Pakistan's 'war on terror' resulted in much more loss of lives than 9/11: Pak interior advisor

Islamabad, Jan.30 (ANI): In an effort to garner the support of the international community over its war on terror, Pakistan has claimed that the loss of life and property in its war on terror, inside its territory, is much bigger than the 9/11 incident.

Addressing the Upper House, on the steps initiated by the government to tackle the recent upsurge in extremism in the tribal regions, Pakistan's Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior, Rehman Malik said that the government has changed its strategy to tackle the menace.

"We have changed the strategy to combat militants in the Valley only a week back. We are concerned about death of civilians. The life losses in Pakistan are much bigger than of the 9/11 incident," The Nation quoted Malik, as saying.

Taking a firm stand on the issue, he warned that the authorities would be taking some serious steps to root out militants from the Swat Valley, and ensure peace and prosperity in the region.

Malik urged the militants to lay down their arms and join mainstream politics in the country inorder to solve the issue, rather than trying to run a parallel government.

"Militants of the Swat Valley should lay down their arms and enter into the mainstream politics or leave the Valley. Otherwise, they would have to face consequences in the coming days," Malik said.

However, he also made it clear that the authorities are pursuing the policy of 3Ds (Dialogue, Development and Deterrence) to tackle the menace in the tribal areas and other restive parts of the North West Frontier Province, as war is not an answer to the problem.

Malik said an all out military operation against the extremists would only aggravate the problem and result in more loss of human life. (ANI)