Pakistan’s Role in Counter

Terrorism
 Scheme of presentation

Pre-9/11 • Introduction
Period • Countering terrorism in the 90’s

Post-9/11 • Pre-National Action Plan

Period • Post-National Action Plan

Socio- • Economic Impact

economic • Social Impact
Impact
PRE – 9/11 PERIOD
 Introduction

“Terrorism” Definition

The unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially

against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims
 Roots of Terrorism

Roots of terrorism in Pakistan can be traced back to the

1980 Russian Afghan war, which twisted Pakistan’s social
fabric and political system

Huge quantities of arms and ammunition were stored in

Pakistan, during the war.

After the war, these arms were used by the militant

groups

Variety of extremists challenged the writ of the state and

enforced their peculiar brand of Sharia by force of arms.
 Terrorism in Numbers
Terrorists Attacks (Percentages) 1990 - 1999
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
KPK Punjab Sindh Islamabad Balochistan
 Counter Terrorism 1980’s & 90’s

Legal Actions Military Actions

• Anti-terrorism Act • Operations launched in

passed in 1997 1992 by the security
forces
• Establishment of Special • Strict check and
Anti-terrorists Courts balance by law
enforcement agencies
in NWFP and FATA
region
POST 9/11 PERIOD
 Growth of Terrorism After 9/11

In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attack,

groups such as Al-Qaeda, the Afghan Taliban, sought
refuge in the Pakistani tribal belt – FATA

Started organizing their resistance to NATO forces in

Afghanistan from safe sanctuaries

After the US invaded Iraq, militant groups spread in the

NWFP and eventually in Pakistan
Acts of terror eventually grew, and even two attempts
were made to assassinate the president – Gen. Pervez
Musharraf
 Terrorism Affected Areas

Source: Nations Online Project 2017

 Terrorism in Numbers
Information of Terrorism attacks occurred from the
period 2000 to 2011
 Counter Terrorism 2001 – 2014

Operation Year Location Personnel Causalities

Name Deployed
Operation 2002 FATA 70,000 to 1200 to
Mizan to 80,000 1500
2006
Operation 2007 Swat 3000 36
Rah-e-Haq Valley

Operation 2008 Bajaur - 63

Sher-e-Dil Agency
 Counter Terrorism 2001 – 2014
Contd….
Operation Year Location Personnel Causalities
Name Deployed
Operation 2008 Bara - 1
Sirat-e- Tehsil,
Mustaqim FATA
Operation 2008 South - 6
Zalzala to Wazirista
2009 n
Operation 2009 Mingora - 90
Rah-e-Rast
 Counter Terrorism 2001 – 2014
Contd….
Operation Year Location Personne Causalities
Name l
Deployed
Operation 2009 South 28000 - 83
Rah-e-Nijat Waziristan 45000

Operation 2011 Kurram - 75

Koh-e- Agency
Safaid
Operation 2014 FATA & 20000 - 600
Zarb-e-Azab North 30000
Waziristan
 APS Peshawar Attack

On 16 December 2014, six gunmen affiliated with

the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) conducted a
terrorist attack on the Army Public School, Peshawar

Opened fire on school staff and students – 149 people

embraced martyrdom, including 132 children

Led to intensification of Pakistan’s efforts to counter

terrorism
 National Action Plan

Aftermath of APS attack – a 20 point document chalked out

by NACTA and Interior Ministry, for countering terrorism
and extremism

NACTA stands for National Counter Terrorism Authority,

which was established in 2013 and later merged with NAP
 National Action Plan

Death
Penaltie
s

Cyber-
PAFIS
Crime NAP & IBMS
Laws

Military
Courts
 Main Agenda Points of NAP

Implementation of death sentence of those convicted in

cases of terrorism

Choking financing for terrorist and terrorist organizations

Formulation of a comprehensive policy to deal with the

issue of Afghan refugees, beginning with registration of
all refugees
Dealing firmly with sectarian terrorists and registration of
Madrassas
Balochistan government to be fully empowered for
political reconciliation with complete ownership by all
stakeholders
 Post National Action Plan

A combined effort, launched in February 2017, by

the Pakistani military in support of local law enforcement
agencies to disarm and eliminate the hidden
terrorist sleeper cells across the country

Countrywide disarmament and explosive control is also

an additional objective of the operation

Major victory in urban areas - TTP cells dismantled and

90% reduction in suicide bombings
SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT
 Social Impact of War Against Terror

Frequent attacks on private properties led to loss of

businesses and an increase in unemployment

Military operations against the militants uprooted

millions of people in KPK and FATA which brought
economic, social and psychological sufferings to them

Militants attacked and destroyed hundreds of schools and

educational institutes, which decreased the literacy rate
 Economic Impact of War Against
Terror

Pakistan continued to pay a heavy price in terms of both

the economic and security

Increase in defence budget, to facilitate the military

operations

Terrorist attacks hindered the trading activities over the

years, resulting in higher costs of doing business

The economy was subjected to enormous direct and

indirect costs which continued to rise from $ 2.669 billion
in 2001-02 to $ 23.77 billion in 2010-11
Year-wise Economic Loss
CONCLUSION
 Conclusion

Pakistan has always been following a policy of using

military action against the militants

The post-APS attack response to internal security threats

demonstrates more continuity than change in the state’s
counter-terrorism approach

Although the formation of NAP resulted in extreme

reduction of terrorists activities in Pakistan, however,
NAP faces criticism on some points from both, inside and
outside Pakistan
THANKYOU