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.

News Source: The Hindu