Reema Shaukat
Pakistan has been victim of menace of terrorism for more than a decade. Thousands of Pakistanis have lost their lives in this war against terrorism. Two years back, in a terrible act of barbarism seven terrorists affiliated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) conducted an attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar on 16th of December, 2014. This was the deadliest terrorist attack ever to occur in Pakistan in which 144 people lost their lives including 132 innocent students, ranging between eight and eighteen years of age. A rescue operation was launched by Special Services Group (SSG) of army, who killed all seven terrorists who were foreign nationals and rescued 960 people in school.
This attack was condemned worldwide as children were never directly targeted in act of extremism particularly war. The attack sparked widespread reactions in Pakistan, getting denunciations from public, government, political and religious entities, journalists, and other members of Pakistani society. On the second day after the attack, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had revoked a six-year moratorium on the death penalty in terrorism-related cases. It is significant to note that over 60 percent of the world’s population lives in countries where executions do take place, such as the US, China, India and Indonesia. On 6 January 2015, both houses of the Parliament unanimously passed the “Constitution Act 2015(Twenty-First Amendment)”, which was signed into law by the President Mamnoon Hussain on 7 January 2015. The National Action Plan (NAP) was prepared by the All Parties Conference in consultation with the military. The reaction was natural, demanding corrective and punitive action. The parliament relinquished its right in favor of the APC, which drafted the 21st amendment to the constitution. The parliament approved it without much of debate. If there were any dissenting voices, they preferred not to attend the session. The amendment has given the twenty point National Action Plan to root out terrorism from Pakistan which foresees establishment of special courts for speedy trial of terror suspects and a crackdown on jihadi and sectarian outfits. These courts will crack all terrorists whether they carry out attacks on military installations or civilians. Key points in the plan are action against proscribed outfits, reform of religious seminaries and the repatriation of Afghan refugees. Almost all segments of society welcomed the National Action Plan adopted with a consensus by the political leadership to rid the country from the havocs of terrorism. Under the plan, the Karachi operation would be taken to its logical conclusion, while there would be zero tolerance for militancy in Punjab. In Baluchistan, the provincial government would be empowered to start political reconciliation with complete ownership by all stakeholders. However, action against terror financing, foreign funding of seminaries, banned organizations and sectarian groups, hate speeches, and madrassah reforms are some of the elements of NAP that have long been identified as poor performing. Though with passage of time overall security situation has improved and sources claim 70% reduction in militancy because of NAP and military operations.
On June 15, 2014 Pakistani military announced a wide scale operation against miscreants in the FATA and adjoining areas of North Waziristan after the peace negotiations between the Taliban and the government failed. This military operation was one of its kind against all the terrorists which belonged to different cliques of TTP, East Turkestan Islamic Movement, Al-Qaeda and Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. Prior to Zarb e Azb many other smaller military operations were held in areas where hide outs of insurgents were traced and later annihilated in various phases. Previous military operations were Operation al-Mizan, Operation Zalzala, Operation Sher Dil, Operation Rah-e-Rast, Operation Rah-e-Haq and lastly Operation Rah-e-Nijat which were successful on smaller scale. While Pakistan continued to face menace of terrorism it was necessary to carry out extensive military manoeuvre which not only breaks the terrorist networks but their abilities to carry out attempts of insurgency throughout the country. After APS attack, this operation was extended with full zeal to scourge of terrorism forever. Operation Zarb-e-Azb not only improved overall security situation in the country but it also caused serious indentations to the unity of TTP. TTP splinted into at least three major factions. This operation forced senior leadership of the militants to flee and thus cut off effective communication between top leadership with middle and low level field commanders.
Undoubtedly, Peshawar school tragedy was a final wake up call to the whole nation, and Pakistan decided to firmly beat brutality of the terrorists and it succeeded too. But still many challenges lie ahead of Pakistan particularly with flourishing CPEC and other ventures, adversaries never waste any chance of destabilizing country. With coping up on many fronts, all segments of nation must be on one page, which is necessary to make the National Action Plan fully successful and applicable. In fact, the menace of terrorism cannot be tackled with political expediencies, but with clear, firm and decisive policies, as on the tragic killing of 132 innocent school children, Pakistan must strike back terrorists and their sympathizers with zero tolerance. It is pertinent that efforts be made in forming narratives against violent extremism which are based on ethics and a culture of pluralism and peaceful coexistence. To restore the gap between the perceived vs real origins of violent extremism, thoughtful rejoinders, effective strategies and implementation of policies are essential and all factions must come forward to make Pakistan safer than earlier.
