A workable charter of counterterrorism in Pakistan is imperative for internal security

Rising militancy in Pakistan is placing a significant burden on internal security and hindering foreign direct investment in the country. The deteriorating situation calls for a united counterterrorism approach from the political leadership. However, a top parliamentary panel meeting last month to address the current security situation in the country revealed a lack of consensus among the political parties. This is undoubtedly a comfort to militant groups, but should be a cause for great distress for the citizens of Pakistan.

On March 20, Pakistan’s Minister of State for Interior revealed that at least 1,141 Pakistanis have been killed and injured from January 1 to March 16 in terror incidents. The alarming increase in militant attacks in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has prompted a reevaluation of Pakistan’s counterterrorism strategy. The focus is now on more effective kinetic initiatives, i.e., intelligence-driven and proactive rather than reactive tactics. However, it’s important to remember that underestimating political and developmental approaches in combating terrorism could be a short-term solution.

The government has systematically upgraded its counterterrorism strategy since last year. In June 2024, Islamabad launched Vision ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’ to reinvigorate and re-energize the national counterterrorism campaign and intensify counterterrorism efforts, especially combating transnational terrorism through diplomatic means. However, the revamping of the strategy fails to check the groups’ rapidly changing operational tactics. Islamabad’s failure to convince the Taliban government diplomatically to end overt and covert support to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch armed groups frustrates its combating initiatives.

The onus is on the government to create a consensus among all the stakeholders to constitute a charter of counterterrorism.

Zafar Nawaz Jaspal

The UN Security Council’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team reported in July 2024 that the Taliban permitted Al Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent to provide training and funding to TTP to purchase weapons. Diplomatic measures are imperative to break the growing nexus between Al-Qaeda and TTP in Afghanistan.

Besides, financial and material supplies coming in across the border to militant armed groups active in Pakistan needs the sincere support of the Afghan Taliban. Without Kabul’s support, it’s impossible to disrupt the financial and weapons supply chain, which is operating under the patronage of the Taliban government in Afghanistan. 

Following the Jaffar Express train highjacking on March 11 and the armed forces rescue operation in Balochistan, an in-camera security meeting was convened by the government to revisit the counterterrorism strategy. Top civil and military leadership attended the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS), including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, army chief General Asim Munir and spy chief General Asim Malik. Still, the significant opposition bloc in the parliament boycotted. 

The PCNS emphasized kinetic measures to dismantle militant networks, disrupt logistical support and eliminate the nexus between terrorism and crime. The execution of these measures depends on the provincial government’s practical participation. Though the Chief Minister of KP participated in the meeting, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which is in power in the province, announced it would not support any fresh military operation in the country. It underscored political divisions impeding the chalking out of a national consensus strategy to combat the increasing militancy in KP and Balochistan.

It’s crucial for all political parties to recognize their role in ensuring national security. The Shehbaz government’s willingness to engage provincial governments in its battle against anti-state armed groups is encouraging. Moreover, every political leader is speaking in favor of the urgent national consensus and exceptional attention to the security situation in Balochistan and KP for the country’s internal security. At the same time, they are at odds with each other due to petty issues.

The contradiction in their acts and deeds is due to political polarization in the country. The opposition parties’ boycott of the in-camera security meeting testifies that the house is divided. Political polarization in the country and divergent perceptions of the political leaders on the kinetic and non-kinetic counterterrorism measures are serious pitfalls in steadily lowering and entailing the complete elimination of terrorism.

Discord among political forces has led to short-term and inadequate policies to address extremism, militancy, separatism, and radicalization in the country. The gravity of the situation demands a consensual charter of counterterrorism among political parties, grounded on multifaceted kinetic and non-kinetic, short-term and long-term measures. Last month, the Army Chief said, “For sustainable stability, all elements of national power must work in harmony.”

Indeed, the onus is on the government to create a consensus among all stakeholders to constitute a charter of counterterrorism. It has to adopt a flexible approach in engaging opposition parties within and outside the Parliament, including the religious, nationalistic, and ethnic pressure groups and civil society organizations in chalking out a workable charter.

– Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal is an Islamabad-based analyst and professor at the School of Politics and International Relations, Quaid-i-Azam University. E-mail: jaspal_99@hotmail.com, X: @zafar_jaspal