Cornered Sharif Finally Wakes Up, Tells Army To Act Against Terrorists Or Face International Isolation

In an unprecedented move, the Pakistani Prime Minister has asked the country's Army and intelligence agency ISI to act against terrorist groups or face international isolation.

AP/ File

According to Dawn, the government informed the military leadership of a growing international isolation of Pakistan and sought consensus on several key actions by the state.

The report says Punjab chief minister and brother of Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif confronted the ISI during the meeting.

EPA/ File

Following the development it was agreed that ISI DG Gen Rizwan Akhtar, accompanied by National Security Adviser Nasser Janjua, will travel to all four provinces with a message that military-led intelligence agencies are not to interfere if law enforcement acts against militant groups that are banned or until now considered off-limits for civilian action.

AFP/ File

It has also been agreed that fresh attempts will be made to conclude the Pathankot investigation and restart the stalled Mumbai attacks-related trials.

This comes in the backdrop of Pakistan realising that its position in the international scene is weakening.

In a separate high level meeting, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry informed the civil and military leadership that relations with US have deteriorated and will likely further deteriorate because the country has failed to act on the Haqqani network.

He also told the leadership that despite Chiana putting on technical hold a UN ban on Jaish-i-Mohammad leader Masood Azhar, they have questioned the logic of doing so repeatedly.

AP/ File

The ISI leadership which asked about what can be done was categorically told that the principal international demands are for action against Masood Azhar and the Jaish-i-Mohammad; Hafiz Saeed and the Lashkar-e-Taiba; and the Haqqani network.

If Pakistan decides to act on the conclusions of the meeting, it will signal a paradigm shift in the country's policy which has for many years safeguarded 'good terrorists', despite mounting international pressure.

However the feasibility of any such action, if ever it happens is yet to be seen, considering how close some of these groups and individuals are with the civilian and military leadership.