Gwadar attack

Pakistan’s terror and security threats are not dissipating. In the latest, security forces thwarted an attack on the Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) Complex on Wednesday. While all eight terrorists were killed, ISPR has said that two soldiers were also martyred during the exchange of fire. A large quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives was also recovered fro the killed terrorists. Eyewitnesses said that they heard multiple explosions after firing in the complex which houses a passport office, an ECP office, and other government offices. The Majeed Brigade of the proscribed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack. In November last year, 14 soldiers lost their lives when terrorists attacked two vehicles carrying security forces as a security convoy was moving from Pasni to Ormara in the Gwadar district. In August last year, security forces in Gwadar foiled an attack on a military convoy escorting the Chinese workers and killed two gunmen, who had attacked the convoy. The attack on the vehicles carrying the Chinese was also claimed by the BLA’s Majeed Brigade.

The frequency of attacks in Gwadar has been increasing gradually, with the targets being security forces and Chinese professionals working in Gwadar. Such attacks only end up destabilizing Pakistan, thwarting smooth functioning of the Gwadar Port and hindering the success of CPEC projects. On Monday, ISPR said that the continuous use of Afghan soil is behind the “growing terrorism in Pakistan” and “has full support and assistance of Afghanistan”. The communique further stated that the rise in terror attacks in Pakistan is a result of the supply of modern weapons into the country “with the help of Afghan Taliban”, and that there is clear evidence of Afghan terrorists’ involvement in the attack on the Zhob Garrison on July 12, 2023, in which nine soldiers embraced martyrdom and five terrorists were killed.

We have seen from media reports that Balochistan’s militant groups have reportedly formed alliances with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Daesh. It is important that these alliances and networks be broken through intelligence and on-ground operations. That the TTP is operating from Afghan soil under the eyes of the Afghan Taliban government is also something that needs more focus. Afghanistan has been warned several times by Pakistan and just this week, Pakistan carried out intelligence-based anti-terrorist operations in the border regions inside Afghanistan on Monday morning. It is evident that TTP safe havens exist on Afghan soil and these terrorist outfits have the backing of the Afghan Taliban regime. Terrorists have carried out attacks across the country, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. What we need desperately is for the Afghan regime to understand that they need to take action against the TTP and its affiliates.

On the intelligence front, there have been justifiable calls for the empowering of the National Counter Terrorism Authority which was conceived as a clearinghouse for intelligence from all the different civilian and intelligence agencies. A country that has fought valiantly against terrorism and sacrificed more than 80,000 lives cannot afford more terror. It is now crucial for the government, security agencies, and citizens to collaborate closely and confront this menace head-on. By addressing root causes, strengthening security measures, fostering national unity, and seeking international cooperation, Pakistan can make some headway on its side of the border but it still needs the Afghan Taliban to choke off all air supply to the TTP on Afghan soil. To prevent new militant threats from rising up, it is their divisive ideology which must be discredited. This is an uphill task, but it is not impossible.