THE recent spate of deadly terrorist attacks over the weekend is a grim reminder of the chaotic and multifaceted militant threat Pakistan continues to face. Yet again, the country finds itself grappling with a wave of violence that not only costs precious lives but also exposes glaring security failures. At a time when the country is at a critical juncture in its economic and political recovery, attacks like that of Sunday night make the challenge ten times harder.
The bombing near Karachi airport over the weekend wasn’t just a random act of violence but a calculated assault on Chinese nationals working in Pakistan. The banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) wasted no time in claiming responsibility, boasting that its Majeed Brigade executed the attack. This is not just an isolated event, but part of a broader strategy to destabilize the country by targeting crucial international relationships.
The time to mince words is long gone. Pakistan’s reputation and security credibility are hanging by a thread. The fact that terrorists could launch such a brazen attack near one of the most secure locations in the country is a monumental failure. Karachi airport and its surroundings are covered by layers of security forces, yet militants were able to strike with deadly precision. This raises uncomfortable but necessary questions: How did our security apparatus fail to prevent this? Who will be held accountable for this breach?
Adding to this tragedy, on the same weekend, Pakistan’s security forces were targeted in multiple deadly clashes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Thirteen army and Frontier Corps personnel were martyred in North Waziristan and Kurram, and three more in a roadside bombing in Kalat. Once again, the country’s defenders ended up paying the price.
This Karachi attack could not have come at a worse time. Pakistan is just days away from hosting foreign dignitaries for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Islamabad. The timing is no coincidence. There’s every reason to believe that Chinese nationals were targeted specifically to embarrass Pakistan and derail the event. The consequences of these security failures extend far beyond the loss of life—they threaten to undermine Pakistan’s international standing and its ability to host important diplomatic events.
Pakistan is now at a crossroads. The economy is fragile, and the country is slowly trying to re-enter the global arena. But these terrorist attacks happening at regular intervals threaten to undo any progress we make. We simply cannot afford to let militants dictate our future, and yet our overall response remains inadequate.
The attacks over the weekend also highlight the diversity of the militant threat. Pakistan isn’t facing a monolithic enemy. What this means is that militant groups are driven by different ideologies, from the Baloch separatists with regional grievances to the religious extremists seeking to impose their vision through violence. Yet we remain distracted with the focus remaining on suppressing opposition or staging protests and bringing the cities to a complete standstill, depending on the side of the political spectrum you belong to and support.
In the short term, the solution is clear: intelligence-based operations that can preempt and neutralize these violent actors before they strike. The longer we delay, the more we endanger our citizens, our economy, and our international standing. Pakistan’s future hinges on its ability to confront and eliminate the terrorist threat once and for all. Economic recovery, national development, and diplomatic engagement are impossible while the spectre of terrorism looms large.
—The writer is associate editor and digital team lead at Pakistan Observer
