The Government of Pakistan has made a strategic approach to declare Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as “Fitna al-Khawarij”, which is a clear indication to emphasize the TTP’s misinterpretation of religion by making them as an illegitimate group. This move is in line with an overall counter-terrorism approach which does not only entail neutralizing the physical threat from militant groups but also ideology.
The TTP since it was formed in 2007 is causing terror in Pakistan and has claimed the lives of hundreds of security forces. The group was formed by Baitullah Mehsud who was known as the world’s most dangerous man, the group started to attack and use brutal tactics. The TTP’s main goal is to remove the Pakistani government and impose Taliban-like Sharia law on the population. It has committed many barbarous acts in the past that include the 2014 Peshawar school shooting where 149 people including 136 students were killed. This act terrorism is one of the mass tragedies in the Pakistan history and this tragic event explains the TTP organizational behavior at its best.
The group’s actions have inflicted a lot of suffering to humanity and has greatly impacted the social and economic fabric of Pakistan. Based on the different evaluations and articles, the TTP is involved in bombings, suicide attack, and targeted killings. These attacks have also led to the killing of thousands of civilians and security forces making the general population extremely susceptible to insecurity. The people of the United States have suffered greatly with the amount of money lost afterwards being in the billions because of the decline in foreign investment, tourism, and general economic activity.
However, apart from the TTP, other groups such as the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group (HGBG) and Majeed Brigade (MB) have been banned by the Pakistani government. These groups much as the TTP have been involved in acts of terrorism that are detrimental to the stability of a country. The HGBG has been infamous for its insurgent activities in the North Waziristan area, or military as well as civilian populations of Pakistan. The Majeed Brigade, one of the B.L.A.’s wings, has carried out many operation, such as suicide bombings and assassinations in Balochistan, to create unrest there.
The National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) has remained pivotal in the process of monitoring and facilitating the proscription of these groups. Through monitoring of these thugs and getting intelligence information on them, NACTA has assisted the government to have enough info to counter these threats. These organizations are banned based on surveillance and analysis, hence the tenets of evidential of their involvement in terrorism.
The TTP and other banned outfits which have surfaced in the past have always used different tactics to express themselves. The former are recruiting new members through religious appeal, employing well-performing media intercessors’ to orchestrate the terror activities and cross border terrorism by taking advantage of weak border security between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Of all the insurgents, the TTP has proven especially perceptive in the social media domain and has enjoyed the use of propaganda to brainwash its people.
the TTP with its allied groups might undergo a process of learning and innovation to avoid counter-terrorism strategies. This could include the utilization of cyber terrorism, a higher degree of targeting infrastructure and leadership and efforts at franchising or partnering with other militant organizations. Much as the group can and does evolve in response to the actions and tactics of others, Pakistan’s government needs to continue to monitor and consistently be on the offense against it.
Thus, Operation “Azm-e-Istehkam” is one of the elements of the renewed fight against terrorism in Pakistan. The rationale of this operation is to build up the national counter-terrorism capacity, to intensify borders and to cut off logistical and financial sources of the terrorists. With the help of armed actions and counteraction in terms of ideological beliefs, the government poses a challenge to the very premises on which these formations were built. Further, Pakistan’s approach entails that it seeks to involve its international friends and regional neighbors since terrorism is a global problem that cannot be tackled in isolation. There is need for integrating soft security measures consisting of intelligence sharing, military drills, and diplomatic cooperation to deal with threats posed by TTP and other affiliated organizations.
The Pakistani government officials’ actions and policies regarding the TTP and other militant organizations are a comprehensive strategy that seeks to curb the physical acts of militancy as well as the ideologies underlying such activities. The recategorization of these terrorists as well as, the all over military exercises and global cooperation provide a significant assurance to bring back the lost harmony and safety in that area. The warfare has been going on for a long time in Pakistan, which proves the constant fight of the country against terrorism as a threat to its future.
