THIS is apropos the recent declaration by the BRICS countries, including China, regarding their concerns against the presence of militant groups allegedly based in Pakistan as a regional security concern and called for their patrons to be held to account.

Because of our ineffective foreign policy, this statement, with China as a signatory, came as a shock rather than surprise. Last year the so-called Dawn leaks highlighted this very scenario, which we are now facing.

Instead of rejecting this statement, we should look into it realistically as not only the BRICS nations, the stance of almost the entire world is the same.

The banned organisations simply change their names and continue their nefarious work in this country.

The National Action Plan, devised after the Army Public School massacre has never been put into effect in letter and in spirit.

Now with China joining India on this issue, we must evaluate where we stand. It is the need of the hour to eliminate these parasites from our soil once and forever. The statements of victory in Zarb-i-Azab and the likes sound hollow unless and until these militants are eliminated.

It’s now or never.

Jaffar Naqvi
Lahore