Terrorism in Pakistan: A Geopolitical Perspective

August 1, 2023

GS Paper III Internal security

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.