—— High-level huddle agrees to counter extremist narratives through films, dramas
—— National narrative to be reinforced, digital media to counter misinformation
—— Digital media to curb misinformation, counter deepfake content
—— National curriculum to include awareness on terrorism
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: A high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to counter extremist narratives comprehensively, reinforcing the national stance against terrorism, sources said. The meeting, held here at the Prime Minister’s House on Friday, was attended by civil and military leadership, along with representatives from all four provinces, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Officials resolved to expose the perpetrators of the Jaffar Express attack and aggressively counter anti-state campaigns on traditional and digital media.
It was agreed that the National Action Plan (NAP) would be used to strengthen the national narrative, with authorities directed to develop an active and effective counter-narrative against terrorism and extremism.
The huddle also decided to prevent any content threatening national security and harmony while en-suring better coordination among provinces. To engage the youth, films and dramas will incorporate national themes to effectively counter extrem-ist propaganda.
Furthermore, digital media will be used to disseminate pro-state content and tackle misinformation, including deepfake content, with verified information. The government will also integrate terrorism awareness into the national curriculum to educate future generations about its dangers. The government’s move comes against the backdrop of increased terrorist attacks in the country with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan emerging as the worst-affected provinces.
The notable increase in violence in the country lately has ranked it as the second-most terrorism-affected country in 2024, as per a Global Terrorism Index 2025 report.
Pakistan — placed at the second spot from its previously fourth position — witnessed an alarming 45% increase in terrorism-related deaths with the total rising from 748 in 2023 to 1,081 in 2024 — one of the steepest surges globally. Earlier this month, dozens of militants, affiliated with the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), blew up a railway track and assaulted Jaffar Express, carrying more than 440 passengers — who were taken hos-tage.
The security forces, after a complex clearance operation, neutralised 33 attackers and rescued the hostage passengers.
Apart from five operational casualties, as many as 26 passengers were martyred by the terrorists, of which 18 were security personnel belonging to the Pakistan Army and the Frontier Corps (FC), three were officials from Pakistan Railways and other departments, and five were civilians. Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif presided over a key meeting attended by the federal and provincial leadership to address the ongoing threat of terrorism in the country.
The meeting, held at the Prime Minister’s House, included representatives from all four provinces, as well as Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, alongside military and civilian leaders, Express News report-ed.
The meeting focused on unveiling the attackers responsible for the Jaffar Express assault and ensuring that every effort is made to expose them to the international community.
Additionally, the participants agreed to counter anti-national campaigns on both traditional and digital media platforms effectively.
A key decision taken during the session was to reinforce the national narrative under the National Ac-tion Plan (NAP), with a mandate for the National Narrative Committee to formulate a stronger and more active narrative to counter terrorism and extremism.
The leadership also resolved to prevent the spread of any material that undermines national security and unity. It was agreed that there will be a concerted effort to prevent any content that harms the national interest, especially in the form of misinformation or propaganda.
To engage the youth, the government decided to incorporate national topics into films and television dramas that promote the national narrative and counter extremist ideologies.
All provinces have agreed to cooperate in this initiative, aiming to influence the younger generation positively.
In line with this, the meeting resolved to ensure that digital media platforms are used to spread the national message, address the negative social impacts of terrorism, and counter fake news, particularly on social media.
Additionally, the meeting emphasised combating deepfake videos and other forms of fabricated con-tent, proposing the use of credible information in response.
The leadership also decided to incorporate awareness of terrorism-related issues into the national cur-riculum to ensure future generations are educated about the dangers of extremism.
