As Pakistan launches its latest military counter-terrorism operation, how can the country ensure that it does not repeat the mistakes of the past?
The decision to launch the operation was taken recently amid a surge in violence in Pakistan. Azm-e-Istekham “Resolve for Stability” underscores the government’s ongoing commitment to combating terrorism and extremism. But for Pakistan to achieve lasting peace and security, it needs to adopt a comprehensive strategy that addresses the underlying causes. In the face of growing criticism, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif clarified that this is not a “large-scale military operation,” but simply launching another military operation will not achieve the desired results.
History of Pakistan’s counter-terrorism operations, including operations Al Mizan, Ra-E-Last, Ra-e-Nijat, Zarb-e-Azb and Rad-ul-FaçadeThe past has been marked by a series of tactical successes. But these victories have not translated into strategic victories against terrorism and extremism. Any new effort, often framed as a political move, must address the long-term structural problems that foster extremism.
The underlying problem of the resurgence of terrorism is the inability to develop and execute long-term proactive strategies and instead rely on short-term military tactics. Military approaches and short-term strategies did not help in dealing with insurgency and terrorism in Afghanistan and will not work in Pakistan either. There is no doubt that past military operations conducted by the Pakistan Army came with many sacrifices and achievements, such as eliminating militant hideouts and leaders. However, they failed to dismantle the underlying networks and ideologies that drive extremism and terrorism. They were reactions to immediate threats rather than part of a sustained and strategic effort to address the structural causes of extremism. They often lacked follow-up of socio-economic development and rehabilitation, leaving a vacuum that militants could quickly fill again.
Operation Azm-e-Isteqam, like previous operations, is unlikely to bring about lasting peace unless Pakistan moves towards a more comprehensive and integrated strategy.
While the military is essential to neutralizing the immediate threat, a lasting solution requires addressing the root causes of terrorism through socio-economic development, a strong legal framework, political stability, and effective community engagement. From 2010 to 2012, I surveyed the combat experiences and perceptions of the Pakistani military during the war on terror and found that even the fighters felt that the root causes of extremism needed to be addressed through focused and decisive political leadership. The military is up to the task and will continue to do so if necessary, but delaying a comprehensive, politically-led strategy will only prolong the problem.
Moreover, there is a lack of impact assessment in Pakistan’s political, military, bureaucratic and judicial spheres, especially with regard to measures taken to counter extremism and terrorism. Avoiding transparency and accountability and not properly auditing previous operations and projects will prevent new operations from bringing about victory or lasting peace. Another critical challenge facing Pakistan is achieving national and political consensus on counterterrorism efforts. Failure to do so will keep the country stuck in a cycle of reworking. Achieving consensus on national security issues is crucial to maintain inter-administration continuity in the fight against terrorism and extremism.
What do I need to do?
Current strategies require a paradigm shift from reactive to proactive. Pakistan has long lacked a comprehensive approach focused on empowering the civilian counterterrorism sector to disrupt networks and address the drivers of extremism. The National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), the lead agency coordinating efforts against terrorism and extremism in Pakistan, has the responsibility to respond and adapt to the changing nature of extremist violence. Among other measures, NACTA should conduct national-level research based on primary data and develop and disseminate robust counter-strategies in local languages to curb the risks of radicalization and recruitment.
There is a need to integrate military efforts with efforts to address structural inequalities and to focus on socio-economic development, grassroots-level education reforms and community engagement. Local communities need to be engaged in counter-terrorism efforts and use their knowledge and support to prevent the spread of extremism. Maintaining transparent communication and informing the public about progress and challenges in counter-terrorism is also necessary to build trust and support for the government’s efforts. Another important aspect is ensuring effective legislation and judicial procedures to prosecute terrorists and dismantle terrorist organizations. There have been several cases where many prisoners captured by security forces were released by the courts due to lack of evidence, “inadmissible evidence,” “threat culture,” or inadequate procedures.
In conclusion, the operation Azm-e-IstekhamUnless Pakistan shifts to a more holistic and integrated strategy, this war, like its predecessors, is unlikely to bring lasting peace. The military alone cannot win this war. True victory requires the backing of socio-economic development, a strong legal framework, political unity and unwavering popular support.
The people of Pakistan have the will to eradicate terrorism and extremism from their society. It is possible if we work together with the relevant stakeholders. But we have to take the right steps at the right time and in the right direction, otherwise it will all go in vain.
The views expressed in this commentary are those of the authors and do not represent the views of RUSI or any other institution.
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