The writer is an independent political and defence analyst. He is also the author of several books, monographs and articles on Pakistan and South Asian Affairs
The recent statement by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that “Pakistan has suffered long at the hands of terrorism … Curbing terrorism is my government’s topmost priority” shows that he is learning, albeit slowly, from the experience of one month. However, his government still shies away from taking a forthright position on this issue.
The military top brass views the current efforts to contain terrorism as “Pakistan’s war” but the current political leadership in power shies away from owning the war on terrorism in which over 40,000 civilian, military, paramilitary and police personnel have been killed.
The irony of the situation is that the federal level, Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are being ruled by political parties that are known for their soft approach towards the Pakistani Taliban and other militant and sectarian groups. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) are known as sympathisers of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and their perspective on Pakistan’s role in the war on terror, and security operations in the tribal areas overlap with that of the TTP. The PML-N has pursued a soft attitude towards these groups, too.
However, the TTP and other militant-sectarian groups have sent an unambiguous message to the new federal and provincial governments that they mean business and want to secure a domain of authority for themselves or humble the Pakistani state system in order to enforce their political and religious choices on it. This calls for a total review of the counterterrorism policies of the PML-N and the PTI.
If the government and state institutions cannot ensure protection of life and property to the citizens, the latter lose confidence both in the government and the state. An electoral triumph can carry a government for four to six months only. After that, it is its performance that counts. Any government that leaves the citizens at the mercy of violent groups loses legitimacy quickly.
No meaningful economic development is possible if powerful non-state groups establish their domains in parts of the country or use coercion, violence, and terrorism or threat thereof to dictate their terms. In such a scenario, the economy cannot sustain itself — forget about mega economic projects.
Pakistan cannot retrieve its positive image at the international level if violence and terrorism are not contained. It will have to give up completely the notion of reliance on militant groups for advancing some foreign policy and security agenda. The country should rely more on conventional diplomacy, soft power of culture, media and human excellence, and an increase in Pakistan’s economic relevance for other countries. Our counterterrorism policy must reflect the following principles.
First, violence and terrorism must not be tolerated on any count. The state agencies must tackle terrorist groups at the earliest. No space should be given to violence on the pretext of reaction against drone attacks or any other excuse.
Second, the primacy of the Pakistani state must be asserted over all organisations, groups and individuals within Pakistan’s territorial limits. If drone aircraft violate Pakistan’s sovereignty, the violent activities of all kinds of militant groups are also a negation of Pakistan’s sovereignty.
Third, the military must assert its control over the tribal areas. The prolongation of the operations in five tribal agencies has raised doubts if it is a problem of capacity of the military or a matter of policy that militants are given space to survive. If the military cannot assert its authority in the tribal areas against militant groups, it will be difficult to do so after the withdrawal of Western troops from Afghanistan in 2014.
Fourth, a dialogue with the Pakistani Taliban and other militant groups must be held within the framework of Pakistan’s Constitution and territorial integrity. The stoppage of violence by these groups would be a precondition for talks.
Fifth, Pakistan faces different types of terrorism. This includes terrorism by the tribal areas-based groups. They also fight with each other to expand their domains. Then there are the mainland-based militant and sectarian groups, as well as Baloch separatist groups and the violence in Karachi that combines violence of various kinds: Taliban-inspired, political and ethnic, criminal activity, land grabbing and extortion. You will need firm but different strategies for dealing with different types of terrorism.
Sixth, violence and terrorism in the urban areas can be contained mainly by a professional, qualified and well-paid police force. The police should be strengthened by giving them special counterterrorism training and their salaries should be enhanced. All appointments and postings on political considerations should be done away with. The Special Branch and the Intelligence Bureau should be upgraded and given the assignment of information collection regarding extremist and militant groups, and others engaged in such activities in the cities.
Seventh, attention should be given to economic development and employment generation to ensure that our youth opt for a normal life. However, all this requires that terrorism be controlled. Otherwise, the much-needed economic development may not be possible.
Eighth, rehabilitation and reorientation progammes should be launched to accommodate those who give up terrorism and violence. They need to be retrained to lead a normal life in society and must be helped to adopt professions that lead them towards living a financially stable life.
