PAKISTAN is once again staring at the specter of terrorism, with bloodshed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan becoming disturbingly frequent.
Groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) are back in action, exploiting sanctuaries across the border and fractures within our own political fabric. This resurgence is not accidental; it is the result of years of flawed policies, weak narratives, and external support networks that remain unchecked.
The roots of today’s crisis lie in the misplaced policy of appeasement. Under Imran Khan’s government, dialogue with the TTP was pursued despite their long record of killing innocents and targeting security forces. That experiment gave militants valuable breathing space to reorganize and rebuild their networks. Today, the PTI-led government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continues to adopt a lenient stance, which weakens counter-terrorism momentum and emboldens violent actors.Counter-terrorism is not only fought on the battlefield but also in the realm of public discourse. Here, too, Pakistan has suffered setbacks. PTI’s softness toward TTP and its Afghan patrons has eroded the consensus painstakingly built after years of sacrifice. Meanwhile, groups like the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) portray CT operations as a “Dollar War.” Such divisive rhetoric dishonors the sacrifices of our martyrs and confuses the public about the legitimacy of the State’s fight.
The US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 fundamentally changed the regional security calculus. Now, the bulk of militant infiltration into Pakistan is carried out by Afghan Taliban cadres, operating hand in glove with the TTP. This year alone, Pakistani forces have killed 126 Afghan nationals fighting alongside the TTP. More than 57 terrorist camps on Afghan soilused openly to plan and launch attacks. Kabul’s actions against these groups remain cosmetic, often coordinated with terrorists to maintain appearances while avoiding substantive disruption.For decades, Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees at immense social and economic cost. Tragically, these networks are now being exploited by TTP and ISKP for recruitment, logistics, and financing.
Yet, under political pressure—particularly from PTI-led KP—the process of refugee repatriation faces constant delays, justified under the guise of Afghan unpreparedness. Meanwhile, UN reports consistently document the use of Afghan soil and resources to fund terrorist operations against Pakistan.The most dangerous weapon in the terrorists’ arsenal today may not be the gun, but political division. PTI, PTM and ANP amplify conflicting narratives and undermining counter-terrorism operations by sowing confusion among the public. Terrorist groups thrive on this instability, even using civilians as human shields in both Afghan camps and Pakistani territory, further complicating security operations. Pakistan is, no doubt, yielding the deadly dividend of politicized missteps of unwise PTI leadership. The path ahead demands clarity and unity. First, A zero-tolerance policy toward TTP, BLA, ISKP, and their enablers must be adopted. Second, Diplomatic, regional, and international pressure must compel Kabul to dismantle sanctuaries. Third, Political duplicity must be exposed. Fourth, Terrorist propaganda—whether online, in print, or under the cover of politics—must be met with the full weight of the law.
—The writer is analumnus of QAU, MPhil scholar &a freelance columnist, based in Islamabad.
