Terror alert

The grim resurgence of terrorist violence in Pakistan, illustrated by the recent suicide bombing in North Waziristan that martyred six people, including four brave police officers, and an attack targeting former JUI-F Senator Maulana Mohammad Saleh Shah’s residence in South Waziristan, signals a dangerous trend. Security forces are fighting back with valour, as evidenced by the elimination of four terrorists in recent operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Yet, while our forces confront this escalating threat, the lack of political unity and clarity on the true adversaries of Pakistan is deeply concerning. Here’s a fact: terrorists tend to capitalise on internal discord. So for terrorists a divided political landscape, with parties prioritising rivalries over national security, leaving the state vulnerable is a dream come true. A stark example of such internal discord would be the PTI considering a protest in Islamabad right during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s recent summit in the capital. While the party thankfully backed down and Pakistan successfully hosted the event without incident, the tension underscored the precarious balance we maintain in the face of terrorism’s growing reach. Recent security reports highlight the ongoing threats in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, the two provinces bearing the brunt of terrorist attacks. In a nation where the specter of terrorism looms large once more, it is imperative to identify the genuine enemies of the state rather than misdirecting efforts at nationalists and other local groups in these regions.

Pakistan’s history of fighting terrorism has come at an enormous cost. The country has sacrificed thousands of lives in a hard-fought battle against the TTP and its affiliates, with earlier military operations effectively dismantling terror networks. However, many of those who escaped went on to hide in Afghanistan. The previous PTI regime told us that the Ashraf Ghani government was giving TTP safe haven, and the TTP was being funded and facilitated by Indian and Afghan intelligence agencies. Despite warnings from experts that the Afghan Taliban and the TTP shared a similar ideology, we now face an undeniable reality: the Afghan Taliban have refused to sever ties with the TTP. The oversight of this risk, and the subsequent decision to welcome TTP elements back into Pakistan, stands as a cautionary tale for future policymaking.

What we need now is a renewed, unequivocal political consensus on the nature of the terrorist threat. The country must acknowledge that, while political conflicts can be resolved through dialogue, terrorism requires a united front. This consensus would not only strengthen our internal resolve but also signal to ordinary Pakistanis the clear identity of the state’s enemies. The security apparatus, political leadership, and citizens must understand that without unity, Pakistan’s vulnerabilities will only deepen, giving terrorists ample opportunities to exploit the fractures. The road forward is clear but challenging: resolve political differences in favour of national security, build consensus on counterterrorism policy, and recognise the reality of the terrorist threat. Without a shared commitment to these objectives, Pakistan risks losing the hard-won gains of previous anti-terror efforts, leaving the nation more susceptible to violence and division.