Countering terrorism is going to be a slow process. However, the civilian government and the military need to create operational strategies keeping in view the above principles. Furthermore, the civilian government and the military should work together to eliminate terrorism, and they need to create a discourse to justify their policy and counter the discourse that directly or indirectly supports or glorifies militancy. This calls for a change of mindset on the part of the political leaders and civil society leaders.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 15th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (23)
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When I see the curse and its excalation,I feel need of its treatment but found nothing except vital weapon namely drones,yes at last come to the conclusion that drones is best treatment.
@Faraz:
we are on the front and we are a the back we are on the both sides so impossible to reach the pointed place,look and wait.
After drone's action, It is said by the concerned quarter that drone attack is violation of international law,drone strikes are open violation of country's sovereignty. Right acceptable but on the other when we see who were the targeted found elements playing with the lives and property of innocent citizen of the state.
Who is right side and who is wrong side,that is question before notwithstanding the fact that Pakistan's armed forces is in action against those elements as above narrated.
As some concerned quarters are saying,it is great success of western policy that they brought their war at the Pakistani border and Pakistan is facing the circumstances which destroyed its economy and stability to the great extent but the fact also is that elements animicle to the country dragged the state to end,God the almighty bless us and our home land.
The more drone strikes killing civilians, the more civilians picking up guns, and in doing so, more new terrorists to drone. It really is win-win for those making money out of this, isn’t it?
"This calls for a change of mindset on the part of the political leaders and civil society leaders." I say this calls for a change of mindset on the part of Imran Khan and Munawar Hassan et al.
@BILAL: Instead of waffling ! Why don't you ask a simple question as to who is responsible for creating these groups and arming them too ? When State starts to play games for its foreign policies and create such elements, soon or later they are going to come back and hound the very people, as is the case in Pakistan ! Pakistanis really should be asking directly of its Army as to the very existence of these groups and why they have been sheltered and classed as assets, then perhaps you may get real answers. This is no one's war, except yours, and that other WOT, was just a money making exercise by your own establishment, as nothing concrete was ever done to eradicate the problem nor for the stability in the region, as Pakistan simply can not afford stability in the region, as their own self importance would diminish too !
This mindset fascinates me.
Pakistan is talked of as it is some anomaly in the larger world which is behaving this way. But, I got news for you buddy, Pakistan is just part of the larger trend in the Islamic world.
Some countries are ahead of the curve, some are behind Pakistan.
You cannot treat the disease without even finding out the causes. A cough could be for many reasons, the cough medicine has been administered but its useless. The disease is something which cannot be admitted and is common to all Muslim societies, even in non-Muslim countries.
The main problem Pakistan is facing right now is that the nation is not united on one agenda.There is confusion and utter confusion and this confusion is because of various factors.Firstly,our media is full of incompetent people who are not serving national interest,the so-called experts are the main cause of confusion.One night a person stands up and says this is not our war and the next night another person stands up and says this is our war.Fact is that it might not have been our war initially but now ITS OUR WAR.The people killed in the blasts are Pakistani than how one can say that its not our war. Secondly,our so called experts don't differentiate Afghan Taliban from TTP.TTP AND AFGHAN TALIBAN ARE TWO DIIFFERENT Phenomenons.TTP has no ideological basis whereas afghan taliban have an ideological stance.Afghan taliban are fighting against foreign occupation.The reason why TTP used the term Taliban in its name is because they wanted to create confusion in the minds of Pakistanis and they have succeeded in doing that. Whenever a bomb blasts in Pakistan,the PTI leaders instead of condemning it,advocate it by saying that drone attacks are the cause of these attacks.My point is that this is no valid reason.Drone attacks are conducted by Americans not Pakistani civilians whom these barbarians victimise in these blasts.The reality is that this whole TTP stuff is sponsored by foreign agencies.They get paid.There leaders get money in dollars.During the SWAT OPERATION dollars were confiscated from there hideouts.They have highly sofisticated weapons.Those who have sympthaiesfor TTP should tell us from where are they getting these weapons?
Now,as far as Pakistan army is concerned,Pak army has played its role in an excelent manner.Pak army has learned a lot from US afghan war and Pakistan army doesn't wan't to commit the same mistakes which American army did in afghanistan.Pakistan army is attacking only those areas which it can control.Its following the strategy of "defeating the enemy and rehablitating the war zone".Swat is perfect example of this strategy.Even in south waziristan Pakistan army is toiling hard to develop the basic infrastructure and recently Army chief went there for the inaguration of different development projects.Rehablitation of these areas will take time ofcourse.
Finally, we should all realize that its our war and we will have to stand as one nation in this war.
