Last year’s alarming rise in terror attacks shows no signs of abating in 2024.In January alone, at least 93 militant attacks, a staggering 102 per cent increase from the previous month, martyred around 90 people and injured an estimated 135. The ongoing spate of attacks underscores the pressing need to revitalize anti-militancy efforts. Just this past Thursday (February 1), multiple blasts were reported in different parts of Balochistan leaving at least one person dead and injuring four others. These attacks come less than a week before the country is supposed to head to the polls on February 8 and 21 of the attacks in January reportedly targeted political candidates leaving at least two candidates, one a prominent youth leader from Bajaur and the other an independent candidate from North Waziristan, dead and several others narrowly escaping harm. The vast majority of last month’s attacks and deaths have occurred in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (including the newly-merged districts of former Fata).
Experts have pointed to the ability of insurgent groups to find sanctuary across the western border in Afghanistan, following the return of the Afghan Taliban to power, as among the key factors behind the terror resurgence. In this regard, Pakistan has asked the Afghan authorities to take immediate and effective action against terror entities and hand over their leaders to Islamabad. There is also the matter of ‘third countries’ and their involvement in terror activities in Pakistan along with other neighbouring countries such as Iran. This was a concern highlighted last week by the Iranian foreign minister during his visit to Pakistan this week, with the two countries agreeing to enhance security cooperation in view of the common threat. However, while cross-border cooperation is an important element when it comes to confronting a transnational threat, it will remain our own counter-terrorism efforts that will make much of the difference. After all, Pakistan had made significant progress in eradicating the terror threat prior to the fall of Kabul.
Aside from changes in the regional scene, there was back-tracking at home that has now cost us dearly. The PTI government’s decision to re-engage with the TTP, bypassing parliament, proved to be disastrous. If attempts to deal with terrorists ending in disaster evoke a sense of Groundhog Day it is because governments preceding the PTI had tread this path before. That the PTI, and those who supported its course, did not learn from past mistakes appears to have brought the security situation back to square one. All those stakeholders who are responsible for this ill-thought-out policy should answer for their mistakes. In the immediate-term, Pakistan must strengthen its internal defences. Our efforts to defeat terrorism need to be better organized, which will require strengthening Nacta. In particular, the role of the police as our first line of defence against terrorism must be recognized and they must be equipped with training, equipment and other resources that allow them to cope with such an important role. In the long run, we must go deeper and address the causes that lead so many young men to the path of terror. It is no coincidence that the parts of the country most at risk from terrorism also tend to be its most economically marginalized. Our leaders will have to do a better job of uplifting these areas in order to counter extremism on a more permanent basis. Such long-term policies, however, are only possible with stability at the top. This will require democratically legitimate governments, more independent institutions and a parliament that is not left out-of-the-loop again.