The recently-approved operation Azm-e-Istehkam has become a necessity due to the virtual non-cooperation by the Taliban Government, which is not taking firm action against the TTP elements in Afghanistan involved in terrorist activities inside Pakistan. These activities result in the killing of innocent people and undermine the efforts of the Government of Pakistan to improve security and restore investor confidence. All stakeholders must realize that the operation, like previous ones, targets terrorists and their facilitators based on intelligence, not peace-loving citizens. The success of previous operations has brought a semblance of normal life to KP and Balochistan and the situation will surely improve further if all segments of society support the armed and security forces in concluding the anti-terrorism campaign.
Some circles, certain political parties and leaders, have expressed reservations about the operation “Azm-e-Istehkam” (Resolve for Stability). This sharp reaction, stemming from fears of possible collateral damage, prompted the PM Office to clarify that no large-scale military operation requiring population displacement is being contemplated. The announced vision of enduring stability, named Azm-e-Istehkam, is being erroneously compared with earlier kinetic operations like Zarb-e-Azb and Rah-e-Najaat. Previous operations dislodged terrorists from no-go areas, compromising the state’s writ and requiring mass displacement and systematic clearance of affected areas.
This timely clarification should help assuage misperceptions and forge national consensus on how best to defeat terrorism, which still poses a major threat to the country’s security, stability and progress. However, the criticism and opposition could have been avoided if the Government had handled the sensitive issue with the necessary caution and care. This newspaper fully backs the Government’s counter-terrorism efforts and has consistently emphasized the need for a new counter-terrorism strategy, thoroughly discussed and debated in Parliament. After the terrorist attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar, the Parliament approved the National Action Plan (NAP), giving political ownership to the operation to eliminate terrorism and extremism.
Azm-e-Istehkam, a vital operation necessitated by the Taliban’s non-cooperation against TTP terrorists, aims to target threats based on intelligence, ensuring the safety and stability of Pakistan without causing large-scale displacement, and requires unified national support to conclusively combat terrorism
The new operation can be seen as an upgraded version of the National Action Plan, necessary due to the latest dimensions of the threat to national security. There is no need for a formal physical military operation involving ground and air support to clear terror-infested areas, as was the case with previous operations. The Pakistan defence forces have been appreciated for dismantling terror networks and promoting regional and global peace and security. The series of operations carried out by our forces dismantled numerous terror networks, leaving them no space to operate freely in the country. Therefore, a kinetic operation leading to large-scale displacement or disturbance of routine socio-economic life is unnecessary. Critics’ apprehensions are based on misperceptions, which should be removed when the National Security Committee briefs the parliament in an in-camera session on different aspects of the new counter-terrorism plan. However, I firmly believe that merely briefing parliamentarians will not suffice. Instead, the policy should be presented in black and white and given final shape after Parliament’s input.
The Government claims the Azm-e-Istehkam operation was approved after reaching a consensus among all stakeholders, including the four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. This is understandable as the decision to launch an operation to tackle the resurgence in terrorism, especially in KP and Balochistan, was taken back in April 2023 by the NSC meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The issue might have been discussed in provincial apex committee meetings, but the opposition and the KP Government are expressing ignorance. Their concerns need to be addressed to make the operation a success, as the resource-starved country cannot repeatedly spare resources for such operations.
We cannot afford to politicize the issue of terrorism, which is a constant threat to the country’s stability and progress. Pakistan has made sincere efforts to eliminate terrorism and extremism and has succeeded to a great extent, but the war against terror could not be concluded due to the non-cooperation of some regional countries. Pakistan’s commitment to eradicating terrorism is evident as the country has embarked on a comprehensive program to reform its economy and address chronic problems like poverty, backwardness, population explosion, unemployment, disease, energy shortages and phenomenal inflation. Apart from promoting investment through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a new high-powered platform, the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), has been created to attract investment from friendly countries, especially the Gulf States. However, the success of such plans is deeply linked to maintaining peace and security. Chinese nationals working on vital projects have been targeted by terrorists, affecting project progress. China has repeatedly expressed its keenness to expand cooperation with Pakistan under CPEC but has concerns about the security environment. Liu Jianchao, the Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC), linked Chinese investment with improved security and business environments in Pakistan. His remarks about the shaken confidence of Chinese investors due to Pakistan’s security situation should serve as an eye-opener for all stakeholders in Pakistan.
