Terrorism in Pakistan: A Geopolitical Perspective

Context: 

The terror attack in Pakistan’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa region, which has claimed 54 lives and left over 200 injured, is a reminder of the worsening security situation in the country’s border region with Afghanistan.

Terrorism: 

  • There is no universal agreement on the legal definition of terrorism.
  • It generally refers to the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, to achieve political and ideological aims.

Terrorism in Pakistan: 

  • A Geopolitical Perspective 
    • Pakistan has been battling with terrorism for decades, particularly in its border region with Afghanistan. 
    • The rise of the Taliban in the early 1990s and its subsequent takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 have further exacerbated the security situation.

The Historical Support to Islamist Extremists:

  • The Afghan Civil War: 
    • Pakistan supported the Afghan Mujahideen during Afghanistan’s anti-communist civil war, providing weapons and training to defeat the Soviet invasion. 
  • The Emergence of the Taliban: 
    • Pakistan supported the emerging Taliban during the intra-Mujahideen civil war, facilitating their rise to power in the early 1990s. 

Playing a Double Game:

  • War on Terror: 
    • Pakistan joined the US coalition in the War on Terror but was also accused of harboring Taliban and other extremist groups. 
  • Safe Havens:
    • Pakistan allowed safe havens to several terrorist groups, including the Haqqani Network, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Jaish-e-Mohammed. 

Radicalization and Security Threats: 

  • Extremist Ideologies: Decades of civil war have radicalized Muslim youth in the Af-Pak region, leading to the growing support of extremist ideologies among Pakistani militants. 
  • Bad Governance: The lack of governance, corruption, and power struggles have created the ideal breeding ground for radicalization and terrorism. 

Combating the Pakistan Taliban: 

  • Operation Zarb-e-Azb:
    • Pakistan launched a military operation against the Pakistan Taliban in 2014-15 to crush the insurgency in the border region. 
  • Rehabilitation Program: 
    • The government introduced a rehabilitation program to help Taliban fighters lay down their arms and reintegrate into society. 
  • Victims of Terrorism Fund: 
    • Pakistan established a fund to provide financial assistance and rehabilitation to the victims of terrorism and their families. 

Steps Need to be Taken to Counter Terrorism:

  • Strong and Reformed Institutions: There is a need to strengthen and reform the multilateral institutions and mechanisms to effectively deal with these emerging challenges.
  • Strengthen Intelligence Agencies: There is an urgent need to empower intelligence agencies with adequate funding and modern technologies.
  • Timely and Appropriate Action: To achieve positive results, international institutions and all countries need to take actions timely after receiving any intelligence input.
  • United Approach: A collaborative approach is a need of hour to overcome these challenges.
Additional Information:

International Organizations against Terrorism:

  • The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT):
    • It leads and coordinates an all-of-UN approach to prevent and counter-terrorism and violent extremism.
  • The UN Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT):
    • It works under UNOCT that promotes international cooperation in the fight against terrorism and supports the Member States in implementing the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
  • The Terrorism Prevention Branch (TPB):
    • It works under the aegis of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
    • It works to assist the Member States, upon request, with the ratification, legislative incorporation and implementation of the universal legal framework against terrorism.
  • The Financial Action Task Force (FATF):
    • It is a global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog that aims to prevent the illegal activities and the harm they cause to society.

News Source: The Hindu

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