Resurgence of terrorism in Pakistan The third world countries are in such a complex geographical location where they have had extreme levels of terrorism for a long time. Pakistan being a very close neighbor of Afghanistan, shares a long range of border of 2640 kilometers which has proved to be a door for terrorism. After the Soviet Union’s demise, the trained Afghan combaters have been exploiting the region through Target killings and terrorist attacks. The last quarter of the year 2022 unfortunately has proved to be a most devastating period with 282 military and police among 973 total fatalities.
Several factors have collectively contributed in reorganization of terrorism, in which leading one is that Taliban regime took over Kabul yet it holds the power. Kabul-based Taliban contingent has attracted the focus of the world. Equally important is the factor of myopic Afghan policy by the State of Pakistan. The close-door-discussed Afghan policy has catalyzed the insurgency, policy should be discussed in the parliament by the people for the people.
According to some research analysts, Peace talks of 2021 successfully shaped a one-year unsuccessful ceasefire, eventually, TTP called off a ceasefire on 28th Nov 2022 resuming the terror attacks. It became soundful factor for re-emergence of terrorism. Pakistan’s weak position during peace talks gave TTP time and space to restructure and restrengthen their militant group which was further added with 22 new teams of terrorism.
Besides these factors, the deterrent factor that captured the central focus of terrorists towards the soil of Pakistan is military involvement in National Politics. Instability and a shambling economy leave a vacuum for militants to use the space to compel the government for their regional interests. Since Imran Khan’s disqualification Military has never been that much involved in politics, which caused the military to ignore the security imperatives of Pakistan. The factor of KPK’s Pashtun’s ethnic affinity with Afghanistan gives Afghan militants a route to penetrate the society of Pakistan. Recently in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Masjid was targeted killing more than 70 civilians. Unprecedent target killings are explicitly expounding the poor administration of the province. The police are ill-equipped and poorly trained, the Kpk government shouldn’t be incautious and reckless in this matter at all.
Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are the centers of terrorist attacks, in Balochistan non-state actors like BLA and BLF are in direct contest with the Pakistan military for the separation of Balochistan. Chinese Nationals are killed in project of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which portrays the vicious situation of the country. It affects the CPEC project negatively and leaves a message for the global community not to invest in and work with Pakistan.
Pakistan needs to be defensive rather than offensive in carrying out counter-terrorism measures, imbroglio has been created due to poor policy. The state of Pakistan has to be very careful in countering the real culprits and perpetrators of terrorism without harming the sinless and hopeless people of the Baloch and Kpk populations as well. Without devising a sustainable counter-terrorism policy, the kinetic and operational military campaign can not restructure terror-free Pakistan. Pakistan needs to focus on its strategic failure, in conformity with (IBOS) intelligence-based operations, that can be proved sustainable. Pakistan has failed to vanquish terrorism by not recognizing the difference between nationalists and separatists/terrorists, the state of Pakistan has suppressed the needy and sinless people of Balochistan and KPK, It’s time for Pakistan to look at its flawed national policy to combat the terrorism.
The author is an undergraduate student at the National Defence University, Islamabad. Pursuing a degree in BS Peace and Conflict Studies. Gmail: [email protected]