Terror strike

The suicide attack on a security convoy in North Waziristan this past Saturday, which claimed the lives of thirteen Pakistan Army soldiers and injured three civilians, including two children, is yet another brutal reminder that the terror threat is alive and kicking -- and murdering our people. The TTP, brutal and a proxy for foreign terror interventions, quickly claimed responsibility for the assault. Pakistan’s military has laid the blame squarely on India, accusing it of orchestrating the attack through proxies. India has denied these allegations, but the gravity of Pakistan’s claim and the ISPR’s unambiguous language should not be ignored. The Pakistani military has accused India of backing militant outfits such as the TTP and Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) -- both of which have been involved in repeated attacks against Pakistani forces and civilians. Indian state support, whether logistical, financial or tactical, has become more pronounced especially after India’s setbacks in regional influence and recent confrontations with Pakistan.

COAS Field Marshal General Asim Munir has vowed an unrelenting campaign against all facilitators and perpetrators of terrorism. The importance of enhancing the institutional capacity of civilian law enforcement -- particularly the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police -- should resonate as a call to action. As much as the military’s efforts are vital, no counterterrorism strategy can succeed without a capable, professional and well-resourced police