TERRORISM is gaining momentum in the country raising certain questions about our national narrative and response capacity against deadly onslaught from different terrorist groups mainly TTP, BLA and MB eroding our brighter economic prospects and producing dints to seeking foreign direct investment. So far 55 security personnel have been killed in the first 20 days of November compared to 30 during the same period last month. Sixty-three terrorists were also killed in clashes with security forces in the past 20 days. Additionally, in October, security forces lost 62 personnel, marking the highest number of such casualties in any month this year, data from PICSS showed, with 32 killed in the last 10 days of October alone. Thus the canvas of terrorism is on the rise creating doubts about the national narrative of safety and security of the Chinese and CPEC projects in the country. Thus cosmetic statements and clichés are not alluring Chinese to make investment because of increasing terrorist incidents in Balochistan and KPK provinces. Unfortunately, urbanization of terrorism has become an alarming situation in the country.
Unfortunately, Pakistan endured 785 terrorist attacks over the past 10 months of 2024, resulting in 951 deaths and 966 injuries, reflecting a persistently high level of violence across the country. The TTP presence and support from Afghanistan is one of the main reasons for the surge in terrorism. The TTP has claimed responsibility for several recent attacks inside Pakistan. It seems that the Afghanistan factor, local terrorist networks and recent changes in the global security situation are behind the surge in violence in Pakistan. Moreover, the unprotected porous border between the two countries served as a major advantage for terrorists. It augurs well that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his government is taking all possible measures to strengthen safety and security of the Chinese in the country but somehow their sincere efforts are not producing desired results indicating some necessary readjustment, restructuring, redrafting, re-operationalization and re-channelization in our national resolve against terrorism. There is an urgent need to overhaul our national capacity apparatus and in this regard seeking crucial assistance from the Chinese counterpart would be a right step in the right direction. Joint safety efforts, policy coordination, timely information sharing, regular drills, anti-terrorism equipment, drone surveillance and joint border management at Afghanistan and Iran are vital to curbing terrorism. Trilateral coordination among Pakistan, Afghanistan and China, combined with joint policing, hybrid systems, robotic task forces, AI operations and enhanced security tools, offers a holistic strategy. Establishing anti-terrorism research centres in key regions with stakeholder collaboration and engaging religious scholars and social influencers is crucial for effective operations and lasting results.
Remapping of socio-ethnic analysis of terrorist hit areas, reformation of human surveillance partnership on the models of Iraq & Libya, re-settlement of the Chinese nationals, especially in the KP and Balochistan on the patterns of Turkiye and Israel, re-census of red zones mainly in Gwadar, Quetta, Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Gilgit-Baltistan and, mostly importantly, rechecking of provincial police and security personnel real identities to achieve a valid and functional safety and security system in the country. On the strategic level, rigorous diplomatic efforts are badly needed to minimize chances of spillover repercussions of proxies, clandestine operations, alleged sponsorship & funding through a vast network of so-called NGOs in these provinces by some of the foreign missions and unwanted diplomatic movements may also be curtailed. In this regard, the RATS mechanism under the flagship of the SCO would be a value addition. The role of FIA, CID and local police is paramount which must be reorganized and redirected to check breeding hatcheries.
It is a good sign that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has once again reiterated that safety and security of Chinese nationals in Pakistan remains a top priority of his Government and it is taking all possible measures. Even the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Lin Jian, during a briefing showed his country’s strong commitment to support Pakistan in its fight against terrorism, adding that both countries had the resolve and the capacity to foil any attempts to harm the bilateral relationship. On the tactical level, reformation of national narrative against terrorism is a burning issue which must be prioritized because some reliable reports clearly indicate that some foreign countries are investing hugely to undermine progress on the CPEC and Pak-Sino relations. There is a pressing need of a group of real Sinologists, nationalistic think-tanks (not money minting machines), patriotic media group/personnel and social marketing strategists in the country backing and supporting policies of the government and defence forces against terrorism and terrorists in the country.
In summary, policymakers must prioritize the 3S framework—safety, security, and systematic overhauling of the national narrative—coupled with capacity building to counter terrorism, which threatens survival, stability, sustainability, and prosperity. Special Forces safeguarding CPEC projects require grassroots readjustments, vertical and horizontal reorganization, and operational reforms to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals. Intensified military operations in Balochistan, KP, and Southern Punjab, along with revitalizing Azm-i-Istehkam and establishing National and Provincial Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Centres, are critical. Community development, socioeconomic uplift, people’s empowerment, and meaningful political dialogue can reduce sympathies for terrorists. Furthermore, the state must engage the Afghan Taliban to prevent Baloch insurgents from finding sanctuary in Afghanistan.
—The writer is President, Pak-China Corridor of Knowledge, Executive Director, CSAIS, regional expert: China, CPEC & BRI.
