The recent wave of terrorism in parts of KPK, particularly in Swat, is a matter of serious concern and it has created a sense of insecurity among the citizens in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Swat valley, who were on the roads the other day to protest against the fresh incidents of terrorism in the valley that took lives of as many as eight citizens.

The fact that TTP accepted responsibility for the latest attacks speaks volume of the gravity of situation. Earlier, as many as 10 people had died in a terrorists’ attacks in the valley.

It may be recalled here that that the deceased Idrees, who was killed in the recent attack, had played a key role in mobilising people against the TTP in Swat during the 2007 when the TTP was active in the valley.

It was after a comprehensive military operation that things were normalized in Swat but now again after 12 years, the terrorists seem to have regrouped as they have started challenging the writ of the government again. The terrorists’ acts in the valley in recent days should not be taken lightly as these signify the ability of the existing armed groups to strike at will.

The attacks in the valley and elsewhere in the country in a span of few weeks should put the security set-up on alert in order to overcome the threat from the TTP as also the smaller groups which have become active to the extent of striking at will even in the most secured places.

There has been a spike in terrorists acts in Pakistan since the Taliban have taken the reigns of Kabul since last year. During the current year, we witnessed an increase in the terrorists activities in the country which can be attributed to the Afghan factor. The way the terrorist groups mainly TTP and Baloch separatists’ groups have striked in Lahore, Islamabad to Balochsitan indicates how strong and vast their network is to be operating in all major cities including the well secured Islamabad, where the security apparatus is always on the vigil, but they managed to killed a police officer and wounded two others when the TTP men riding on bike attacked checkpoint near one of the city's busy markets in January this year.

Not only the TTP and other outlawed groups have increased attack in Pakistan, they have also widened their network to destinations where they were not striking earlier. The January brazen blast in the busiest market in Lahore that killed three persons besides injuring 30 others is another example of their emboldened behavior and style. The Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA) which is not a known as much claimed responsibility for the attack which shows that now small groups have also gaining capability to strike in other provinces across the country. Earlier, these groups were striking in Balochistan,

There another twist to the situation as the main targets of the terrorists are either the security personnel or the CPEC projects. The  series of the attacks on a check post in Kech district of Balochsitan earlier this year which resulted in killing of as many as ten Pakistani soldiers on the night of January 25-26. Though no group has accepted responsivity for the latest attack on security personal but it can be the work of either TTP or the Baloch insurgent groups. The latter have previously involved in a number of attacks targeting Chinese nationals and projects of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in the province.

Last year saw a series of attacks on Chinese nationals working on CPEC projects including the one in DASU which was a major attack killing as many as fourteen people including nine Chinese engineers, followed by other attacks on Chinese national in Gwadar where the major CPEC projects are underway.

The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a game- changer for Pakistan and India is not happy with this project, as such India's RAW has always been using the separatists outfits like the Baloch Liberation Front to carry out attacks on such projects. The attack in Gwadar, where the Chinese are working on the landmark port project is clearly the work of Baloch Liberation Front, and it is India who are funding such outfits to sabotage development work in Pakistan. Just imagine, the way the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) took responsibility for two such attacks, one in Karachi and other in Gawadar, speaks volume of their abilities to strike at will. 

The security experts have also termed foreign powers responsible for the committing terrorist acts in a bid to stop progress on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).  Meanwhile, a report of the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) reveals an unprecedented rise I. e.  56% surge in militant attacks during the year 2021 despite a one-month ceasefire by the TTP after a consistent decline in militant attacks for six years.  According to PICSS statistics the terrorists and militants outfits carried out 294 attacks in 2021 in which 395 people were killed, including 186 civilians and 192 security forces personnel.  At least 629 people were injured, including 400 civilians and 217 security forces personnel.  

In a nutshell, there was 35% to 38% increase in such acts since August 15  last year- when Taliban fighters had entered Kabul last year. Meanwhile, a report of the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) reveals an unprecedented rise I. e. 56% surge in militant attacks during the year 2021 despite a one-month ceasefire by the TTP after a consistent decline in militant attacks for six years.

The PICSS statistics reveal that the terrorists and militants outfits carried out 294 attacks in 2021 in which 395 people were killed, including 186 civilians and 192 security forces personnel. At least 629 people were injured, including 400 civilians and 217 security forces personnel.

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 16 2022

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