A high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to address extremist narratives through films and dramas, reinforcing the national stance against terrorism, according to sources.
The meeting, held at the Prime Minister’s House on Friday, included civil and military leadership, as well as representatives from all four provinces, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Officials resolved to expose the perpetrators of the Jaffar Express attack and actively counter anti-state campaigns across traditional and digital media platforms. It was agreed that the National Action Plan (NAP) would be utilized to strengthen the national narrative, with authorities tasked with developing an active and effective counter-narrative against terrorism and extremism.
The meeting also decided to prevent any content that threatens national security and social harmony, while ensuring improved coordination among provinces. To engage the youth, films and dramas will focus on national themes aimed at countering extremist propaganda effectively.
Additionally, digital media will be leveraged to spread pro-state content and tackle misinformation, including the spread of deepfake content, by providing verified information. The government will also incorporate terrorism awareness into the national curriculum to educate future generations on the dangers of extremism.
This initiative comes in response to the rising number of terrorist attacks in the country, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which have been the worst-affected provinces.
Pakistan’s increasing vulnerability to terrorism has placed it as the second-most terrorism-affected country in 2024, according to the Global Terrorism Index 2025 report. The country saw a concerning 45% rise in terrorism-related deaths, increasing from 748 in 2023 to 1,081 in 2024, marking one of the steepest surges globally.
Earlier this month, militants from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) attacked the Jaffar Express, which was carrying over 440 passengers. The attackers blew up a railway track and took passengers hostage. After a complex clearance operation by security forces, 33 attackers were neutralized, and the hostages were rescued.
Tragically, 26 passengers were martyred during the attack, including 18 security personnel from the Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps (FC), three Pakistan Railways officials, and five civilians.
