Wrong state policies and guidelines have landed us in such a blind alley from which there is no return. Despite robust claims of our state that terrorism has been uprooted, the situation on the ground remains contradictory to what has been claimed. In simple words, terrorism is described as a strategy to employ unfair and illegal means to achieve one’s nefarious designs.
When putting a glance at the current security situation in Pakistan paints a dismal picture. The recent spate of terrorist attacks on Law Enforcement Agencies has undermined the security of the state. In this write-up, we will dissect why Pakistan has been unable to deal with the issue holistically.
The Present Situation of Terrorist Activities in Pakistan
The following paragraphs delineate the sad reality of terrorism at present in Pakistan.
Horrendous Police Lines Attack
First, in January 2023, a Peshawar Mosque bombing killed 130 people on 30 January 2023. It was claimed by TTP. It ripped through the mosque after Friday prayers. It targeted police officials.
21ST March Attack on FC
In the same way, three army personnel were killed when the convoy was attacked by militants.
Recent Martyrdom of ISI Brigadier
Likewise, the recent attack on the army soldiers left Brigadier Mustafa Kamal martyred and injured three soldiers. It is dubbed as a big loss to the security personnel of Pakistan.
Shitte Mosque Bombing
Moreover, the attack on a mosque targeting Shittes left 63 people left.It was also claimed by TTP.
Genesis
In order to treat an ailment, one may have to look at the causes which may have triggered the issue. The following paragraphs describe the factors exacerbating the situation.
Wrong Priorities by the State Authorities
When the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan, the Pakistani government and establishment were jubilating at the opportunities being offered by the changing regional dynamics. But we know how these conditions became a liability for Pakistan. There was an influx of TTP in Pakistan without any security measures. The Afghan Taliban have been showing the cold shoulder as far as the splinter groups operating from Afghan soil are concerned.
Related Resource: Worsening Political Imbroglio in Pakistan
Lacunae in the Existing Security and Intelligence System
As per the US Department of State, there were pinpointed loopholes of serious nature when the Peshawar carnage occurred. No system of surveillance and intelligence was there. CCTV cameras were out of order. No proper checking was there for the internees.
The Security Training of LAEs not At Par with the Army
Another major reason is that the training and the security paraphernalia for police and other law enforcement agencies are not as good as that of army personnel.
Absence of Any Constructive Dialogue
Last but not the least, whenever any lower strata of society raise its concerns, it is dubbed as anti-state and terrorist. Like we saw the arrest of Molvi Hidayutt Rehman arrest and the Manzoor Pahin episode validate this point.
Slaying the Beast of Terrorism of Terrorism
Following are the few pragmatic solutions to uproot the evil of terrorism in Pakistan.
The Term Terrorism Should be Clear Without Referring to Good Taliban or Bad Taliban
The first thing is that the term terrorism should be decoded in clear terms without being ambiguous. The demarcation of the boundary between good and bad Taliban should be erased. Still, some quarters in the establishment harbor a soft stance for the Afghan Taliban. This tide needs to be turned in the other direction.
Security Agencies Need to be Trained on Modern Lines
Moreover, security agencies need to be trained on Modern lines. For that purpose, regional collaboration should be enhanced. In the same way, law enforcement agencies should be equipped with modern weaponry and training.
All Provincial Stakeholders Need to be Engaged
All provincial stakeholders should be engaged on equal footing. Their genuine concerns should be addressed properly while the nefarious elements should be dealt with with an iron hand.
The Issue of Porous Border should be Lifted With Afghan Authorities Forcefully
Last but not least, the issue of porous borders and safe havens in Afghanistan should be dealt with an iron hand. The Afghan authorities should deliver a message forcefully that Pakistan will not bear the losses being incurred by its citizens.
Surveillance and Intelligence System Needs to be Strengthened
Last but not least, the surveillance and intelligence system of Pakistani agencies need to be consolidated on modern lines keeping in view the ground realities.
Wrapping Up
To sum up, we may conclude that terrorism is often perceived as a recurring phenomenon, The onus lies with the concerned authorities and especially the establishment. If we did not change our security narrative now the situation would be far worse than one can imagine. It is the right time to take concrete steps to eliminate this festering issue once and for all.