Last week the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) met to discuss the sudden surge in terrorist attacks in the country and emphasised the need to implement counterterrorism frameworks — the National Action Plan (NAP) and Vision Azm-i-Istehkam — to curb subversive activities. Addressing the meeting, Army Chief Gen Asim Munir identified governance gaps as a key reason behind the spike in terrorism and called for making Pakistan a “hard state”.
In a communique issued after the meeting, the PNCA expressed its resolve to face the threat of terrorism with the full strength of the state, calling for a national consensus in the fight against terrorism. Expressing concern over the increasing misuse of social media platforms by terrorist groups, the committee also called for a framework to target the digital networks of militant organisations. In this connection, Gen Asim Munir underscored the necessity of a holistic counterterrorism approach beyond military operations. “For sustainable stability, all elements of national power must work in harmony,” he said. “This is a war for our survival and that of our future generations.”
At the PNCA meeting there was a consensus of opinion on the adoption of comprehensive counterterrorism measures on the basis of the National Action Plan (NAP) which was developed and approved after the terror attack and massacre of students at the Army Public School in 2014. It was designed to combat terrorism through kinetic measures as well as judicial reforms, strengthened law enforcement and measures against terror financing.
The plan was revised in 2021 in response to changing regional security dynamics after the withdrawal of coalition forces from Afghanistan and the return of the Taliban. Building upon NAP, Operation Azm-i-Istehkam was launched in June 2024 under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s administration amid a worsening security situation. Item No 14 in the original NAP, and No 10 in the 2021 revised version, calls for reconciliation efforts in Balochistan side by side with all necessary kinetic operations to tackle rising militancy in the province.
Terrorism has become an existential threat for Pakistan. Every year, thousands of civilians fall prey to it. Pakistan is among the most vulnerable countries against terrorism, which takes a horrendous toll on the lives of ordinary civilians as well as security personnel. It is time to evolve a new strategy in line with the changing political and economic dynamics. Given the complex nature of the Balochistan problem, it is important to adopt a holistic approach rather than just depending upon kinetic measures. This is clear from the fact that although the security forces are doing their best to control the situation, terrorist attacks are increasing, not subsiding. The solution lies in the full implementation of counterterrorism frameworks. Encompassing both kinetic and non-kinetic measures.
It is important to point out here that in the recent upsurge of violence both the TTP and Baloch extremists are involved. But there was no mention in the PCNS communique of the role of the Afghan Taliban in sheltering TTP on Afghanistan soil. The matter needs to be taken up with Kabul at the highest level. Aerial strikes inside Afghanistan are no solution to the problem. As for Balochistan, the battle is for winning the hearts and minds of the Baloch people who not only suffer from political disenfranchisement but are also deprived of their just economic rights.
It is an indisputable fact that the majority of people of Balochistan view the existing political set-up as an imposed one consisting of selected, not elected, people. This raises the question of acceptability and legitimacy. From this perspective, it is important to engage moderate leaders like Sardar Akhtar Mengal, former Balochistan chief minister, and Dr Malik Baloch, a Baloch nationalist, who believe in a constitutional struggle for the province’s rights. They want to work within the confines of the federation, and use the Council of Common Interests and other institutional forums for the redress of Baloch people’s grievances. It is Baloch politicians like these who can play a crucial role in initiating a peace and reconciliation process in the province as an antidote to the hateful and violent ideology embraced by a group of disillusioned, bitter and angry young Baloch.
A serious irritant standing in the way of an amicable solution to the Balochistan question is the unresolved issue of missing persons. In this context it will be a good idea to constitute a truth and reconciliation committee composed of leading Baloch politicians as well as other leaders of opinion in the province, including intellectuals, academicians, journalists and tribal elders. This committee should work at the grassroots level and engage in a frank dialogue with all sections of the Baloch population for the establishment of durable peace in the province.
At the same time concrete steps should be initiated to ensure to the Baloch people their due economic rights. Aghaz-e-HaqooqBalochistan was a good initiative but it was never implemented in letter and spirit. A start should be made with granting the province its due share in Saindak and other mining projects worth billions of rupees. Despite its tremendous mineral and natural resources Balochistan remains the poorest region of Pakistan. This is what feeds extremism and gives foreign powers a chance to recruit the disillusioned Baloch youth to serve their nefarious designs.