding to terrorist incidents. The UNODC Representative also mentioned other technical assistance provided by UNODC under the framework of PACT which included training 1,770 officials from the KP CTD, Police, Prosecution, and Judiciary. He observed that the project was indeed successful in strengthening coordination mechanisms, and has likewise improved the forensic and investigation techniques of the KP Police through provision of modern tools and techniques. Mr Milsom also mentioned UNODC’s role in a holistic future intervention in the Province under Pakistan’s Terrorism Prevention Programme signed with the Ministry of Interior, Government of Pakistan.

Mr Moazzam Ansari,  IGP KP thanked the EU for its financial contribution in converting the police’s regular vehicles into armored vehicles. He also thanked UNODC and NACTA for their overall support, and for making this activity possible. While inspecting the armoured vehicles the IG appreciated their quality and the efforts of the teams involved in the conversion; and expressed the conviction that these vehicles would enable a safer working environment for KP CTD personnel by decreasing the risk of being targetted, especially in the high risk areas of the Newly Merged Districts (NMDs, ex-FATA), while responding to terrorism related incidents.

Mr Muhammad Babakhel, DG Research NACTA highlighted the key role of NACTA, and reaffirmed its commitment to facilitating and supporting KP Police in overcoming the challenges posed by terrorism by working in close partnership with the EU and UNODC. He was certain that all stakeholders would remain proactive, and adopt strategies according to need and situation in view of the emerging developments in neighboring Afghanistan after the withdrawal of US and Coalition forces and its impact on the bordering regions of Pakistan. 

 

 

Media Coverage:

https://nation.com.pk/22-Jun-2021/un-hands-over-20-bullet-proof-pick-ups-to-kp-police

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/853041-un-office-hands-armoured-vehicles-to-police

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1538196932920768/permalink/5677364535670633/

https://www.facebook.com/unodc.pakistan/posts/1129788630852671

https://twitter.com/unodcpakistan/status/1406923366406230020?s=24

https://twitter.com/KP_Police1/status/1407362302849032200?s=19