Pakistan Can’t Have ‘One-Way Route’ To Fight Terrorism – OpEd

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The terrorist attack on the famous 13th Century Sufi shrine in Sind in Pakistan that killed over 80 people and injured more than 200 persons is yet another terrorist attack that everyone in Pakistan and other parts of the world appear to be getting used to.

Since February 13, there have been eight deadly terror attacks in Pakistan. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the terror attack on Sufi shrine.

As usual, Pakistan’s Prime Minister has reacted to the terror attacks by expressing his horror and pledging his determination to root out the terror attacks in Pakistan.

Subsequent to the attack on Sufi shrine, Pakistan forces were reported to have killed around one hundred militants, with the Pakistan army chief declaring “each drop of the nation’s blood shall be avenged and avenged immediately. No more restraint for anyone.”

While there is no doubt that Pakistan has become a victim of terrorism and the innocent people of Pakistan are losing lives and paying a heavy price due to what appears to be unending terrorist attacks, one cannot but see that Pakistan’s strategy to put down terrorism on its soil is half-hearted and lacks seriousness.

It is high time that the Pakistan government should realize that it is now “reaping the rewards” for its past actions in supporting terrorist activities in Afghanistan, which inevitably enabled the terrorist groups to get a base in Pakistan to conduct their violent activities.

Further, in the case of Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan has been openly supporting the so-called “freedom struggle” and appears to be gloating over the unrest in the region, resulting in the loss of lives and suffering for the local people. No less a person than the Prime Minister of Pakistan has openly supported the activities of terrorists there. It is very well known that the terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir operate with bases in Pakistan and intrude into the region from that country. It is always suspected that the Pakistan intelligence agency gives support to such terrorist activities, either directly or indirectly.

Pakistan has enough social and economic issues to handle and faces problems in Balochistan and area in Kashmir under the control of Pakistan and in recent times, its relationship with Afghanistan has become much strained.

There are millions of citizens in Pakistan who are well educated and want a peaceful and progressive Pakistan, without terrorists and militant activities. Unfortunately, they are silently suffering.

By giving a base for terrorist activities in the past and still supporting the terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir in India, Pakistan is facing an unenviable situation of terrorists hitting Pakistan itself.

Pakistan should realize that it cannot fight against terrorism in its soil without refraining from giving support to terrorist activities elsewhere. Obviously, the Pakistan government is obsessed with its claim on Kashmir and seems to think that supporting terrorism is the only way to achieve its objectives of bringing Jammu and Kashmir into its fold.

While it is extremely sad that innocent lives are being lost in Pakistan due to terrorist activities, Pakistan should declare that it will not tolerate terrorism anywhere whether in Pakistan, Jammu & Kashmir or Afghanistan. There cannot be a one way route to fight terrorism.

N. S. Venkataraman

N. S. Venkataraman is a trustee with the "Nandini Voice for the Deprived," a not-for-profit organization that aims to highlight the problems of downtrodden and deprived people and support their cause. To promote probity and ethical values in private and public life and to deliberate on socio-economic issues in a dispassionate and objective manner.

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