K-P terror woes to worsen in upcoming year

As talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) collapsed earlier throughout the 12 months, the ceasefire in place was referred to as off by the militant group and a contemporary wave of terrorist incidents was witnessed throughout the nation – which could proceed into the following 12 months as nicely.

Glimpses of the TTP’s resurgence have been witnessed in Swat after which extra not too long ago in Bannu. This contemporary wave of terrorism has put Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Okay-P) and its not too long ago merged tribal districts within the highlight as its populace shall be amongst the worst affectees subsequent 12 months if the TTP and different militant teams, just like the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), will not be handled.

“2023 shall be a terrifying 12 months so far as terrorism is worried,” predicted Dr Syed Hussain Shaheed Soherwardi, Head of the Division of Worldwide Relations on the College of Peshawar. Dr Soherwardi was of the view that terrorism would enhance close to the areas bordering Afghanistan like North Waziristan, South Waziristan, Mohmand, and Bajaur.

“This new wave of militant assaults can even considerably have an effect on areas like Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, Kohat, and the province’s capital, Peshawar.”

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When requested what had led to the rise in terrorist assaults within the nation this 12 months, Dr Soherwardi opined that it was our failure to grasp that negotiations with any militant organisation by no means yield profitable outcomes.

“As an illustration, the negotiations with Maulana Sami-ul-Haq in Waziristan and Sufi Muhammad commander of the Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi in Swat, solely led to an upsurge in terrorism,” stated the division head.

Based on Dr Soherwardi, the present delay in large-scale operations towards terrorists will solely see terror-related incidents develop to different cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad.

“This can even have a drastic affect on the already fragile financial system,” he regretted.

Dr Soherwardi’s fears will not be misplaced because the federal capital has already witnessed a suicide blast not too long ago wherein one policeman was martyred and at the very least six others have been injured.

Nevertheless, the Islamabad blast pales compared to the atrocities that have been witnessed in Okay-P throughout the 12 months as greater than 300 terrorist assaults have been reported, as per knowledge obtained by The Specific Tribune.

Greater than half of those incidents have been both suicide bombings, IED assaults, hand grenade assaults, or goal killings – essentially the most important out of all of those assaults was the Kucha Risaldar Mosque explosion again in March, which left about 62 lifeless and roughly 194 injured.

Counter-terrorism knowledgeable, Dr Khurram Iqbal, commenting on this 12 months’s terror incidents, stated that Okay-P’s border areas and tribal territories have been, sadly, reverting to a pre-2013 state of affairs.

“There are two main causes for this. One, the Taliban being again in energy in Afghanistan; two, the political unrest in Pakistan which has given terror outfits the house to regroup,” defined Dr Iqbal, who can also be the Head of the Division of Worldwide Relations on the Nationwide Protection College (NDU).

He additional stated that Pakistan had nice expectations from the Afghan Taliban as regards to coping with TTP however these hopes have been dashed when the Afghan authorities didn’t take any motion towards them.

“So now now we have to have a zero-tolerance coverage towards the TTP and different terrorist outfits as a result of if we don’t then the violence will solely unfold. It’s time for the navy and political events to work collectively to develop a profitable counter-terrorism technique,” Dr Iqbal prompt.

The Specific Tribune additionally spoke with Barrister Dr Muhammad Ali Saif, who was a part of the group negotiating with the TTP, concerning the way in which ahead in coping with the rise in terror incidents. “The negotiation course of breaking down and assaults growing is unquestionably disappointing,” stated Dr Saif, who can also be the Spokesperson of the incumbent Okay-P authorities.

“We tried to resolve points by means of dialogue however since that didn’t work out I wish to reassure that if the writ of the State is challenged, the legislation enforcement businesses will give a robust response,” the Barrister remarked.