**State Minister comes up with novel idea to combat terror
**
Tasneem Qureshi proposes formation of Federal Security Force (FSF)
By Shakeel Ahmad
Source: Daily News
ISLAMABAD—Federal government is likely to re-introduce Federal Security Force (FSF), formerly launched by a former Prime Minister for founder Chairman of Pakistan’s People’s Party late Mr. Zhulfiqar Ali Bhutto in the early 70s but was dismantled by the martial law regime of Late General Zia-ul-Haque, The Daily Mail has learnt on good authority. According to the sources, close to the government, Minister of State forl Interior Mr. Tasneem Qureshi, on special instructions of President Asif Ali Zardari, and Prime Minister Syed YouSaf Raza Gilani has been working on different ideas and plans to create a combat outfit to fight terrorism without engaging the country’s regular army in such unconventional fights within the borders. After working on different plans, the State Minister for Interior has come up with the final plan of re-launching of the Federal Security Force, which, in a way, would also be a tribute of the PPP government to the founder Chairman late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. However unlike Mr. Bhutto, who used FSF as a police force to control political activities against him, this time the FSF would be launched as a Paramilitary combat force to fight terrorism and militancy and instead of being placed under the Interior Ministry, it would be placed under Defence ministry and would operate by the orders of the President and Prime Minister.
The Daily Mail has learnt that the Interior Minister for State, Tasneem Qureshi who brainchild the idea of formation of FSF at first place, is basically not in greed of heading such a strong and powerful outfit under his command or his Ministry’s control but instead prefers that the Force better be under the defence ministry so that it can develop a better coordination and interaction with the regular army of the country. These sources further told The Daily Mail that the government would be having multiple aims and objectives behind the idea of the creation of FSF.
First of all it intends to relax the regular army from the counter-terror and counter-insurgency duties, secondly the government does not want the training of the troops of regular army for counter-terror operations by the US trainers and after the formation of FSF, the US may be asked by the government to extend its training courtesy to the FSF personnel. It will enable the federal government to avoid a comprehensive exposure of the training facilities and locations of different units of Pak Army to the US trainers and instructors. The formation of FSF would also enable the federal government to pull out FC and ranger personnel from security duties outside sensitive buildings and offices in federal capital and other major cities across the country. Furthermore the FSF would be trained to specialize in Guerilla Warfare and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) while the regular military training would be primary training.
It is learnt that government plans that instead of giving funds to the provincial government to recruit new police men, would rather allocate al the province the services of FSF. The Daily Mail has learnt that it is being planned that the FSF recruitment would be made from all the four province and the FATA as well as Azad Kashmir while the formula of recruiting, created by a former director of the former FSF Mr, Manzoo Ilahi Makhdoom would also be followed under which major recruitments in the then FSF were made from the Malakand Division. There would be a 10 percent quota for the ex-army men while another 10 percent would be reserved for serving army personnel. The proposed FSF would be having three wings initially that include the Training Wing, The Operations Wing and the Intelligence Wing.
The Intelligence Wing would be headed by a senior ISI official and it would work in collaboration and subordination of ISI while the Training Wing and operations Wings are likely to be headed by 2-Star army officer and all the three wings would be under the command of a 3-Star army officer. It is believed that in the FSF the officers would be inducted from the armed forces on deputations and police establishment while the other ranks would comprise of freshly recruited personnel. According to the sources, the recruiting of major number of soldiers from Malakand, North Waziristan and South Waziristan Agencies would enable FSF to have personnel in its ranks that would be well aware of the area and climatic conditions as well as having a sufficient knowledge of the possible hideouts of the militants.
It is believed that certain armed fighters that joined militants against their will can also be inducted in FSF after they surrender and are screened clear by the intelligence authorities. The Daily Mail has learnt that certain American officials are also appreciative of idea of creation of such a counter-terror and counter militancy Force and believe that it can be a role model for countries having such problems. There is every likelihood that the Americans would be having no hesitation for providing Pakistan with funds and weapons as well as training services for the creation of such an outfit. It is learnt that initial strength of this Force could be anywhere between 10,000 to 20,000 while the ultimate aim would be to raise its strength to at least one hundred thousand. The Daily Mail has learnt once the training is completed, certain battalions of the FSF would be posted permanently in the Malakand, South Waziristan and North Waziristan Agencies and also along the Pak- Afghan border while the rest would be deployed in different parts of the country on when and if needed basis.
It is learnt that the FSF can be created by a Presidential Ordinance or the government can go for a legislation in the Parliament. The Daily Mail has also learnt that the government is also considering to go for a legislation through which all the bomb blasts, suicide attacks, killing of federal government employee(s) would be declared federal crimes and only federal agencies would investigate such crimes and the cases would be placed in Federal Crimes court for speedy trials in such cases. The Daily mail has learnt that Tasneen Qureshi has sent the proposal to the President’s Office and Prime minister’s Secretariat after which a final decision would take place.