Laiba Aziz
In the past few years, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has been a hotbed of terrorism. In 2022, the region was rocked by a series of attacks, including bombings and suicide and terrorist attacks on police check posts, IED explosions, and crossfires among other incidents that killed over 100s of people and soldiers. These attacks caused widespread damage to infrastructure and led to a humanitarian crisis in the country.
Pakistan Army has taken a number of steps to address the issue of terrorism in affected areas of KP. These include; Area profiling to identify areas that are at risk of terrorism. This information is used to target security operations and development efforts. WHAM (winning hearts and minds) activities were carried out to win the support of the local population. These include providing free medical care, rebuilding homes and schools, and promoting economic development. The military has carried out, disrupting terrorist activities, and killing or capturing key leaders.
Military efforts have had a significant impact on the security situation in KP lately. In the past year, there has been a significant decrease in terrorist attacks. In fact, the number of terrorist-related deaths in KP in 2023 is half the number of deaths in 2022.
As the situation improved Pakistan Army rebuilt hundreds of homes and schools that were destroyed by terrorism. It has also invested in new roads, hospitals, and other infrastructure projects. This has also led to a renewed sense of hope and optimism among the people of KP. People are now more willing to invest in their communities, to participate in the efforts to build peace in the region, and to send their children to school.
Some examples of the state and military’s combined efforts to address terrorism in KP are:
- Over 10,000 homes and 500 schools have been rebuilt in Waziristan. New roads and hospitals have been constructed as well.
- In Chitral, the Shandur Polo Ground, a popular tourist destination that was destroyed by a terrorist attack in 2022, has been rebuilt and regularly hosts Shandur Polo Festival now.
- The state has also launched several programs to promote economic development in KP. These programs include providing loans to small businesses and creating jobs in the tourism sector.
Some other steps include:
“The military has worked to improve the intelligence network in KP. This has helped to disrupt terrorist activity and to identify and arrest terrorists before they can carry out attacks.
“The army has worked with local communities to build trust and cooperation. This has helped to create a more supportive environment for counter-terrorism efforts by providing respect to the culture.
“Steps have been taken to enhance border security to prevent terrorists from entering Pakistan from neighboring countries.
Last but not the least, the repatriation of illegal immigrants living in Pakistan has been a major focus of the state in recent months. In August 2023, the state launched a nationwide campaign to identify and deport illegal immigrants. The campaign has been successful in repatriating thousands of people to their home countries, especially ill-legal Afghan citizens living in the country.
The state’s efforts to repatriate illegal immigrants are motivated by several factors. First, the state wants to reduce the number of people living in Pakistan illegally. This is because illegal immigrants often do not have access to basic services such as education and healthcare. They can also pose a security threat, as they may be involved in criminal activity.
Second, the state wants to protect the jobs of Pakistani citizens. Illegal immigrants often compete with Pakistani citizens for jobs, which can drive down wages and working conditions. Also, they are involved in the black market, which is a kick in the throat of the income source of Pakistanis.
Third, the government wants to send a message to other countries that Pakistan is serious about enforcing its immigration laws.
The repatriation of illegal immigrants has been met with mixed reactions. Some people support the state’s efforts, arguing that it is necessary to protect the jobs of Pakistani citizens and to reduce the number of people living in Pakistan illegally. Others argue that the state’s efforts are inhumane and that they should focus on providing illegal immigrants with a path to citizenship.
The state of Pakistan has defended its repatriation policy, arguing that it is necessary to protect the interests of Pakistani citizens. The state and military’s efforts to address terrorism in KP have been successful largely in restoring security and improving the lives of the people. However, there is still more work to be done. The state needs to continue to invest in infrastructure, education, and economic development to build a more resilient and prosperous future for KP.
It is safe to say in the end that the state and military’s combined efforts to address terrorism in KP are a major success story. It has helped to restore security and improve the lives of the people tremendously. The continued commitment to these efforts is essential to ensure a peaceful and prosperous future for KP.
The writer is a Peace & Conflict Studies Graduate and current affairs analyst.
