Militancy in Pakistan: The army can’t and shouldn’t be fighting it alone
https://arab.news/4b7b3
Pakistan is no stranger to militancy as it has been facing it for the last 40 years, and had of late, largely overcome it, albeit at considerable cost and sacrifice. But it keeps coming back, showing its ominous face, throwing the country once more into its familiar struggle.
Pakistan is located in a sensitive geo-strategic area armed with nuclear weapons, with over 220 million people and a hostile neighborhood. But the present coalition government facing an economic crisis, a weak political base and internal contradictions is not fully geared up to face the challenge. With these weaknesses, it is not surprising that the Prime Minister has left it to the military leadership to deal with militancy. In essence, the reliance is on kinetic operations and economic uplift of the tribal area delegated to the province and the military. Countering militancy requires a comprehensive response addressing several facets of national power, with special emphasis on improving governance.
The close association of Pakistan, especially of its military with the Afghan Taliban spanning several years and the fallout of the Kashmir struggle, has given rise to several militant groups within the country. The majority of attacks and casualties of civilians and security forces since 2007 have been committed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a composite of several militant factions. The earlier drop in its activities was largely due to the successful kinetic operations carried out against them by the armed forces in 2014, after a horrific attack on Karachi airport and the Peshawar Army Public School that killed more than 130 school children. There has been relative calm after the elimination of these TTP strongholds. A large number of terrorists were killed, and those who survived went into hiding in the border areas. Subsequent operations were designed to eliminate these groups from border areas as well.
A comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy made in consultation with major stakeholders will not only send a strong message to TTP, but further strengthen the resolve of the military.
Talat Masood
Since 2022 however, TTP has reemerged and intensified its attacks on civilian and security personnel. The recent suicide bombing in a mosque in Peshawar in which there were over 100 casualties, is a demonstration of its callous policies to destabilize and discredit the government.
More than 1,000 casualties that included 300 security personnel occurred in 2022 due to TTP and other militant attacks. As Pakistan’s Defense Minister says, this new wave is originating in Afghanistan and Taliban rulers have been looking the other way. This is a very serious and sensitive issue, and if the Taliban leadership fails to take effective measures, it could strain relations between the two countries.
The Taliban are bound by the Doha agreement not to give any space to militant organizations. Besides it is their moral and political obligation towards Pakistan, being one of the few countries that has maintained a cooperative relationship with them. Of course, the Afghan government denies any support and has been suggesting that Pakistan engage in negotiations with the TTP.
There has to be a greater level of cooperation between the federal and provincial governments in dealing with terrorist activities and combating militancy. Most of the attacks have occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, governed by political parties that are in opposition at the federal level. This makes a greater level of coordination necessary. It is also necessary that the government undertake a series of counterterrorism and security measures to combat the ideology that supports violent Islamist extremism. There has to be a program to rehabilitate militants and their sympathizers through a prisoner re-education and rehabilitation program. It is important to involve religious figures. These measures will help in promoting reform.
The economic development of the former tribal belt and restive Balochistan province is critical. Although efforts have been made to improve the economy through the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and other programs, these have been only partially successful.
The legacy of the Cold War and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan were the main contributing factors that initially promoted militancy in the region. It was supported and resourced by the West, especially the US. Pakistan’s former military rulers looking for recognition and financial assistance were only too eager to join the alliances. Even if there were other compulsions, they failed to take measures to counter militancy effectively.
The main opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) should set aside their differences with the government and participate in formulating a joint strategy to counter militancy. A comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy formulated in consultation with major stakeholders will not only send a strong message to TTP and other militant groups, but will further strengthen the resolve of the military. In fighting militancy, the military has a preponderant role, but steps to improve the living conditions of the tribal and less developed areas are equally necessary for counterterrorism capabilities to be sustainable in the long term.
- Talat Masood is a retired Lieutenant General from Pakistan Army and an eminent scholar on national security and political issues.
