In the first 10 months of the current year, 797 terrorist activities were carried out by terrorists in Pakistan which is alarming and the highest after 2015. More than 475 people have lost their lives while more than 1600 people were also injured in these lethal attacks. Local Taliban group (Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan/ TTP) claimed the responsibility for 70 percent of attacks, 25 percent of assaults were claimed by Baloch separatists/militants, while the remaining five percent are claimed by the international terrorist organization ISIS, Khurasan chapter.
According to official data provided by the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (NACTA), out of 797 terrorist activities, 481 were executed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, 301 were in Baluchistan, 3 were in the federal capital while 12 were reported in Punjab and Sindh province. The details of the last five years of terrorist activities are as under
Year Number of Terrorist Attacks
2022 797
2021 326
2020 373
2019 433
2018 497
Since 2018, more than 3500 people were killed in approximately 2500 terrorist activities throughout Pakistan. In 2015, the government introduced the National Action Plan (NAP) to curtail the militancy in the country, due to successful military operations, the number of militant incidents decreased by 80 percent. These efforts by the government and armed forces of Pakistan were recognized by the international community and the US state department.
A couple of weeks back, the local Taliban group TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) revoked the ceasefire and announced more attacks on security forces. In a media briefing spokesperson of the Foreign Office, Ms. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said, Pakistan considered the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) as a threat to the country because Pakistan has suffered a lot due to the terrorist activities by different militant groups including the TTP.
The United States has included three leaders of the Al-Qaeda subcontinent chapter, including TTP second in command (2IC) Qari Amjad, in the list of global terrorists. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said in a tweet that the US is committed to countering the threat posed by terrorists in Afghanistan to ensure that terrorists cannot use Afghanistan’s soil.
In response to a question about the American initiative, Ms. Mumtaz Baloch said “Pakistan has been cooperating with international partners, including the United States, to combat terrorism on the local, regional, and international levels. The announcement by the US to declare the main leader of the TTP as a global terrorist has come at a time when the TTP had announced to end the ceasefire and resume its operations a few weeks ago”.
Foreign Office spokesman told media that in a recent meeting held by the Minister of State Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar with the Taliban leadership in Kabul, the Afghan Taliban assured that their territory will not be used for terrorist activities against Pakistan or any other countries, and Pakistan hopes that the Taliban will honor their promises.
EAT News raised this issue with former federal interior minister Shaikh Rasheed who confirmed the footprints of terrorists are visible in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan provinces. Shaikh Rasheed said “there are the sleeper cells of terrorists in the far-flung and border areas of the country. Security forces are chasing and eliminating them in IBOs (Intelligence Based Operations). Law enforcement agencies have experience in data collection and the elimination of terrorism. Intelligence agencies and armed forces are tackling the situation in a very effective and swift way, but still, we need more result-oriented efforts to curb the militancy”.
EAT News while in a telephonic conversation with Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Dr. Musadiq Malik asked the question about the fresh wave of violence in the country, he replied, “apparently it seems that there are some fault lines and alienation in some areas of KP and Baluchistan provinces, which are misused by the local insurgents and indeed by foreign elements. Military operations like Zarb-e-Azab and Rad-ul-Fasad have broken the backbone of terrorism in the country, due to these operations, the intensity of militancy was dropped down to a very low scale. 2014 to 2020, were comparatively peaceful years but since 2021 incidents of terrorism are augmenting in the country, indeed which is alarming and needs solid steps to eradicate it. Afghan Taliban assured Pakistan that Afghan soil will not be used by Pakistani Taliban (TTP) so concrete footsteps are the cry of the day”.
The armed forces of Pakistan are also working hard to combat terrorism. According to ISPR (Inter-Services Public Relations), Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir visited different parts of the country and appreciated the operational preparations and high morale of the soldiers. The Army Chief said, “due to the countless sacrifices of the people of Pakistan and the security forces, the writ of the state has been established. No one will be allowed to sabotage the achievements in the war against terrorism. Defense of the motherland will be ensured at all costs, and there will be no room for those who disturb the peace. War against terrorism will continue till long-lasting peace and stability with the support of the nation”.
Over 450 individuals, largely members of the security services, have been killed in terrorist strikes in Pakistan in the first ten months of this year. A total of 15 security personnel were killed and 11 others were injured in 12 incidents of terrorism and violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province during the first five days of December. Meanwhile, the security forces also claimed to have killed five alleged terrorists in their operations. The Inspector General of Police of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Moazzam Jah Ansari, confirmed that 80 policemen lost their lives due to terrorist attacks. He also claimed to have killed around 500 militants in the said period.
After a partial peace of 8 years, a fresh wave of terrorism has severely hit the country and 2022 is considered the deadliest year after 2015. Meanwhile, polio workers and law enforcement agencies personnel who are protecting them are also being attacked in KP and Baluchistan province.
Radical and aggressive events are increasing day by day, which indicates that terrorism has not been eradicated from Pakistan completely, indeed a matter of concern for the entire nation. Experts suggested the government to take solid measures and execute National Action Plan (NAP) with its full spirit
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