According to him, national coordination between mosques, seminaries and religious councils could play a key role in the fight against terrorism
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi addressing a meeting of the Paigham-e-Aman committee. SCREENSHOT
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Tuesday called for stronger coordination between the state and religious scholars, urging them to play a unifying role in combating terrorism, social unrest and fitnah, while upholding a unified national message of peace and stability.
Speaking at the Paigham-e-Aman special committee meeting in Islamabad alongside Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, he urged scholars to support the state’s narrative against terrorism by issuing clear religious guidelines based on Islamic teachings.
“First of all, regarding terrorism, I would like to ask you to formulate fatwas and declarations that strengthen us, demonstrating that you are with us in the fight against terrorism,” he said. He added that scholars should refer to the Quran, Hadith and Islamic history to explain how Islam addresses fitnah that weakens the state.
“Throughout the history of Islam and Hadith, if a fitna occurs that weakens your state, how should it be handled and what are the consequences? he said, adding that the public should also be guided on how Islam addresses those who oppose or challenge the state in the context of terrorism or other forms of disorder.
Naqvi said the platform should be strengthened to become a national-level forum involving all religious councils and seminaries. He recalled that a similar proposal had already been shared in Punjab, suggesting that the initiative be extended nationally.
“If on an issue 22,000 mosques deliver a single message, there cannot be a stronger message from Pakistan,” he said, adding that the inclusion of all madrassa boards had already strengthened the forum.
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He further emphasized that the committee should not be limited to occasional religious periods but should function throughout the year through a structured coordination system.
“We will establish a coordinator. We need ulama throughout the year, not just in Ramazan or Rabiul Awwal,” he said, adding that monthly meetings should be institutionalized and regular engagement ensured.
The minister said many tensions in society stem from a lack of attention to common priorities. “In my personal analysis, when we all focus on ourselves and stop looking at others, many of our problems will be solved,” he said.
He added that states do not allow hate speech or disrespect toward other religions or sects, emphasizing the importance of responsible public communication.
Naqvi said that in regional crisis situations, Pakistan’s leadership structure plays a decisive role in managing results, comparing it to a team system where strategy is set at the top and execution happens on the ground.
“There’s a leader, there’s a captain. The leader gives direction, strategizes, gives final approval, and then the captain and the team go out on the field to get results,” he said.
Referring to tensions between the United States and Iran, he credited coordinated leadership for preventing escalation and described the role of Pakistan’s top leaders in the process.
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The Interior Minister specifically referred to the Chief of Defense Force and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, saying his credibility and reliability were recognized by all parties involved, enabling him to play a key role in communications and de-escalation efforts.
He said both sides had confidence in its neutrality, which helped Pakistan facilitate engagement during a sensitive phase of the crisis.
Naqvi also described the mediation process in detail, saying he was present in Tehran alongside Iran’s chief negotiator during high-level discussions aimed at preventing escalation. He said the situation at that time was extremely volatile, with diplomatic efforts going hand in hand with imminent military preparations.
According to his account, at one point the crisis had reached a point where escalation seemed imminent, with military assets already on alert. He said that in this critical phase, “planes were on standby and prepared for possible strikes, and missiles were ready”, while negotiations continued simultaneously in Tehran.
He added that there was only a very short window left before possible military action, but continued engagement with the Iranian side’s chief negotiator had helped keep communication open.
Through sustained diplomacy and urgent engagement, he said, the situation was brought back from the brink and escalation was avoided.
Naqvi concluded that the Paigham-e-Aman Committee should function as a continuous national platform for unity, peace and stability. Chaudhry also spoke at the meeting and supported stronger coordination between the state and religious scholars.