Inter-agencies coordination and cooperation to give it a unified approach must also be explained and be part of the policy.
@bigsaf: Wow! That's some introspection! You must carry a burden!
Give it up. We're not going to challenge these Wahhabi/Salafi/Deoband/Sunni extremist militants, as we've ceded all reason and logic, as well as the narrative and discourse on what constitutes a religious state to them. There's not going to be a change in our brainwashed propagandistic religious nationalist mindset or our irrational propensity to justify violence for insane goals. The military, judiciary and politicians will continue to sympathize, if not outright support, religious extremist militants, be they the Afghan Haqqanis or Saeed's LeT or ASWJ/LeJ, simply because we share the same religious sectarian ideological beliefs and regional, if not global, goals. Be it for votes, for being a bulwark against ethnic disintegration, murdering our own pesky minorities, or attacking our neighbours across borders out of paranoia or our own hegemonic power or being a haven for global jihadists out of solidarity and spite against other powers.
In short a complete 180-degree reversal in orientation, attitude and policy! Better late than never, I suppose. But it is the only way.
What happened to the old arguments that one mans terrorist +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ is another mans freedom fighter?
Nawaz shareif seems to be doing better than previous governments.
It is clear that Pakistani Armed Forces do not have the stomach anymore for fighting till they win. They just show off their bravado against civilian governments & unarmed civilians. They will give all sorts of excuses for not fighting. They have never won a single war so far anyway! So why does Pakistan spend so much money on purchase of arms, ammunition, armament, salaries & fat perks of these cowardly 'nakkam' Generals? Better retrain them to fight or trim them down. Don't worry about India, it will never attack Pakistan unless provoked!
Another so-called analysis that tries to sweep under the carpet the most important issue. Mr. Rizvi, please read these two articles by Babbar Sattar that speak the real truth and lays down the right solutions:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-9-189663-Anti-terror-policy
http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-9-189853-Anti-terror-policy
As discussed by Mr. Sattar, which you totally miss and which should have been on the top of the list of your eight point formula, is the admission of state involvement in promoting terrorism against India and Afghanistan. In Mr. Sattar's words:
"The principles that must underlie an anti-terror policy are simple: proactive eradication of the jihadi project by the state; permanently abandoning the use of non-state actors in pursuit of national security goals....The state doesn't just need to abandon the jihadi project but extinguish it altogether. This means two things. One, the state decides categorically not to employ non-state actors to pursue national security interests – not now, not ever; not in Afghanistan; not in India; not to pursue strategic depth; and not to create room for plausible deniability."
How many times is the same 8 point agenda of these "analysts" is ET going to run. The fact is Pakistan cannot defeat terrorism because it does not have the capability. In every single country around the globe the police force and the intelligence agencies stop terrorism not huge military operations as our liberal friends propagate. A competent police force is needed nothing more to prevent attacks go after these guys.
You forgot to mention the need to improve the criminal justice system and an equal requirement of an adequate witness protection program. Without these, terrorists get aquitted on grounds of lack of evidence!
Our political leaders do not have the will to defeat terrorism nor the care for the people. How can you expect people to care for you whose own kids are settled abroad or travel in a convoy of luxury security vehicles.
Some day would like to know about Pakistan's positive image and soft power - if ever and when. But given the culture of self congratulations, I get how you reach that conclusion. Hard wired religious ideology, and self righteous attitudes coupled with a perpetual sense of being wronged need to be addressed, if you are to successfully slay the monster of terrorism that is destroying your country and threatening the world. The world won't stand for it - not sure Pakistan has reached that conclusion.
How about offering yourself to serve as a part of many lashkars that have been organized to fight in the agencies? That will really show how committed you are to military options. Or is it only for the poor soldiers of the forces that they be pushed into generational wars that have historically proven to be failures, at the orders of those who sit far away in comfortable drawing rooms and can only fight wars on computer key boards?
12 years, 51,000 pakistanis killed and this country is in same debate.. who is behind terrorism, should we talk, how should we talk, This APC that APC..
Those who fought terrorism with will, recognized by the world, are today left in the jails facing cases for ordering crackdown on terrorists.
Carry on, you have a very 'bright' future!
Terrorism can be defeated only if all the political and other parties, including the army, stand on one side and define what terrorism entails, Calling these killers of innocent people as 'our brothers' does not help. In fact it is helping the killers. The theory that it has something to do with unfriendly powers is like living in a fool's paradise and an invitation to failure.