Muqaddam Khan
OWING to Indian-backed Afghan proxies and burgeoning terror nexus, the militant attacks surged in Pakistan, forcing its security forces to intensify operation against terrorists. In the last three months, the militants struck Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank, Hangu, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan, Kurram, North Waziristan and several terrains of Balochistan, martyring several innocent people and targeting both security forces and police. The intense military operations, in which heavy weapons were also used by commandos, the Counter-Terrorism Department and security forces indicated how well-trained the militants were and how determined they were to fight Pakistan’s security forces.
The militant groups operate from Afghanistan under a well-planned strategy. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and other militant groups have used Afghan’s soil as a launchpad to bleed Pakistan, retreating after attacks to their safe heavens in Afghanistan. The militant attacks are aimed to demoralize the security personnel and harm their spirit to fight militancy. Continued militant activities reveal that our policy against terrorism should be revisited. Numerous regions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have become hotbeds of militancy since the Afghan Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in August 2021. The TTP, Balochistan Liberation Army and Majeed Brigade have carried out well-coordinated activities aimed at destabilizing Pakistan.
Looking at the militants’ resurgence, we should learn three valuable lessons from continued bloodshed. Firstly, the militants who have carried out various ghastly attacks and inflicted unbelievable damage on Pakistan could not operate without an organized network. They operate in multiple layers. There is a dire need for an impeccable intelligence mechanism to dismantle their networks and deny them space to materialize their plans by pulling the trigger. Militancy cannot survive without a solid network and that network should be struck so hard that it is unable to raise its head again in the future.
Secondly, the sleeper cells of the militants remain intact, while terrorist outfits operating from safe havens across the border have developed a sound digital intelligence network. They receive support from India, Israel, Afghanistan and some other powerful countries to keep destabilizing Pakistan and Afghanistan, embroiling Islamabad and Kabul in a protracted conflict to achieve their global objectives. The sleeper cells coordinate and pinpoint the exact locations for attacks and only after that the militants execute their plans with full force. In fact, the militants have abettors within our society.
It is very important for Pakistan’s military and intelligence apparatus to identify and root out these sleeper cells. Only then can we succeed in eliminating militancy. Thirdly, using sophisticated drone technology requires professional expertise, and militants cannot develop such networks without external support. They have used drones to target security forces and strategic installations. To counter this modern technology, we should equip our security forces with the latest technology and sophisticated training to avoid further bloodshed while foiling terrorist attacks. In addition, our society is weakened by internal divisions and political differences. It is vital to strengthen national unity and our frail economy, as these weaknesses pose a grave threat to our existence. If Pakistan builds a sturdy economy, we will be in a stronger position to fight militancy.
Our leaders and rulers should not be at loggerheads with each other. We must create unity in our ranks. Tackling terrorism, we need a collective wisdom and work with a complete determination. The unprecedented rise in terrorist attacks also requires us to work collectively for the prosperity of our motherland and nation-building, upholding the principles of patriotism while setting aside all other desires and differences. Then no one can defeat us.
—The writer is a KP-based freelance journalist.
