Pakistan’s fight against terrorism

By Taimur Shamil

For the last 16 years, Pakistan has been fighting the world’s most notorious terrorist groups. Thousands of innocent Pakistanis have lost their lives in the country’s fight against terrorist outfits such as Al Qaeda, TTP and Da’ish. In recent times, the terrorist organisation Jamaatul Ahrar (JuA), recently put under sanctions by the UN Security Council (UNSC), has targeted minorities, civilians and government officials inside Pakistan. In the wake of recent statements made by the US President Donald Trump accusing Pakistan of not doing enough, it is imperative to comprehend the nature of terrorism and Pakistan’s intensive response to it.

Last year, on August 9^th, a suicide bombing targeting lawyers killed 70 and injured 26 people in Civil Hospital, Quetta. The attack which left many children orphaned and families in grief was claimed by none other than the notorious JuA and its leader Abdul Wali, also known as Omar Khorasani. This terrorist organisation has specifically been targeting children, minorities, schools, colleges, hospitals and courts inside Pakistan.

The JuA has claimed responsibility for several other deadly attacks in the country. In 2015, it attacked worshippers in a Youhanabad church in Lahore. In 2016 it targeted innocent children on Easter by bombing the Children’s Park Lahore and also bombed district courts in Shabqadar and Charsadda. The twin bombings in Mohmand Agency on Nov 7^th2014 killing six and the suicide bombing on Nov 2^nd killing 60 people and injuring more than 100 was also claimed by the JuA. Many of its members, now under arrest, have owned up to many subversive activities inside Pakistan.

The mastermind of these attacks is Khorasani — a blacksmith from Fata who joined the TTP back in 2007 and later formed a splinter group. In August 2014 his organisation along with Ahrarul Hind merged to form JuA. It operated from Mohmand Agency of Fata where Khorasani became the first ‘Amir’ of the terrorist organisation.

The military operation Zarb-e-Azb was launched to eliminate the terrorists and their hideouts. As a result, the JuA was thrown out of Fata only to be relocated in Lal Pur, Nangarhar province of Afghanistan. Since then, it has been planning terrorist attacks and operating from Afghanistan.

To counter the JuA and other terrorist attacks inside Pakistan, three substantial steps have been taken. One, Pakistan army has launched several military operations. Two, the Pakistani officials have shared the information on terrorist organisations and their safe havens inside Afghanistan with the Afghan authorities. Three, because of Pakistan’s concerted efforts the UN Security Council has imposed sanctions on JuA.

Military operations such as Zarb-e-Azb and Raddul Fasaad have considerably brought down the terrorist attacks and the ability of the terrorists to attack Pakistanis. According to the annual security report of Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies, terror incidents have reduced from 2,555 in 2013 to 749 in 2016, from thousands to hundreds. The number of injured from 6,932 in 2013 to 1,956 in 2016 and the causalities from 4,725 in 2013 to 1,887 in 2016. The ongoing Khyber-4 Operation has further tightened the grip on the terrorists operating near the Afghanistan border.

These current developments in Pakistan’s fight against terrorism are benchmarks for not just regional countries but for the international community as well. While Pakistan is successfully fighting the terrorists on its soil, it also expects the US, Nato and Afghan forces to do the same in Afghanistan. Would the Ghani administration take action against the fleeing terrorists inside Afghanistan? Would Nato and US forces eliminate the hideouts of terrorists groups who have targeted innocent Pakistanis? It is important not just for Pakistan but for other countries in the region as well to fight the common foe.

First published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2017.