Anti-terror outreach

A shot in the arm for Pakistan's anti-terrorism efforts as Majeed Brigade has been proscribed by the United States. The labelling of the Baloch terrorist outfit by the US State Department as a "Foreign Terrorist Organisation" is an outcome of detailed persuasion on the part of Islamabad, and clears the path for global action against such dreaded organisations. Majeed Brigade performs as the suicide wing of Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which is already languishing in the US terror category.

Some of the recent gruesome activities of this duo include the hijacking of Jaffer Express train in which more than 30 passengers o were killed; profile screening and killing of people in bus attacks; the 2024 Karachi airport ambush that killed Chinese engineers; and last but not least persistent attacks on security forces and government installations in the desolate province of Balochistan.

While the State Department move speaks at length about the understanding that both the countries have attained in their counter-terrorism strategy, it needs to be buckled up with a broader regional response. Beijing has to play a special role as it enters into talks with India later this month, as footprints of Delhi are widely evident in the province. The rise of Khawarij (Indian proxies) is a case in point, and Chinese assets and personnel engaged in CPEC projects have been a victim.

China must raise this issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and bring the latter on board in fighting terrorism, rather than indulging in policies of bleeding Pakistan. Likewise, a broad-based policy is desired wherein Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asian states collaborate to exhibit zero-tolerance towards non-state actors, and entities such as BLA, TTP, ISIK, Al-Qaeda and their accomplices are taken out.

Washington admits that there have been more than 1,000 terrorist attacks in "the western area of Pakistan" this year. Pakistan, which has sacrificed more than 80,000 lives in the war on terrorism, must take this international acknowledgment to beef up its anti-terror gear and devise a multipronged policy. Apart from the kinetic option, the intention should be to neutralise the dissidents through political outreach in order to make inroads for stability and development.