These are extraordinary times to be living in Pakistan, not for all the pleasant reasons though. The country is at war with Pakistani Taleban and also battling insurgency in the troubled province of Balochistan. Pakistan has bore the brunt of US war on terror and continues to remain deeply divided over counter-militancy measures.
Even as the government and militants were taking reluctant steps toward the fragile and uncertain peace process, a vast majority was skeptical of these moves to achieve long-lasting peace in the country. Whatever little hope remained has now been completely shattered by Taleban’s brazen attack on Karachi’s international airport.
Claiming responsibility for the attack, Pakistani Taleban stated, “Pakistan used peace talks as a tool of war.” The group further warned that this was their “first attack to avenge the death of Hakimullah Mehsud.” The blatant attack, which left up to two dozen dead, has raised several question marks over Pakistan’s ability to secure key civilian and military installations. In recent years, the militants have been able to penetrate and cause extensive damage in highly secure areas of Kamra air base, General Headquarters (GHQ) of the Pakistan Army in Rawalpindi and Mehran naval base. These incidents have sent shockwaves among ordinary citizens, who believe that the government has failed miserably in protecting their lives and assets.
Despite spending several billions of rupees on defense capabilities, Pakistan has struggled to cope up with the challenges presented by local Taleban militants. The recent attacks show complete ineffectiveness of the government’s counter-terrorism strategy.
While it made attempts to reconcile with the more flexible militants, the peace talks have now hit an impasse and are unlikely to be revived. The government can be expected to buckle under public pressure and adopt a hard-line stance in the fight against terror. The military has also warned of a final showdown with the militants in North Waziristan region. So far, the military has respected democratic norms by upholding popular political opinion of pursuing a peace dialogue.
The attacks also show that Pakistani Taleban is a determined and well-organized force, deeply rooted even in urban centers of the country. Security analysts believe that the Taleban have been emboldened by recent exchange of prisoners with the US. As the US withdrawal from the region and Afghan presidential elections loom closer, the Taleban can be expected to launch more attacks in the coming times. In such a scenario, it is imperative that the government of Pakistan takes decisive action against the extremist forces to gain a better grip over its security and economic challenges.
At the same time, the government must not turn a blind eye to sectarian killings and insurgency in Balochistan that may flare up to hurt national integrity. By gaining a national consensus on these sensitive issues, the government should work toward alleviating sufferings of marginalized groups so that they may also contribute toward development of Pakistan. However, the country’s progress and development will remain a distant dream if the authorities are unable to ensure security and peace across the country.
