APS tragedy

Ten years ago, the nation was rocked by the unspeakable tragedy of the Army Public School (APS) attack in Peshawar. On December 16, 2014, six terrorists stormed the school, killing nearly 150 innocent students and teachers. The youngest victims -- many under the age of 18 -- are forever etched in the memory of Pakistan. The emotional weight of the tragedy was summed up in the poignant phrase, ‘The smallest coffins are the heaviest’. It is a pain no parent should ever have to bear, and a loss no community should ever endure. In the aftermath, the nation vowed to ensure that such a brutal attack would never happen again. The political and military leadership united to devise the National Action Plan (NAP), a 20-point strategy aimed at eliminating terrorism in all its forms. Operations like Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad followed, and significant progress was made in neutralising terrorist organisations. However, ten years later, the nation finds itself confronting the reality that many of the commitments made in NAP remain unfulfilled, and the threat of terrorism continues to cast a shadow over the country.

On the 10th anniversary of the APS tragedy yesterday, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the martyrs, reiterating the importance of unity in the fight against terrorism while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur reflected on how the APS tragedy had laid the foundation for a united front against terrorism, but the unity he refers to remains elusive. One of the most pressing issues when reflecting on the APS attack and its aftermath is the proper implementation of the National Action Plan. Much remains to be done, particularly in the areas of counterterrorism measures and societal reform. Nacta, the National Counter Terrorism Authority, was tasked with leading the charge against extremism, yet its full potential remains untapped. In particular, the commitment to curbing literature, media, and publications that promote hatred, sectarianism, and intolerance has seen little impact.

The re-emergence of the TTP is a stark reminder that terrorism has not been eradicated. Equally important is the commitment to ensuring religious tolerance and the elimination of persecution. Another area where progress has been slow is the regulation and reform of madrassas. While there was an agreement to register and regulate religious seminaries, this issue continues to stir political controversy, particularly between the government and the JUI-F. The promised reforms in Fata, particularly with regard to the repatriation of internally displaced persons (IDPs), remain unfulfilled as well. Perhaps most troubling is the lack of progress in overhauling the criminal justice system, an essential aspect of the fight against terrorism. Without a fair, transparent, and swift judicial process, rule of law cannot take hold, and terrorism will continue to find fertile ground. While the leadership has repeatedly called for unity in the face of terrorism, the reality on the ground paints a different picture. The political divide, particularly between the federal government and the provincial government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, remains a barrier to achieving the united front needed to combat this scourge effectively. While tributes and remembrances serve as an important means of honouring the victims, they must be followed by action. The promises made in the aftermath of the APS attack must be fully realised, and the sacrifices of those innocent students and teachers should not be in vain.