Resurgence of Terrorism in Pakistan

Ever since the terrorist attacks on World Trade Center on 9/11, and Pakistan's alliance with the United States in the the subsequent War on Terror, this country experienced a surge in terrorist activities. It tragically lost innocent children of the Army Public School, witnessed destruction of schools, and gruesome slaughter of individuals in places like Swat, Waziristan, Bajaur, and Tribal areas. During this whole time, the masses grew accustomed to news headlines featuring bomb blasts, suicide bombers, and mass casualties. The sacrifices made by our armed and police forces will never be forgotten. However, in recent years, there has been a slight respite following successful military operations carried out by the army in various parts of the country. Nevertheless, we now see that terrorists are attempting to reemerge in various parts of the country. One might question the reasons behind the resurgence of terrorism in Pakistan.

In order to comprehend this inquiry, one must possess an understanding of the economic conditions prevailing in Pakistan vis-à-vis its alliance with the United States. The economy of Pakistan is based on conflict, wherein the presence of instability within its vicinity, coupled with its affiliation to the US, enables it to receive perpetual military and financial aid, consequently allowing for smooth economic operations. Similarly, the fight against terrorism domestically, involving the TTP and Haqqani Network, is also supported by the US through provisions of economic and military aid, thus averting potential default scenarios and precluding the need for solicitation of a $1.2 billion loan from the IMF.

Pakistan's participation in the War on Terror, in alliance with the US, was progressing seamlessly, and the country had been receiving substantial economic and military assistance until 2016, when the Trump administration saw the drafting of a new policy for South Asia. During the announcement of this new policy, President Donald Trump explicitly stated that despite having doled out billions of dollars to them (Pakistan), yet they were still harboring the very terrorists the US had been striving to capture. The irony is that how can one obliterate a source that has been a means of sustenance for them? Trump's astuteness in realizing Pakistan's duplicity regarding the alliance was noteworthy, and consequently, the flow of US aid came to a halt. Subsequently, in a mere seven years, the country's economic conditions have deteriorated to such an extent that it is currently on the verge of default. The government is now imploring the IMF to provide a loan of 1.2 billion dollars to revive the economy.

Pakistan is scheduled to repay nearly $22 billion in foreign debt and interest over the next 10 months in order to avoid default, as per data from the State Bank of Pakistan. However, the government has not formulated a concrete strategy to fulfill this obligation, and instead appears to be reliant on beseeching the IMF for support. The nation lacks any distinctive export or remittance resources to buttress its reserves.

At this point, the readers may have gleaned from the preceding discourse that, left with no viable alternative to sustain their war-driven economy and repay import credit bills, some shadowy actors have devised an innovative scheme to rekindle terrorism within their borders. This would ostensibly provide them with a pretext to engage in anti-terrorist operations within the country, knowing that the US has traditionally been a staunch supporter of war against terrorism. As a result, the US would once again start sending financial and military assistance, but that would eventually help rebound the economy. There appears to be no motive behind the resurrection of terrorism other than to restore the previously halted influx of dollars, which occurred during the tenure of Donald Trump. These terrorist organisations are the strategic assets that come to action at a time of need, just as a scenario has erupted for the government. The Foreign Minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has repeatedly implored the United States to support Pakistan in its fight against terrorism in several of his addresses.

Some readers may disagree with this perspective, but there is substantial evidence to support the notion that Pakistan has historically relied on its alliance with the United States for a smooth-running economy. With the exception of the 1970s, during which Pakistan shifted its foreign policy towards the Soviet Union due to being left alone in two major wars with India by the US and, the socialist tendencies of Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Pakistan has maintained a close alliance with the US. This alliance has allowed Pakistan to remain of strategic importance to the US, with the latter providing both financial and military assistance to Pakistan, primarily to combat communism and to aid them against the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan. As previously discussed, the US has also extended aid to Pakistan in the war on terror. Following the cessation of US financial assistance, some clandestine groups within Pakistan are resorting to terrorism, sacrificing their own citizens and using their own territory to convey the message that they are facing renewed terrorist activity and require US assistance. For instance, over 100 policemen were killed in a bomb blast at Peshawar police line. Militants are now being installed in the hilly areas of Swat. Sources have confirmed that certain obscure forces are pressuring the Gujjar community of the hilly regions of Swat to aid the Taliban in settling in the area and are threatening them with dire consequences if they do not comply.

Nevertheless, the people of Pakistan are now well aware of the devious schemes being employed in the guise of terrorism and will not permit their loved ones to be sacrificed, their homes destroyed, and their land occupied by the so-called turbaned mullahs. Nor will they be swayed by the outbursts of these mullahs. Pakistanis are a peace-loving nation and yearn for tranquility. They have already suffered great losses in terms of lives and property and are unwilling to tolerate any more. Consequently, the decision-makers of this country ought to devise a more pragmatic and sincere means of extricating the country from its economic quagmire, rather than resorting to the bloodshed of innocent Pakistanis.