TTP has targeted over hundreds of thousand Pakistanis including men, women and children in various acts of violence over the past two decades, but the idea of good and bad terrorists still exists.
In the last nine months of 2022, there were scores of terrorist attacks across Pakistan, the most of them were carried out by terrorists connected to the TTP, who carried out 274 attacks and left at least 455 people dead. The law-and-order situation in the country has worsened, with terrorist groups like the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Islamic State group, and Gul Bahadur Group executing attacks with near impunity across the country.
The likelihood of peace appears remote when seen in light of the current situation. Experts previously were not in favor of negotiations with the terrorists, and those talks did not produce any positive outcome; on the contrary, they boosted the terrorists’ morale.
The latest surge in targeted violence comes on the heels of the talks with the TTP that actually began in April 2021 when Afghan Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhunzada, at Pakistan’s request, formed a delegation to prod the TTP into peace talks.
Who are the TTP and other similar groups? These organizations have recently threatened terrorism against the United States. As a result, the United States recognized TTP as a terrorist group in 2010, and the United Kingdom followed suit the following year in 2011.
The National Security Committee has termed “terrorists are the enemies of Pakistan” and vowed to respond “with full force” to those who challenge the country. The NSC expressed an “unequivocal opinion” that Pakistan’s national interests would not be compromised, and no one would be allowed to harm the country’s national security. The NSC meeting made it clear that the blood of every citizen of Pakistan is very precious and the law will deal strictly with anyone involved in shedding it. However, it said negotiation with any group who is not involved in terrorist activities is possible.
The National Security Committee made a correct decision to adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism, which gives hope of effective action against terrorists in the coming days.
You may recall that Hillary Clinton, while testifying before the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Congress, was of the opinion that if we let Afghanistan in the hands of Taliban, terrorism will return to the AF-Pak region.
After the Soviet Union’s withdrawal, the US previously left Afghanistan on its own. The Mujahideen then splintered into groups like the Taliban and TTP and started engaging in terrorist activities. Again, we are seeing history repeating itself as this time US forces left Afghanistan after a 20-year conflict, the Taliban are once again in control of Kabul, and the same episode is being repeated.
Translated by M.M. News Editorial Team
