With terrorist attacks on the rise, resulting in more casualties among both civilians and security personnel, it is time for the state to adjust its posture accordingly.

KP is at the center of the militancy storm, although Balochistan has also seen a significant increase in terrorist violence. Thursday’s Reprehensible attack A convoy was targeted at Lower Kurram, in which More than 40 People were killed, along with damage 12 security personnel Earlier Bannu is the latest example of the challenges facing the state on the counter-terrorism front.

In this regard, the Foreign Office… repeated The need for the Afghan Taliban to take action at the domestic level against militants on their own soil, a Multiparty Conference The security situation in KP has been called for discussion. A Grand Jirga is also scheduled to be held to resolve the situation in Karam after the massacre.

Pakistan has Long discussion that the militants are seeking refuge in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Indeed, the best efforts of its security forces will be rendered ineffective if terrorists manage to find refuge in Afghanistan. It is therefore important for the state to regularly communicate its concerns regarding terrorist sanctuaries to Kabul. It is also important that we measure our response with regional states, whose security is also affected by violent elements in Afghanistan.

Officials from China and Russia were in Islamabad recently to discuss the issue, and this coordinated approach to regional security must continue if the threat of terrorism is to be eliminated. Domestically, it is imperative that terrorists are denied sanctuary. Cruelty, constant attacks on our soldiers, ditto Bomb blast at Quetta railway station Two weeks ago all point to gaps in our CT efforts, which need to be plugged quickly.

In fact, a number of security personnel – belonging to both the army and the police – have been targeted by terrorists. Annoyingly highEspecially for peacetime. Although official figures for the current year are not yet available, an estimated 40 security personnel were killed in 35 terrorist attacks in KP in October.

While addressing A suppressor Earlier in September, the ISPR chief had said that the army had lost 193 jawans “fighting terrorists”. If all the numbers are added up, it would mean that Pakistan has lost hundreds of security personnel so far this year.

As suggested earlier in this paper, specialized CT units should be created within the military, paramilitary and police forces. Terrorists use asymmetric methods to target the state, and security forces need to study these methods to counter violent elements, as conventional tactics are not yielding the desired results. If needed, experts from friendly nations can be consulted to train special units in the latest CT tactics and minimize troop losses.

Published in Dawn, November 23, 2024.