WAR ON TERROR

Terrorism

Terrorism is formal use of violence as a means of compulsion for any specific aim or objective (especially political).

Origin and Background

• Soviet war in Afghanistan started on December24, 1979. It was fought between Soviet union reinforced by D.R Afghanistan and Mujahidin. Mujahidin were backed by Pakistan, USA, Israel, Switzerland, Israel, Egypt, Turkey, China and Saudi Arabia.
• The Soviet war lasted for 9 years and ended on February 1989. The Mujahidin got trained in Pakistan and China as well as got billions of dollars from USA,UK and Saudi Arabia, As a result of the war 14,453 Soviet Soldiers were killed while 75,000 to 90,000 Mujahidin were killed. Along with this Hundreds of thousands of civilians were killed. After war Millions of Afghans victims fled to Pakistan and Iran. After the war Mujahidin were never disarmed later activated.
• On 11 September,2001(9/11) there were a series of Terrorism attacks launched by Terrorist group Al- Qaeda who hijacked 4 passenger planes one of them was crashed on Pennsylvania in fields. While two upon World trade center in New York city , and one on Pentagon.
• After this USA put down war against Mujahidin, Pakistan decided to help USA in this war. As a result of this the mujahidin laid a war against USA and its allies.

Effects of terrorism on Pakistan

Law and order situation

• The force of terrorism escalate in Pakistan in the after Lal Mosque operation in 2007. Terrorists conducted focused attacks, resulting in the deaths of numerous civilians.
• In overall prevalence of violence and terrorism in 2009, 12,632 Pakistanis were killed in 3816 terrorists attacks and injured were 12,815. In 2010, 10,003 people were killed in 393 terrorists attacks and injured were 10,283 others.• In 2011,710 people were killed in 2985 terrorists attacks in  and injured were 6,736. In 2012, 5,047 people were killed in 2217 deadly terrorists attacks and injured were 5,688.
• Approximately, 4,000 such incidents in 2013, with more than 2,700 civilian deaths.
• Peshawar school Attack(massacre), terrorist attack in which seven heavily armed Taliban fighters attacked an army-run primary and secondary school in Peshawar, Pakistan, on December 16, 2014, killing over 150 people, of whom at least 134 were students of the APS School.
• In 2016, Pakistan experienced 736 terrorist attacks, leading to over 956 fatalities.
• Almost 595 people, including Pakistani security officials, have been killed and 1,030 others injured in 262 terror attacks in the country during 2018.
• In 2019, a total of 207 terrorist attacks took place.
• In 2020, Pakistan saw 319 incidents of terrorism, which caused the deaths of around 169 innocent people.
• In 2021, 433 people were killed and 719 injured in 250 terrorist attacks.

Among those blamed for the sectarian violence in the country are mainly groups such as the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Sipah-e-Sahaba, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, and members of Shia militant groups such as Sipah-e-Muhammad Pakistan.

Major Incidents

• KILLING OF Benazir
• In 2012 terrorist attacked PNS mehran 
• Ex Minister of KPK Bashir Blour was killed in a suicide attack.
• Malala Yousaf Zai attack
• Pervez Musharraf was also attacked twice in Rawalpindi by terrorists but was saved.
• Following the attack on Kamra air base, Air Commodore Azam, a prominent official, was injured as a result.
• In Quetta on religion basis bundles and bundles of Shia Muslims were killed, as a result of which government of Baluchistan was stopped from working.
• Army Public School attack

Effects of terrorism on Economy

Since 2006, the War has spread like a contagion into settled areas of Pakistan that has so far, cost the country more than 83,000 citizens, destruction of infrastructure, internal migration of millions of people from parts of northwestern Pakistan, erosions of investment climate, nosediving of production and growing unemployment and above all brought economic activity to a virtual stand still in many part of the country.

Never before had Pakistan experienced such profound social and economic turmoil within its industries, not even in the aftermath of the country's dismemberment through direct warfare. Amidst escalating economic challenges, a newly elected government assumed power in 2008. In response to the worsening economic conditions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs established an inter-ministerial committee tasked with evaluating both the direct and indirect costs incurred by Pakistan as a consequence of the War on Terror.

The economy of Pakistan suffers greatly due to the impact of terrorism. We are losing more than what we get. We're losing more than we gain from America, regardless of how we acquire it. It's crucial that we reflect on this and devise a sound policy accordingly.

Pakistan continued to bear a significant burden, facing steep costs in both economic and security realms. A large portion of its resources, both men and material are being consumed by this war for the last several years. The economy was subjected to enormous direct and indirect costs which continued to rise from $ 2.669 billion in 2001-02 to $ 13.6 billion by 2009-10, projected to rise to $ 17.8 billion in the current financial. During the last 10 years the direct and indirect cost of war on terror incurred by Pakistan amounted to $ 67.93 billion or Rs. 5037 billion (Ministry of finance). The situation has been tough for Pakistan. It's been harder to sell things abroad, and foreign investors are staying away. Plans to sell off government-owned stuff have slowed down, and the economy isn't growing as fast as it could. People aren't buying as much from other countries, so the government isn't making as much money from taxes. They're spending a lot more on security because of the trouble. Local tourism has taken a hit, and many jobs that could have been created were lost. The places where people visit for fun, both inside the country and from other places, got damaged. This made things worse for job opportunities. Buildings and other important things got destroyed in the fighting, and the government had to spend a lot to fix them. Lots of people had to leave their homes because of the fighting, and the government had to spend even more to help them out.

Many individuals relocated from their residences.. In KPK and its related agencies almost five million people were migrated, which is considered as one of the largest migrations in the history of Pakistan.

External involvement in terrorism inside Pakistan

DG ISI categorically stated that foreign powers are involved in terrorist activities inside Pakistan. He said, "The foreign powers are involved in terrorism and destabilization of the country." During a briefing in the National Security Committee session, DG ISI said that the Foreign powers are engaged in terrorist activities within the nation. He mentioned that they're thinking about changing the US plan on fighting terrorism. They'll make adjustments as needed, based on what's best for the country. This is not new claim inside Pakistan, many Pakistani political commentators have been speaking publicly about this phenomenon. It is alleged that terrorist activities inside Pakistan were actively carried out by the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW - India's external intelligence agency) and the MOSSAD for different purposes. 

There are reports that to achieve its objectives the external powers hired the services of at least a dozen Afghan warlords inside Afghanistan and provided through them arms and finances to militants in FATA and other areas to carryout murders and devastation in the country.

Since the start of the war on terror, many lives have been lost in Pakistan due to terrorist attacks.

Solution

Agreements with TTP and other terrorist groups

• To make an agreement with TTP government should send her delegates and ambassadors to the new head of Taliban Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud.
• If Taliban doesn't agree to stop the war then we should try to crush the treaty by force.

Role of Religious bodies

• As we all know religion plays a sole role in binding its followers, furthermore Islam is the perfect religion. Considering this viewpoint, our religious leaders ought to convene and issue a decree to promote education among followers of Islam.
• Islam is a religion of peace it doesn't allows any one to endanger or kill any one else.
• Implementing these measures can help bring peace to Pakistan and put an end to terrorism.