Tarar calls for unified policy to win Pakistan’s ‘war of perception’

Speaking at a capacity-building workshop organised by the Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO) in Islamabad, Tarar said Pakistan’s

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has said Pakistan’s fight against terrorism must go beyond security operations and include a sustained effort to counter extremist narratives, misinformation and negative perceptions.

Speaking at a capacity-building workshop organised by the Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO) in Islamabad, Tarar said Pakistan’s experience had demonstrated that the battle for public perception often began before a conflict reached the battlefield.

He stressed that information managers and narrative builders had a crucial role in bridging the gap between perception and reality, particularly in the fight against terrorism.

Tarar recalled the security challenges Pakistan had faced in Karachi and parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, saying the National Action Plan had brought federal and provincial governments, the armed forces and other institutions together against militancy.

According to the minister, Pakistan had made substantial progress in combating terrorism by 2017, which helped improve security conditions and encouraged investment in the country. However, he said a subsequent policy shift weakened the gains achieved through years of counter-terrorism efforts.

Tarar maintained that the policy reversal had damaged the campaign against terrorism and said political parties should have been consulted before major changes were introduced.

The minister also highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic achievements, saying the country had strengthened its international standing and played a role in mediation efforts. He said Islamabad was working to improve Pakistan’s global image through effective communication and strategic narrative-building.

Tarar emphasised that terrorism could not be associated with any particular colour, race or religion, asserting that the state would not allow violent groups to impose their ideologies.

He called for further strengthening the legal framework of the National Action Plan and urged the federal and provincial governments and other state institutions to maintain coordinated efforts against terrorism and extremism.

The minister also stressed the need for continuity in national policies, saying political forces should develop consensus on key security and counter-terrorism strategies.

Referring to the Pahalgam attack and the tensions that followed between Pakistan and India, Tarar said the struggle to shape international and public perceptions had started even before any military confrontation took place.