A new anti-terror offensive

After authorisation from the federal government, the army has launched Operation Raddul Fasaad following the countrywide crackdown against terrorists. The operation also entails sealing the Pak-Afghan border and raiding the training facilities on the Afghan soil along the border.

Reportedly, more than a hundred terrorists were killed during 24 hours of the initiation of the swoop.

The new offensive against terrorism launched by the army has widened the spectrum of security and counterterrorism operations by the Rangers in Punjab. The offensive is also a continuation of ongoing operations across the country with more focus on effective border security management.

The declared aim of Operation Raddul Fasaad is to consolidate the gains of the operations undertaken so far and to further strengthen border security. An added element of the operation is the countrywide de-weaponisation and explosives control.

The resurgence of terrorist attacks during the last week compelled the government and the security establishment to seal the Afghan border and hit terrorist training camps along the Pak-Afghan border after reports that those who perpetrated the dastardly attacks were based in Afghanistan. The nexus between RAW and the Afghan intelligence, NDS, was responsible for providing support to these groups.

There is no doubt that the action on Afghan soil has not been taken well by the Afghan government. This action, coupled with the sealing of the border, has further strained relations between the two countries. The truth is that Pakistan had no choice after a cold-shoulder response from Afghanistan to its repeated requests for action against the TTP operatives and other terrorist outfits who were carrying out attacks within Pakistan from Afghanistan. It simply could not afford to allow terrorists to indulge in inhuman acts with impunity.

That indeed is an unfortunate situation. Terrorism is the common enemy of both Pakistan and Afghanistan and it cannot be eliminated without the two joining hands in this regard. The ultimate reality is that both countries are destined to be each other’s allies due to their geo-strategic, economic, ethnic and religious bonds.

However, those who believe that the estrangement between Afghanistan and Pakistan and unity between India and Afghanistan is due to the lack of imagination on our part in dealing with India’s successful sabotage of Pak-Afghan coherence are trying to oversimplify things out of their naivety. They are conveniently overlooking other potent factors – strategic policies of the US in the region and its stakes in Afghanistan, weakness of the Afghan government and its inability to establish its writ and rampant corruption – that have orchestrated the Afghan disposition towards Pakistan. Pakistan is the perfect scapegoat for them.

Similarly, to express the disapproval of the action taken by our security forces against the training camps of the terrorists on Afghan soil highlights the lack of understanding of the problem in its proper context. Pakistan has all along endeavoured to remove the ambience of mistrust between the two countries, made relentless efforts to promote and facilitate the process of reconciliation in Afghanistan and offered its hand in fighting the menace of terrorism. It has always believed that peace in Afghanistan means peace in Pakistan. It has been hosting millions of Afghan refugees for decades in an attempt to show the level of brotherhood between both nations. But the Afghan government has not responded positively to any of these gestures and initiatives.

However, notwithstanding the prevailing situation, the government of Pakistan and the security establishment are still determined to work together with Afghanistan to fight against terrorism. Diplomatic contacts have been made with Afghanistan and the COAS also spoke to his Afghan counterpart in this regard. The corps commanders in their meeting also emphasised the need for cooperation between the two countries. The Afghan government needs to realise the gravity of the situation, acknowledge the mutual indispensability for tackling the phenomenon of terrorism and bring peace in Afghanistan. There is no way of ensuring the maintenance of peace in Afghanistan without the cooperation of Pakistan which the latter is always willing to extend. However, it takes two to tango.

Pakistan is faced with an extraordinary situation which warrants extraordinary responses. Fundamental rights are linked to corresponding obligations towards the state. One who challenges the writ of the state loses his/her fundamental rights and the state can take action against him/her or even take his/her life if he/she becomes a threat for the lives of other citizens and the state.

The strategy evolved by the government and the security establishment for eliminating terrorists within the country and also making the borders secure is very much warranted by the prevailing situation. It is also important from the perspective of sending a strong and unequivocal message to terrorists and their handlers that the state of Pakistan is not going to take it lying down and would take any step that it considers appropriate to protect itself, its citizens.

Operation Raddul Fasaad is a justifiable response to what has been happening in this country. It is being taken within the framework of NAP, and is designed to remove the bottlenecks that hampered the pace of its implementation. The additional cardinal of the operation – de-weaponisation across the country – is a thoughtful initiative. Easy access to weapons and explosives makes the job of terrorists and militants much easier. The operation against them must aim at closing all the avenues that help their cause.

The entire nation needs to lend its unqualified support to the government, security establishment and law-enforcement agencies to obliterate the scourge of terrorism.

The writer is a freelance contributor. Email: ashpak10@gmail.com