In Pakistan, where is the lesson-learning post intelligence and security failures?

Pakistan bleeds as relentless waves of deadly attacks have shaken faith in its law enforcement once more. Mastung mourns 52 precious lives lost to a brutal suicide blast on September 29, while Hangu grieves four innocent people taken by explosions. These horrors unfolded on sacred days when security should have been impregnable.

Pakistanis have the right to know how long they must continue to mourn mass deaths. It has been more than two decades since Pakistan has been dealing with compromised security. Most foreign travellers dare not visit, and our law enforcers die every day fighting against an unknown enemy. Our strategy’s failure is written on the wall and yet we continue to boast about our “resolve to meet the enemy with an iron hand.”

Though perpetually in the pursuit of militants, Pakistan has yet to see anybody going to the gallows through due process of law. There are deaths through alleged encounters and their identities remain shrouded. Only a few TPP leaders have died in drone attacks. 

The state must accept that it is fighting a war against its own people, and this will always be tough. The simple truth is that one death breeds 10 more, and with complete disharmony among various agencies, no one has a clear idea about who is deciding what needs to be done, why and where.

The analysis of any failure is of paramount importance for better future combat. One doubts whether any such exercise is ever undertaken. How long will we continue to fight this way, blind and non-strategically?

Are the attackers outsmarting our intelligence, or are Pakistan’s defenders struggling to match evolving threats? Now, it's time for our agencies to shift focus. There is no more time for optics; it's about dismantling these perilous groups, despite their small size, as their potential for destruction is vast. 

Instead of meticulously planned strategies, law enforcers resort to knee-jerk, reactive responses. It's as if they believe that spontaneity trumps careful planning. 

Dr Syed Kaleem Imam

Consider the irony here: In the shadows of these attacks, we find a spectrum of roles that include planners, financiers, individuals with the skills to manufacture improvised explosive devices (IEDs), those responsible for transportation, handlers who guide the execution, and local facilitators who provide support with alarming impunity functioning seamlessly, often across borders and jurisdictions. This highlights a glaring gap in our counterterrorism efforts – the ability of these networks to adapt and evolve notwithstanding our so-called best efforts to disrupt them.

Sadly, there is another dimension of the episode: The blasts happened in the afternoon in one part of the country, while other cities continued to commemorate the sacred day with the same zeal, pomp and show. Nowhere was an iota of remorse visible. Condolence prayers were not held anywhere.  

The government remained oblivious, taking no responsibility. The National Security Committee and National Action Plan seem to have become lost somewhere. 

Isn’t it time to examine the underlying factors that allow these networks to thrive here? Isn’t it time to target radicalization, address socioeconomic disparities, and improve international cooperation to unravel the mystery behind these meticulously planned acts of violence?

In grand narratives crafted by TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsud, he manages to entice unemployed youths into the ranks of his group, offering them salaries that outshine those of many educated individuals in urban areas. It's a version filled with allure, where the fact that these groups engage in extortion with leading businesses is but a footnote.

Nevertheless, the real conundrum lies in the approach of our law enforcement and security apparatus. Instead of meticulously planned strategies, they often resort to knee-jerk, reactive responses. It's as if they believe that spontaneity trumps careful planning. In this curious world, these tactics seem to yield minimal results, creating a striking comparison between noble chronicles and the harsh realities on the ground. Truly thought-provoking.

Without delay, it is imperative that every security incident undergoes a thorough after-action review. We must openly share the lessons learned with our law enforcement and security apparatus, leaving no room for the concealment of shortcomings. Let us be prepared to acknowledge when security and intelligence have failed.

Our next steps should be clear: we must focus on capacity-building and the acquisition of cutting-edge technology to prevent future attacks. Simultaneously, we must motivate our front-line personnel while enhancing the leadership's capabilities. 

Recruit locals to counter terrorism and simultaneously improve access to healthcare, education and essential services. Empower women to undermine breeding grounds for terrorism. The principles of selective policy must come to an end. Success only lies in justice across the board.

— The writer holds a doctorate in politics and international relations and has served as a federal secretary and inspector-general of police.

He tweets @KaleemImam.