THE undeniable fact is that after the US and NATO invasion of Afghanistan in September 2001, local and foreign militants intruded into the former tribal areas to seek salvation and began their terrorist activities inside Pakistan. The people of Pakistan generally, and those of KP especially, witnessed daily suicide bombings, attacks on schools, assaults on security agencies’ offices, and public recreational places. The security forces were confronted with unidentified enemies of the people of Pakistan. The political and military leadership had no option but to launch security operations against such elements to restore peace in the country. It is worth mentioning that these were security operations involving all the security forces and agencies collectively, rather than strictly military operations. However, at the request of the Federal Government, the military, due to its human resources, tactical warfare training, intelligence professionalism, and modern weapons, was at the forefront of these operations.
The Government of Pakistan launched Operation Zarb-e-Azb on June 15, 2014, in North Waziristan. Additionally, Operations Khyber I and II were launched in October 2014 and March 2015, respectively, in Khyber Agency. Operation “Radd-ul-Fasaad” or “Elimination of Strife” was launched on February 22, 2017, in response to a series of suicide attacks on Pakistan military by the splinter group of TTP called Jamatul Ahrar in 2017. This operation was country-wide rather than targeting any specific locality. The security forces launched thousands of Intelligence-Based Operations (IBOs) under the umbrella of Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad. It is worth mentioning that all these operations enjoyed the support of major political parties like PPP, PML (N), PTI, JUI, JI, etc.
The meeting held on June 22, 2024, on designing the modus operandi for Operation Azm-e-Istehkam (OAI) has some noticeable features. First, it has a constitutional basis, as the PM, as Chief Executive of the country, chaired the meeting of the Apex Committee with prominent participants such as Defence Minister Khawaja Asif , Ishaq Dar as Deputy PM, Chief Secretaries of Provinces, Inspector Generals of Police, CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz (PML-N), CM Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah (PPP), CM KP Ali Amin Gandapur (PTI), CM Balochistan, Sarfraz Bugti, COAS Gen Asim Munir, DG ISI Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum and representatives from GB and Azad J & K. Second, each Chief Minister is a member of a particular political party and commands a majority in their respective provincial assembly; hence, the mandate of the general public has been taken into account in designing the plan for OAI. Third, the civil law enforcement agency (Police) chiefs also participated and provided their respective inputs on the security situation. Fourth, Chief Secretaries, as civilian provincial chief administrators, gave their points of view. Fifth, the Army Chief and DG ISI expressed their perspectives. Sixth, it is a politically consensus-based security strategy.
Unfortunately, without understanding the rationale behind this meeting, some political pundits have started using it for political maneuvering and misleading the general masses. These political elements, who lost their constituencies and whose local populations absolutely rejected their political existence due to their faulty and dual-natured policies, have rushed to other provinces to contest elections. They have hardly one to five seats in legislative assemblies. They deliberately turn a blind eye to the following facts: 1) the non-cooperative attitude of the Taliban regime in countering TTP; 2) threats emanating from infiltration and resettlement of TTP; 3) the factor of re-emergence of surrendered militants and the reactivation of criminal elements; 4) the risky life of common citizens; 5) the risky economic security and lack of confidence among local and foreign investors due to security risks; 6) increased lootings, extortions, snatching, and other street crimes; 7) the failure of police to cope with Kacha dacoits and militants; 8) the security vacuum due to the absence of police at security checkpoints in the evening in KP; 9) the lack of local trust in police; 10) political patronage to criminal elements; 11) ignoring the tremendous social, economic, and infrastructure developments in Merged Districts; and ignoring the sacrifices of security forces and their families.
In such an uncertain security environment, no doubt, a security operation across the board is essential. However, the security engineers need to prioritize several points: 1) no displacement of the population; 2) respect for women, senior citizens and local socio-cultural norms; 3) stringent legislation to award exemplary punishment to accomplices of militants; 4) preference for IBOs; 5) an indiscriminate zero-tolerance policy for all militants and criminals across the country; 6) discouraging political interference in such operations; and 7) equipping KP Police with sophisticated weapons like night-vision guns.
The people of Pakistan need to demonstrate solidarity with their security forces to restore peace in the country. Local people must join hands with security forces to disclose the identities of rogue elements in their locality rather than sheltering them or remaining silent about their activities. They have to reject the false propaganda of certain deceptive political elements and demonstrate national resolve in support of this security operation.
—The writer is Chairman, Department of Political Science, Islamia College Peshawar.
