Pakistan’s Counter Terrorism Strategy (2001-2019) (Evolution, Paradigms, Prospects & Challenges)
Keywords:
Counter terrorism strategy, Military Operations, Non-Frictional Approach, Militant Groups, Global War on TerrorAbstract
With the terrorist‟s attacks on world trade center and pentagon on 9/11, there usher a new are in the global politics era. The term terrorists emerged on the global horizon as an urgent matter to deal with full zeal and strength. The culprits were aimed and alliances were made to initiate counter terrorism strategies. The strategic position and political enigma again thrust Pakistan into the coalition of war on terror. This time terrorists‟ organizations, militants and the extremist‟s groups were the opposition instead of the secular communist threat. The task of war on terror was not only delicate but also an intricate one, with serious ramifications and implications on both domestic and regional political scenario of Pakistan. The counter terrorism activity of Pakistan started in the region with the military and diplomatic cooperation and coalition of the United States. Countering terrorism remained a huge domestic, regional and global challenge for Pakistan due to the existing threats of its eastern and western borders. Thus, Pakistan‟s counter terrorism strategy has to deal with the rightest bloc in the domestic political scenario, Indian opposition and propaganda and the global pressure to meet the settled targets in the war on terror. Pakistan needed a great state Manship, creative diplomacy and astute military strategy to deal with such a challenging situation. At present, now about two decades have elapsed there is a time to access the ratio of success and failure of war on terror. There are a few subtle things on the surface i.e. loopholes in decision making, the element of distrust between the partners and the domestic stakeholders along with the struggling socio-political and economic environment have created challenges in the Pakistan‟s counter terrorism strategies. Beside the negative implications and problems, the emerging awareness of national interest, policy making process in terms of fighting with terror has changed the course of things and events in the future prospect. Pakistan yet have to develop diplomatic and strategic maturity in the context of its counter terrorism policy in more viable and workable direction.