Two separate suicide terrorist attacks at Mastung, Balochistan Province and Hangu, KP Province on the day of Eid-e-Miladun Nabi killed over 65 innocent Pakistanis. These were worst the terrorist attacks on innocent followers of Islam and lovers of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). These attacks clearly indicate that those involved in the planning and conduct of these attacks are anti-Islam and enemies of the Muslims. There have been similar attacks in the past too, where innocent people offering prayers in the mosques were targeted. Pakistan has faced this type of terrorism ever since 2004, where thousands of innocent Pakistani masses were killed in mosques, churches and other places of worship. This means that labelling the terrorism and militancy with Islam and Muslims by the West and India has been a planned strategy.
The planners of this terrorism are indeed anti-Islam, anti-Muslims and anti-Pakistan. Let’s not blame Muslims and Islam behind the militancy and terrorism in Pakistan or elsewhere in the world. Besides these two terrorist attacks, four soldiers were killed in Zhob while stopping the terrorists who were entering from Afghan soil into Pakistan.
The people of Pakistan very well understand the proponents of terrorism and militancy. Army Chief, General AsimMunir visited Quetta and met the injured of the terrorist attack of Mastung and Zohab. He assured the bereaved families that we will reach over those who are behind these attacks. As per ISPR, Army Chief paid rich tributes to the Shuhada and remarked “Such incidents of Terrorism on 12 Rabi’ al-Awwal, depict the ill intent of the Khawarij, who have the backing of State Sponsors of Terrorism. These terrorists and their facilitators, having no link with religion and ideology, are proxies of the enemies of Pakistan and its people. These forces of evil will continue to face full might of the state and security forces backed by a resilient nation. Our operation against terrorists would continue unabated and the defence forces, intelligence and law enforcement agencies shall not rest till the menace of terrorism is rooted out from the country”.
There has been a gradual rise of militancy in Pakistan after Taliban-led Interim Afghan Government took over the control of Afghanistan in August 2021. The key militant organization carrying out militancy in Pakistan is Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). As per estimates, more than 6000 TTP militants are stationed in Afghanistan in various hideouts ever since military operations carried out against them in militancy-hit areas of KP and Balochistan. These elements were in the control of the former Afghan Government under Ashraf Ghani and their militant activities were planned, directed and executed by Indian RAW and Afghan NDS. After August 2021, TTP stepped up its activities against Pakistan from across the Pak-Afghan border. This is happening despite Taliban Government claims that Afghan soil will not be allowed to be used by any militant organization against any neighboring state. Besides TTP, there have been elements of Daesh and some Baloch separatists, who have been using Afghan soil for militancy within Pakistan.
Recently, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFERL) revealed in a report that after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, TTP, Daesh and Baloch separatists gained control over the huge weapons and ammunition left by NATO and US forces. These militant organizations are using this modern weaponry against Pakistan in their acts of terrorism along Pak-Afghan border, in the former FATA areas and in the province of Balochistan. Pakistan has repeatedly asked Interim Afghan Government (IAG) for stoppage of militant attacks from Afghan soil. In fact, Pakistan firmly believes that if IAG takes decisive steps to control TTP and other anti-Pakistan militant organizations, there will be no militancy in Pakistan.
Among the entire region, Pakistan is the only country whose security situation has deteriorated after take-over of Afghanistan by Taliban in August 2021. This is despite the fact that Taliban take-over of Afghanistan was made possible because of hectic Pakistani efforts. It was Pakistan which brokered the negotiations between Taliban and the United States on the request of former US President Donald Trump. The process of pull-out and take-over was quite peaceful. Even the former strong-hold of Northern Alliance ‘Mazâr-i-Sharîf’ fell to Taliban without any protracted fight.
This indicates that grounds were prepared for Taliban by former invaders which made everything possible for them except overt financial support. Covertly the platform of UNHCR is being used by US for continued support of Afghan masses ever since August 2021.Owing to its traditional intimacy, religious affinity and social underpinnings, Pakistan is the only country which is still maintaining a closer link with Taliban regime in Afghanistan. The attitude of the Taliban regime has been mostly non- cooperative, conceited and dictating towards the state and the Government of Pakistan. In the last over two years, Taliban militia, guarding the Pak-Afghan border repeatedly disrupted the process of security fencing, undertaken by Pak Army.
The repeated terrorist attacks in bordering areas of Pakistan all along western borders and in cities like Mastung and Hangu have created serious concern for the state and people of Pakistan. The IAG must take serious actions against TTP and all those terrorists, hiding in Afghanistan and using its soil for militancy against Pakistan. Pakistan cannot afford, terrorism, the nation has suffered prolonged war against terror from 2001 to 2023. International community must pressurize IAG to hand over all the TTP terrorists to Pakistan.
— The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
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