TERRORISM in Pakistan has evolved into a multifaceted, asymmetric threat driven by religious extremism, ethnic militancy and foreign patronage.
Groups like the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) embody these threats.
While ISKP thrives on religious fanaticism, the BLA cloaks separatist violence in ethnic grievances.
Despite differing motives, both aim to fracture Pakistan’s internal unity and challenge its sovereignty.
Intelligence sources consistently expose foreign involvement—particularly by India’s RAW—in facilitating these groups, underscoring that terrorism in Pakistan is not merely a domestic concern but a regional and geopolitical dilemma.
ISKP, since its emergence in 2015, has targeted Pakistan from eastern Afghanistan, launching suicide bombings and sectarian attacks.
BLA, meanwhile, attacks infrastructure, Chinese nationals and security personnel, particularly in Balochistan.
Despite ideological disparities, both share operational synergies—guerrilla tactics, synchronized attacks and a common hostility to Pakistan.
Together, they represent a layered insurgency: one religious, one ethnic—both strategically united.
A decisive shift in Pakistan’s counterterrorism doctrine came under Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (2013–2017).
His administration launched major military operations—Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad—to uproot terror networks and reclaim lost territory.
More importantly, the National Action Plan (NAP) was introduced, targeting extremism in its ideological, financial and digital forms.
Sharif’s leadership marked a transition from reactive containment to proactive elimination of terrorism.
He viewed internal security as a pillar of foreign policy, sought better regional diplomacy (excluding hostile elements in India) and emphasized international collaboration against terrorism.
Senator Ishaq Dar, as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, has effectively linked economic diplomacy with national security.
Amid economic headwinds, he projected Pakistan’s counterterrorism resolve on global platforms while fostering ties with China, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Central Asian States.
His initiatives in intelligence-sharing, border coordination and strategic partnerships reaffirm a critical principle: counterterrorism success hinges on economic stability and regional collaboration.
This progress was reversed during Imran Khan’s government (2018–2022), when a controversial strategy of “reconciliation” with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) allowed banned militants to return.
Rather than peace, this emboldened terrorists, leading to a spike in violence across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Simultaneously, ISKP and BLA exploited policy confusion and institutional drift to regroup, increase attacks and disrupt national morale.
The momentum of earlier operations was squandered and Pakistan paid the price in blood and instability.
The current government, under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal General Syed Asim Munir, has re-established civil-military synergy as the foundation of national security.
Field Marshal Asim Munir has declared: “We will cleanse every corner of Pakistan from terrorism.
This is not just a mission; it is a national obligation—sacred to the blood of our martyrs.
” Pakistan’s renewed strategy emphasizes kinetic operations, intelligence-led raids, ideological deconstruction and financial disruption of terror networks.
Pakistan’s counterterrorism war is compounded by consistent Indian aggression.
From ceasefire violations along the LoC to RAW’s support of anti-state actors, India’s role in destabilizing Pakistan remains well-documented.
Groups like BLA and ISKP have benefited from Indian funding and logistics, turning terrorism into a dual-front battle—internal and cross-border.
Strategic clarity, rather than just tactical response, is vital to countering this threat.
Often overlooked is Pakistan’s growing alignment with Turkiye and Central Asian Republics (CARs).
These partnerships, based on shared history and mutual interest, have deepened counterterrorism coordination.
Turkiye has extended support in surveillance, training and drone technology.
CARs—like Uzbekistan and Tajikistan—are collaborating with Pakistan on border control, anti-extremism and intelligence sharing.
These alliances strengthen Pakistan’s regional footing and extend its strategic depth.
Pakistan’s counterterrorism doctrine is clear: “There is no good terrorist.
” Whether ISKP, BLA or TTP—no group is tolerated under any ideological or political pretext.
Through relentless operations—Zarb-e-Azb, Radd-ul-Fasaad and ongoing intelligence campaigns—the State has significantly reduced terrorist safe havens from the tribal belt to urban centres.
Complementing the kinetic response, Pakistan is implementing legal reforms, madrassa oversight, anti-hate speech laws and cyber monitoring to eliminate extremism in all its forms—physical, digital as well as ideological.
What truly strengthens Pakistan in this battle is not just its military prowess but its institutional unity and public resilience.
The judiciary, parliament, intelligence agencies and civil society are converging on one principle: terrorism cannot be appeased, only defeated.
This national resolve—rooted in sacrifice, law and vision—has made Pakistan’s fight against terrorism a model of steadfastness.
The enemy may wear many faces, but the nation stands united, unwavering in its mission.
—The writer is a Supreme Court lawyer and former member & Chairman Standing Committee of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council. Islamabad (khaliqwasi786@gmail.com)
