BRUSSELS: The European Parliament has rebuked Pakistan for what it terms slow progress in the fight against Taliban militancy in the country and directed the European Commission to re-evaluate the size and objectives of its financial aid to Islamabad based on its “sincere efforts” to eradicate terrorist groups.
The European Parliament issued two declarations on Friday reprimanding Pakistan about the dangers posed by the Taliban and calling for urgent measures for the security of the European Union (EU). Noting that Pakistani militants are a major threat to Europe and the world, it instructed the commission to re-evaluate its financial aid, in accordance with the ‘sincere’ efforts of the Pakistani government to eradicate terrorist groups.
Also, noting that, “elements of the Pakistani intelligence and security services are suspected of giving practical and financial support to terrorist groups,” the European Parliament expressed concern over what it termed Taliban sympathisers infiltrating the Pakistani military, intelligence and other security establishments. “Taliban militants are continuously attempting to gain control over nuclear warheads, which clearly poses a threat for Europe and the world,” the Parliament said.
The Parliament sought to appoint senior security experts to undertake a thorough study of the present security situation in the region and called on the Pakistani government to do more to tackle extremism. It also asked EU member-states to assist in preventing extremist indoctrination, rooting out the extremist infiltration of security services and closing training centres used by groups for terrorist missions abroad.
Terrorism and extremism are not just threats to the stability of Pakistan, said the parliament, but also to the rest of the world. It said all EU operations and missions in the region must be manned by trained personnel equipped to handle chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear terrorism.
The European Parliament issued two declarations on Friday reprimanding Pakistan about the dangers posed by the Taliban and calling for urgent measures for the security of the European Union (EU). Noting that Pakistani militants are a major threat to Europe and the world, it instructed the commission to re-evaluate its financial aid, in accordance with the ‘sincere’ efforts of the Pakistani government to eradicate terrorist groups.
Also, noting that, “elements of the Pakistani intelligence and security services are suspected of giving practical and financial support to terrorist groups,” the European Parliament expressed concern over what it termed Taliban sympathisers infiltrating the Pakistani military, intelligence and other security establishments. “Taliban militants are continuously attempting to gain control over nuclear warheads, which clearly poses a threat for Europe and the world,” the Parliament said.
The Parliament sought to appoint senior security experts to undertake a thorough study of the present security situation in the region and called on the Pakistani government to do more to tackle extremism. It also asked EU member-states to assist in preventing extremist indoctrination, rooting out the extremist infiltration of security services and closing training centres used by groups for terrorist missions abroad.
Terrorism and extremism are not just threats to the stability of Pakistan, said the parliament, but also to the rest of the world. It said all EU operations and missions in the region must be manned by trained personnel equipped to handle chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear terrorism.
