Recalibrating Pakistan’s counterterrorism approach is urgent given recent hijacking of the Jaffar Express and escalated threats from anti-state movements such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). Firstly, these incidents reveal weaknesses of the country’s security system as a whole and secondly, that successive governments have failed to enact any sustained and comprehensive counterterrorism policy. Military operations are important but they should not be a substitute for an integrated strategy incorporating socio political and economic aspects in order to attain a permanent solution.
It also calls for measures aimed at addressing the root causes of radicalization, something that applies in especially areas such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan where militant groups feel increasingly emboldened
Kinetic operations have been a typical but insufficient counter to terrorism for Pakistan. As stated by Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) & Interior Minister, the revised National Action Plan (NAP) will fundamentally combat the scourge of terrorism by way of concerted military action along with socio political reforms. While this strategy remains very much dependent on military operations, it also calls for measures aimed at addressing the root cause of radicalization, something that applies in especially areas such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan where militant groups feel increasingly emboldened.
The networks must be dismantled by a swift and decisive state, but that has to be backed up by longer term socio-economic efforts that lead to a resolution of grievances that fuels extremism
Tragically, it reminds us that the stakes are high in the Jaffar Express tragedy where 26 hostages including military personnel were killed. By illustrating such acts of terrorism as a manifestation of terrorist activity that is no longer limited to traditional insurgency terror, but also incorporates highly coordinated attacks and gaps in Pakistan’s security apparatus, it typifies the evolution of terrorism. The networks must be dismantled by a swift and decisive state, but that has to be backed up by longer term socio-economic efforts that lead to a resolution of grievances that fuels extremism.
With porous borders, external funding, and the use of digital platforms, these groups expanded their operations
What we see here is that TTP and BLA are taking advantage of Pakistan’s politico – security vulnerabilities to revive themselves. With porous borders, external funding, and the use of digital platforms, these groups expanded their operations by recruiting and mobilizing themselves. Looking at it in these terms, kinetic measures, still important in the sense of intelligence based operations, border security improvements and targeted military campaigns, remain indispensable.
But the state must not be biased in its management. If we deal with the physical and not the underlying causes of the militancy menace, this puts the country at risk of a perpetual cycle of violence. Significant operational successes of past military campaigns including Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad did not translate into long term peace because no substantial non-kinetic initiatives followed them. Long term stability is not something that is acquired through military victories.
Any counterterrorism strategy that intends to be sustainable has to take economic and political reforms in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on board. Extremist groups have exploited this situation by radicalising youth in these regions that are decades behind other parts of Pakistan in the matters of unemployment, limited educational opportunities and political disenfranchisment.
It is true that Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti rightly argues that grievances cannot be justified by terrorism; however, his government must first accept the fact that suppressing these grievances remains of paramount importance and is essential in avoiding radicalisation. It also requires urgent socio economic intervention in Balochistan especially in the area of infrastructure, education and political inclusion. Baloch youth education and employment will be the main step to counter the militant narratives and promote national unity.
Institutional reforms must be carried out by the government in order to rebuild the trust of the public. Credibility crisis stems from the fact that past administrations failed to fully implement the NAP, which provides discretion to anti state actors to capitalize on. This would result in bridging out this trust deficit through ensuring transparency in counter terrorism policies and engaging local communities in the security provisions.
To combat extremism, Pakistan needs to invest in counter extremism education based on critical thinking, tolerance and civic responsibility, especially at religious seminaries where the seeds of militancy are fostered
On the other hand, non-kinetic measures solve problems in a sustainable manner. Although the new NAP does recommend efforts such as de-radicalization programs, educational reforms and digital counter narratives to combat extremist propaganda, the document ends on a generalised note. To combat extremism, Pakistan needs to invest in counter extremism education based on critical thinking, tolerance and civic responsibility, especially at religious seminaries where the seeds of militancy are fostered.
The extremist recruitment on social media is a powerful means, and it needs to be combatted by an indigenous, state led response to counter radical narratives. Religious scholars, educators, civil society actors can help in bringing vulnerable population away from the extremist ideology through community engagement programs.
It is imperative for global organisations to become more proactively involved in fighting terrorism in Pakistan despite respecting human rights and state sovereignty
Furthermore, Pakistan is handicapped by the presence of external actors accused of sponsoring terrorism within Pakistan’s borders. This holds these actors accountable and mobilizes support for Pakistan’s counter terrorism efforts, and is best done through diplomatic means. It is now clear that the tools of the international community to fight against terrorism have, on the whole, not been very effective in dealing with regional conflicts. Now it is imperative for global organisations to become more proactively involved in fighting terrorism in Pakistan despite respecting human rights and state sovereignty.
It is not so much a security challenge as it is an existential struggle for the underlying national stability of Pakistan against the menace of terrorism. The kinetic operations are crucial to dealing with immediate threats but they must be placed in a broader theme of political inclusion, economic development, and educational reforms. The revised NAP provides the holistic approach while frameworks for its implementation are important to regularly implement, but the main success of it also solely relies on political will.
Eliminating terrorists kinetically must not be the state’s only aim; there must be decisive action by the state to also confront the socio-economic conditions that sustain them. To ensure that tragedies like the Jaffar Express hijacking do not become recurring events in Pakistan’s national security landscape, lasting peace and stability can only come by a multi-pronged approach.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.
