Terrorism in Pakistan: History, Counter Terrorism Acts and Challenges

This essay investigates and analyses the history of terrorism in Pakistan and the role of the counter terrorism acts that the country follows while dealing with the nefarious acts of terrorism. It also highlights the challenges faced by the new democratic government under the leadership of Imran Khan to wipe out the fundamentalist seeds within a year.

Running Head: TERRORISM IN PAKISTAN
TERRORISM IN PAKISTAN
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1TERRORISM IN PAKISTAN
The current terrorist activities in the international stage and its direct link with the
Pakistan government erected a number of scepticism around the world about the role of Pakistan
as a strong force of counter terrorism. The fathom of involvement in terrorist activities was under
severe scrutiny from the neighbouring nations like India, Iran and Afghanistan. In this regard,
this essay is going to investigate and analyse the history of terrorism in Pakistan and the role of
the counter terrorism acts that the country follows while dealing with the nefarious acts of
terrorism.
On the onslaught of the Soviet-Afghan War and subsequent Civil War erupted in
Afghanistan paved the way for Pakistan to come forward as a responsible neighbour and helped
neighbouring Afghanistan by providing a new militia in the name of the Mujahideen. According
to Saleem, Rahman and Rehman (2018) the Pakistan military played the role of a protagonist in
the creation of mujahideen because those fighters were trained in Pakistan. There were several
attacks and terrorists activities that damaged the tranquillity of the country since its inception.
Waging war against India and fighting over the control of Kashmir Valley made Pakistan a war
monger state. Support from the US government in 1970s and 1980s Pakistan became so
vulnerable that the intelligence agency of Pakistan ISI started funding the terrorist groups
directly.
Terrorist activities can be found in the Parachinar town since 2001 with the purpose to
dominate this Shia majority town in Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. The
strategic location of the territory and its shortest route to the Afghan Capital enhanced the
importance of the region and unleashed havoc bloodshed by the Wahhabist and Salafist Sunni
jihadists. As per the report of Ahmad and Muzammal (2015) it can be stated that more than 5000
Shias has been killed in Parachinar over the period of 2007 to 2017. There were many sectarian

2TERRORISM IN PAKISTAN
and political assassination and terrorism activities occurred in Pakistan in the recent 10 years that
ripped off the entire social cohesion and integrity of the country.
One of the infamous political assassination and an act of terrorism was identified was
seen in December, 2007 when the first Women Prime Minister in Pakistan Benazir Bhutto was
killed in Rawalpindi (Jones, 2017). There were enough conspiracy theories and scepticism that
resulted in the death of Prime Minister Bhutto during her rally. The government report stated that
a suicide bomber shot her and blew himself. The Taliban Chief Baitullah Mehsud was accused
for the assassination (Syed, Saeed & Martin, 2015). However, there were several international
reports objected the State story and found out a state driven conspiracy behind the murder.
Moreover, the direct connection between the Islamic fundamentalist groups and Pakistan
intelligence agency ISI was came to the forefront in the international arena when the US Special
Forces succeeded to site and killed the Al Qaeda leader and mastermind of the 9/11 attack
Osama Bin laden in his residence at Abbottabad, Pakistan (Rehman & Vanin, 2017). It pointed
out that Pakistan became a hinterland for terrorist activities and staged military camps for the
jihadists.
However, the new democratic Pakistan government tried to react in a very professional
manner by portraying a staunch protest against terrorist activities within the country. In course of
willing to change the image of Pakistan as a hub of terrorist groups to take bold actions against
terrorism infamous militant group Jamat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed was arrested by the
counter terrorism unit of Pakistan in 2019 (khaleejtimes.com., 2019). However, the support from
the previous ruling parties made a strong base for the militant terrorist groups in the heart of
Pakistan. Therefore, with the help of the UN Office on Drugs and Crimes the Government of
Pakistan is trying to strengthen its Counter Terrorism unit.

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In the current situation, the US government put a ban on Pakistan over aiding for counter
terrorism actions in domestic and international level. Moreover, getting support from China both
in financially and infrastructural development made Pakistan isolated from the rest of the world.
In fact, triggering hostility with India regarding the border crisis and supporting terrorism created
a major setback for Pakistan to get adequate support from the big powers (Xinhuanet.com.,
2019). As a result there are severe challenges for the new democratic government under the
leadership of Imran Khan to wipe out the fundamentalist seeds within a year. It requires a stern
administrative measure and stable democratic government that will facilitate adequate measure
to curb down the terrorist activities within the country and establish peace and stability.
Based on the discussion, it can be stated that there are several problems and lack of
government ability to deal with the practice of establishing an effective counter terrorism unit to
deal with the separatist and fundamentalists groups. Corruption and conspiracy further jeopardise
the situation that resulted in damaging the image of Pakistan in the international platform.

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Reference
Ahmad, M., & Muzammal, T. (2015). Impact of Pakistan's Participation in War on Terror:
Separatist and Extremists Groups. Defence Journal, 18(7), 21.
Jones, O. (2017). How Benazir Bhutto's assassination was covered up. Retrieved 20 July 2019,
from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-42409374
khaleejtimes.com. (2019). Hafiz Saeed arrested in Pakistan by counter-terrorism unit. Retrieved
20 July 2019, from https://www.khaleejtimes.com/international/pakistan/hafiz-saeed-
arrested-in-pakistan-by-counter-terrorism-unit
Malik, M. S. A., Sandholzer, M., Khan, M. Z., & Akbar, S. (2015). Identification of risk factors
generating terrorism in Pakistan. Terrorism and Political Violence, 27(3), 537-556.
Rehman, F. U., & Vanin, P. (2017). Terrorism risk and democratic preferences in
Pakistan. Journal of Development Economics, 124, 95-106.
Saleem, M., Rahman, A. U., & Rehman, S. U. (2018). Identifying causes of terrorism in Karachi,
Pakistan. Dialogue (1819-6462), 13(4).
Syed, S. H., Saeed, L., & Martin, R. P. (2015). Causes and incentives for terrorism in
Pakistan. Journal of Applied Security Research, 10(2), 181-206.
Xinhuanet.com. (2019). Pakistan's counter-terrorism forces kill two IS militants - Xinhua |
English.news.cn. Retrieved 20 July 2019, from http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-
06/20/c_138158701.htm