Counter- terrorism

here have been several incidents of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recently. On March 5, security forces foiled a major attempt on Bannu cantonment.

Five soldiers and 13 civilians lost their lives in this attack. A statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations said the security forces engaged the terrorists. Their precise action eliminated all 16 terrorists, including four suicide bombers. The ISPR said that during the intense exchange of fire, five soldiers embraced martyrdom in the line of duty.

The terrorists had rammed two explosives-laden vehicles into the perimeter of the Bannu cantonment. The ISPR said, “a cowardly terrorist attack was attempted on Bannu cantonment by khawarij elements.” The government typically refers to the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and its affiliates as Fitna al Khawarij.

“The assailants sought to breach the cantonment’s security. However, their nefarious designs were swiftly and decisively foiled by the vigilant and resolute response of Pakistan’s security forces. In their desperation, the attackers rammed two explosive-laden vehicles into the perimeter wall,” the ISPR said.

The statement said intelligence reports had “unequivocally confirmed the physical involvement of Afghan nationals in this heinous act. Evidence also indicated that the attack was orchestrated and directed” by terrorists operating from Afghanistan.

“Pakistan expects the interim Afghan government to fulfill its responsibilities and deny the use of its soil for terrorist activities against Pakistan. Pakistan reserves the right to take necessary measures in response to these threats emanating from across the border.”

The ISPR said the security forces remained steadfast in their resolve to eradicate militancy in all its forms. IT said the sacrifices of our brave soldiers and innocent civilians “further reinforce our unwavering commitment to safeguarding our nation at all costs.”

Earlier on February 28, a suicide bomber had targeted Madrassa Darul Ulum Haqqania in Nowshera. The Counter-Terrorism Department said Maulana Hamid-ul Haq Haqqani and five other people were killed and 18 people were injured in the incident.

Hamid-ul Haq Haqqani, son of late Maulana Sami-ul Haq and leader of his Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam faction, was targeted while leading congregational Friday prayers.

A first information report was filed by Haqqani’s son, Maulana Abd-ul Haq Sani, who was also injured in the attack.

There was some speculation that the attack might reflect a power struggle between Kabul and Kandahar factions of the Afghan Taliban. A few months earlier, Khalil Haqqani, the Taliban minister for refugees and a Darul Ulum Haqqania alumnus, was assassinated in Afghanistan. His nephew, Siraj-ud Din Haqqani, the Taliban interior minister, was also rumored to have left Afghanistan amid discord in the Kandahar leadership. Some Afghan watchers have suggested that Maulana Hamid’s killing could be an outcome of an ongoing rift. Others have pointed to ideological divides among the jihadist community.

Deobandi leaders have long been targets in intra-Taliban fighting. Darul Ulum Haqqania, a pivotal institution for the Deobandi school, has had a central role in Afghan jihad from Jalal-ud Din Haqqani’s anti-Soviet campaigns to the Taliban’s rise under Mullah Omar and Siraj-ud Din Haqqani. In mainstream Pakistani politics, the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam remains the biggest representative of the Deobandi school.

The assassination of Khalil Haqqani and the recent attack on Maulana Hamid-ul Haq Haqqani underscore an ideological rift. Khalil Haqqani’s death dealt a significant blow to Taliban cohesion. It is feared that doctrinal divides will fuel renewed conflict.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and leaders of some federal institutions have repeatedly questioned the PTI-led provincial government’s counter-terrorism performance.

Regional law enforcement agencies must adopt advanced technology and coordinated strategies to investigate such incidents effectively.

The writer is a Peshawar-based journalist, researcher and trainer.He also works for the digital media platformThe Khorasan Diary