Operation Raddul Fasaad

The countrywide resurgence of terrorism has brought with it a possible review of how to defeat the militant menace. Operation Raddul Fasaad was announced after a security meeting in Lahore chaired by Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa and attended by the DG Rangers Punjab, the corps commander Punjab, intelligence officials and the Punjab government’s director general of public relations. The presence of the Rangers was significant because the federal and Punjab governments are preparing a notification granting the Rangers authority to go after militant groups for an initial period of 60 days. Apart from continuing the operations in the tribal areas that were a part of Operation Zarb-e-Azb, Operation Raddul Fasaad is expanding the theatre of battle to urban Punjab. Southern Punjab, in particular, has long been a hotbed of militancy and the state seems to have finally realised that the threat cannot be eliminated until the fight is taken to militant outfits wherever they might be. Raddul Fasaad will be both offensive and defensive.

Protecting the border with Afghanistan, where both the TTP and the Jamaatul Ahrar have a safe haven, is supposed to be an important part of the new operation. This was meant to be the case with Zarb-e-Azb too but sealing off the border is complex and difficult given the terrain and the army will now have to do a better job of monitoring movement. The borders at Chaman and Torkham remain closed although they will eventually have to open to allow legitimate movement, which is when our border management protocols will be fully tested. The other new aspect of the operation is the focus on deweaponisation. This is a complement to the pivot to urban areas. Pakistan’s cities are awash in unregulated arms but previous deweaponisation attempts have been complete failures. At least half a dozen deweaponisation drives have been launched in the last two decades and none has made a dent in arms ownership. For this time to be any different – and indeed for the operation as a whole to succeed – there will need to be greater cooperation between the civilian government and the military. Differences in strategy and tactics should be cleared before the operation commences. Past operations have been beset by reports of differences. This time, though, there is hope that there will be better coordination and more effort at cooperation. Speaking in Ankara, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the decision to launch the operation was taken at the PM House a few days ago. There is hope that there will be better coordination and more effort at cooperation in this latest counterterror operation. With the nation under constant attack, the success of this operation cannot be jeopardised in any way.