The 262nd Corps Commanders Conference (CCC) of the Pakistan Army was recently held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) Rawalpindi. The topmost forum of the Pakistan Army took a holistic overview of the gambit of the issues that offer multiple challenges to the Country’s Defense, Security, and law enforcement Apparatuses amid nationwide general elections, evolving regional geopolitical dynamics, domestic and transnational terrorism and recent exchange of fire at Pak-Iran border. According to the official press release of the ISPR, the forum paid rich tribute to the supreme sacrifices of Shuhadas including officers and men of the Armed Forces, Law Enforcement Agencies, and the citizens who have laid their lives to ensure peace and stability in the country. The forum expressed resolve that terrorists, their facilitators, and abettors, working on the behest of hostile forces to destabilize Pakistan, will be dealt with the full might of the state. The Army Chief General Asim Munir declared that Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are sacrosanct and inviolable. Pakistan believes in peaceful co-existence with all states, however, there would never be any compromise over the country’s sovereignty, national honour, and aspirations of Pakistani people.
The Corps Commanders Conference and the statement of the Army Chief come at a crucial period when Pakistan is fully braced up for the General Election 2024 and significant security challenges lie ahead. Pakistan faces a continued risk of cross-border terrorism from its joint border with Afghanistan, where the hordes of terrorists often target Pakistani border posts, and illegally cross the border to trade terrorism inside Pakistan. Similar situations exist on the Pak-Iran border, wherein, Baloch insurgents and the Iranian separatist group frequently illegally cross the border to perpetrate terrorism in Pakistan and Iran. The recent incursion of Iranian security forces into Pakistani territory and Pakistan’s military surgical strikes against Pakistani-proscribed terrorist groups in Iran is a real challenge that can ignite a full-fledged war between the two neighbours at any time in the future.
The menace of terrorism persistently stems out in Pakistan border regions, particularly in newly merged districts of Erstwhile FATA and some parts of Balochistan. The law and order situation appears to be much more delicate as the election campaign is in full swing and the grand contest for general elections drawing down next week. There has been a significant upsurge in terrorism in certain areas where terrorist outfits targeting Pakistan military installations and LEA personnel daily while attacks on political rallies and election candidates were also reported in KP and Balochistan. The Election Commission has requested the Army’s assistance from the government for the security of electoral staff and polling stations which is of utmost importance for smooth, secure, and credible elections in the country. Meanwhile, the security of election rallies, contesting candidates, and political leaders throughout this period is also crucial as any unfortunate incident could derail this month-long political exercise and push the country into fresh haphazard anarchy.
The election season is a one-time opportunity for anti-state elements to exploit the situation against the state but the menace of terrorism has been brandishing hindered in our nation since early 2003. Pakistani LEAs, our young officers, soldiers, and common citizens offered unimaginable sacrifices during the war against terrorism but, this monster flourishes with the same vigour and embattle with the state institutions so far. Although the Counter Terrorism campaign is very important however ignoring preach of radical thoughts and rising extremism are the elements that provide a breeding ground for terrorism. The government and Pakistan Army must review their Counter Terrorism strategy, remove its flaws, and also focus on eliminating those terror-birth places that produce terrorists alongside launching an effective nationwide anti-terrorism crusade to defeat this menace once and for all. Meanwhile, an anti-terror consortium consisting of Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan is a must to permanently stall the terrorism issue, otherwise, this menace could not be dealt with by any of the three nations through uncoordinated domestic efforts effectively.
