Army conducts 22,714 operations over six months

PESHAWAR: Around 1,063 incidents of terrorism occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan during the last six months of this year. During this period, the Pakistan Army conducted 22,714 operations in which 111 soldiers and officers were martyred while 354 terrorists killed.

Top security officials while giving an in-camera briefing here on Saturday said the Pakistan Army was conducting 126 operations every day, so every hour there were five operations in which action was taken against terrorists, but they conceded that despite these efforts, terrorist incidents were taking place. “The nation fights terrorism while the army fights terrorists. We are fighting but is the nation also fighting?” they questioned.

A senior military officer said 13 anti-terrorism courts functioned in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while nine courts were established in Balochistan; similarly, there were 23 courts in Punjab and 32 in Sindh, even though the majority of incidents of terrorism were happening in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. He said despite 126 operations and five operations every hour and martyrdoms, terrorist incidents were happening, which meant that they were being financially supported. Resources are being provided to them so that the ongoing terrorism in the country does not end.

“Only 217 terrorists were sentenced and only 24 cases were related to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. As many as 605 terrorism cases are pending in courts, of which 48 in Punjab, 195 in Balochistan, 208 in Sindh and 154 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he said, adding that 13 anti-terrorism courts were functioning in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while nine courts were established in Balochistan. Similarly, 23 courts are working in Punjab and 32 in Sindh. The total staff of the Counterterrorism Department in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is only 536, who lack funds and modern weapons.

The official said the illegal spectrum of smugglers, drug dealers and criminal elements were involved in terrorism to safeguard their activities. These elements have engaged the forces in fighting terrorism. Money is collected from oil smuggling, illegal importation of non-customs-paid vehicles and illegal trade in tobacco and cigarettes. The same illegal money is converted into dollars and sent abroad. He said electricity worth 1.6 billion rupees was stolen every day, arrears of 1,049 billion rupees had been accumulated and 335 billion rupees arrears had been accumulated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The senior officer claimed that the problems could end but there were different issues, including the long Afghan border, while the Afghan government did not want to pay attention to the border. Also the criminal justice system had failed to deliver speedy justice so that terrorists could be swiftly punished. The mafia has engaged the security forces through terrorists to keep their illegal business running. High officials in the administration are bought off with bribes while political parties give them protection.