Aqsa Ejaz
Domestic terrorism involves an act of violence or extremism committed against civilian population or infrastructure of nation, but not by citizens of nation and use of force or coercion or influence against national policy[1]. Domestic violence contains an act of violence, not always by populations of nation against general public within that nation in order to threaten the public or other citizens. It sometimes spread by secretariat or religious as well.
Pakistan is considered to be one of the greatest terrorism affected state. However it is being accused by its neighboring states like India and Afghanistan and other western nations as well to support and sponsoring non-state actors. Pakistan’s tribal region along border of Afghanistan is considered or claimed to be a safe haven for terrorists by opponent states.
Pakistan has been suffering from some sectarian, religious and ethnic issues. There has been so many Shiite sect incidents occurred within Pakistan from past five years. Like On 13th May 2013, Bus hijacked in Karachi and almost 40 men were killed[2] and 13 were injured[3] by gun attack. Another honor killing shifted to suicide bombing in Sindh province district, by which 61 Shiite[4] executed in January. Another latest incident happen in Balochistan, Indian RAW agent Kulbhushan Yadev arrested from ISI agencies on 3rd March 2016. This aimed to capture or to spread violence and terrorism in Balochistan. He was working with Baloch insurgents and Baloch student’s organizations to spread sect violence and even to flop the CPEC initiative. Yadev often admitted all reprehensible or accuses upon him[5].
Religious violence is an old aspect of violence with in the territory of Pakistan. The development of the TTP regime and its actual purpose of development shifted toward insurgency. Lots of terrorist incidents have taken place in Pakistan since 9/11. These have included incidents such as the Lal- Mosque siege, suicide bombing attacks and more specifically APS school attack in 2014 is most disastrous incident of history of Pakistan. School attack killed 132 children[6] and 9 teachers [7]were killed in Peshawar incident.
Against APS Peshawar incident Government of Pakistan developed a new National Action Plan (NAP) with new technical and modern changes. By which stringent and valid measures in order annihilate the terrorists from Pakistan was that government eventually decided to proceed or execute the extremist group, which government had already and still implementing on this, formation of armed militia would be not allowed to enter into the country, National Counter Terrorism Authority will be revived, there will be a restriction or ban on hate-speech either it would be given by Social media and internet or in any newspaper, magazines that spread contribution to spread hatred to that speech.. Action would be taken by government. Special Anti-terrorist forces will be formed, Madrassas will be reformed, FATA would be highly priority to develop reforms, all way of communication with terrorist organizations will be devastated, and operation against terrorists in Karachi will be taken to its logical conclusion[8].
The quick and fast implication of this plan started rapidly. On January 2015, twenty-fifth amendments to the constitution of Pakistan passed. On 3rd April 2015, approximately 76 skeptical were arrested in Peshawar[9]. More than such operations occur and is still on progress that proven complete deportation of terrorism since from now.
The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2015, analysis by research that the impact of terrorism on global community reduced much. According to reports “Pakistan was the only country in ten most impacted countries that saw a decline in deaths and accordingly it dropped from third to fourth”[10].
Later in 2017, Pakistan Army launched ‘Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad’ across the country. National Action Plan would be hallmark of this operation. The ongoing developments included Operation Khyber 4 is a major achievement of the operation close to Afghan Pakistan border. Beside all of these operations Pakistan Army constraint huge amount of terrorists and deplete them.
With growing insurgency in Pakistan, it gives vigorous chance to ISIS to deteriorate the security situation of Pakistan. With growing strife amongst the relations with Afghanistan, growing interest of Washington and New Delhi into Kabul, and resurgence of US troops in Afghanistan would lead Taliban to join IS-K to take stronghold in area contiguous to Pakistan’s border. This may led spiraling insurgency in Pakistan’s territory.
Non-state actors elicit youth by name of Jihad, heaven and Islam. They envisage minorities that Jihad is the best way to recognition of Allah and portrayed extremism as most plentiful thing in the form of religion. Youth has become a source of social and political instability. Non state actors use these youth to compete with recognized authorities and produce political, economic and social variations within the state. The world has changed now Insurgent groups’ changes their way to approach youth from Madrassas to new information channels like Social Media, cyber warfare. Multiple actors work together in this provocation in order to destabilize existing economic, social and political system.
Youth attracted to negativity because of demographic changes, unemployment, rises of drastic ideology, lack of political representation. Socially, culturally frustrated students attracted to negativity by motivating and blarney toward extremism in the name of Jihadist. Non-state actors counter schools, colleges and universities through the use of Cybercrime.
There are significant drops down in terrorism in Pakistan since from 2006. In 2015, almost 1,008 incidents were recorded, by which 1,086 people lost their lives and almost 1,337 were injured[11]. Zarb-e-Azab proven to be a best operation that highly and rapidly removed militants into safe havens from FATA. Now Pakistan positioned itself as negative terrorism ranking. Which has lowest terrorist attacks or incidents occurred than other states.
Religious community need to spread the message of peace around the world and should need to counter the narrative of “prevalent Jihad narrative” in Pakistan. If counter narrative is to be popularized and empowered then the government and military should need to protect them as well. Otherwise such terrific incidents would not grasp their hold over Pakistan.
National Action Plan (NAP) is however playing good role but still it needs to empower much. So that to annihilate terrorism from the region. Cyber security should be enhancing much.
International community as well as Muslim counties should join their hands together against terrorism. Only if Pakistan, as a state would be able to meet the basic needs like health, security, education and economic opportunity, will make it be able to stop malicious behind the shield of Islam.
[1] “Domestic Terrorism”. 2017. Rand.Org. https://www.rand.org/topics/domestic-terrorism.html.
[2] Raza Hassan, Syed. 2015. “Gunmen Kill 43 In Bus Attack In Pakistan’s Karachi”. Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/13/us-pakistan-attack-idUSKBN0NY0FH20150513.
[3] Ibid. 2
[4] Shaikh, Ubaidullah. 2015. “At Least 60 Killed In Blast At Shikarpur Imambargah”.DAWN.COM. http://www.dawn.com/news/1160444.
[5] Kazi, Zain, and Mominah Ambreen. 2017. “Indian Raw Agent Kulbhushan Yadav Admits Spreading Terrorism In Pakistan – Parhlo”. Parhlo. https://www.parhlo.com/indian-raw-agent-kulbhushan-yadav-admits-spreading-terrorism-in-pakistan/.
[6] Yasmeen, Samina. 2014. “Peshawar Attack: The Danger Of Desensitisation”. ABC News. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-18/yasmeen-peshawar-attack-the-danger-of-desensitisation/5974922.
[7] Ibid
[8] Manan, Abdul. 2015. “32,347 Arrested, 28,826 Operations Conducted Under NAP: Report – The Express Tribune”. The Express Tribune. https://tribune.com.pk/story/860426/32347-arrested-28826-operations-conducted-under-nap-report/.
[9] Desk, Web. 2015. “Security Forces Arrest 76 Suspects In Peshawar Raid – The Express Tribune”. The Express Tribune. https://tribune.com.pk/story/863641/security-forces-arrest-76-suspects-in-peshawar-raid/.
[10] Ibid
[11] Dudley, Dominic. 2016. “Forbes Welcome”. Forbes.Com. https://www.forbes.com/sites/dominicdudley/2016/11/18/countries-most-affected-by-terrorism/#4521ed0d30d9.
