Terrorism, Military Operations and Counterterrorism Strategies for Pakistan

Abstract

Terrorism has been a major challenge in Pakistan for last two decades. Pakistan is a hotbed of religious extremism and the spread of terrorism due to political and economic instability, postcolonial crisis, corruption, lack of national unity and Pakistan’s partnership in War on Terror. However, it was only after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 that religious extremism and intolerance were systematically spread among the Pakistani people to help the Afghan resistance. Therefore, religious extremism, militant outfits and sectarianism increased in the 1980s and 1990s. On September 11, 2001, after AL-Qaeda's attacks on the United States, Pakistan was forced to fight against Taliban, many of the people it created and supported in Afghanistan in 1979 and onwards. Since 9/11, Pakistan has almost completely changed its policies. This change in policy was forced by the United States and made Pakistan the front line role as non NATO allay of the United States in the global war against terrorism. Although it is a well-known fact that no Pakistani was involved in 9/11 attacks on America. Pakistan's war on terror was formally launched in 2002 and since then it has lost about 70,000 citizens, about 8,000 security personnel and about 126.79 billion dollars (Economic Survey of Pakistan, 20017-18). Pakistan has conducted several military operations to curb the menace of terrorism and make way forward strategies. The main objective of this paper is to analysis of military operations that conducted by the Pakistan military and formulate some steps and policies to curb terrorism in Pakistan. The descriptive and analytical method of research is being used in this research paper.