Pakistan’s Internal Security Challenges And Fear Of Insecurity? – OpEd

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The recent wave of terrorism has shocked Pakistan and left serious effects on the minds of peoples. A series of bomb blasts across the country has saddened the whole nation and there is strong fear of insecurity.

Pakistan is facing severe internal security threats. It may be noticed that actors involved in internal security environment are neighbors (whom we share ethnic and religious similarities), refugees and band outfits which are operating with different names and different styles. Despite the fact that enemy is within and behind these attacks, Afghan Refugees are either directly or indirectly involved, whom Pakistan has been hosting since the 1980s.

Pakistan is also facing tough resistance, a stronghold of religious parties and a variety of threats at the same time; an internal and external threat (especially Indo-Afghan threats), While the influx of Afghan Refugees is another burden. In addition, a coordinated Indian, and Afghan attack designed to fragment Pakistan along ethnic lines are also lurking in the minds of security planners. For the first time, Pakistan is facing a three-front threat scenario which neither any developed country nor any South Asian state has ever experienced.

The influxes of Afghan Refugees in Pakistan are working in the shape of facilitator, spies and as double agent. They are linked with terrorist organizations in Afghanistan and banned outfits in Pakistan. The soil of Afghanistan is being used against Pakistan and still, we are hosting these Afghans Refugees! This is a big question and an examination for government how to deal with?

UNHCR in his report said that 1.6 million Refugees resides in Pakistan are registered while the major chunk is not registered, Moreover 60,000 afghan children born here in Pakistan every year. If we estimate this number and apply in Baluchistan, we will see that very soon Baloch Population will be converted into the minority. They had captured the major share of resources of Baluchistan and it will lead to conflict.

Besides that, Pakistan is in amidst of three strategic doctrines of war at the same time; Cold Start Doctrine, AFPAK Strategy and Fourth Generation warfare. Cold Start is a military doctrine developed by the Indian Armed Forces for use in a possible war with Pakistan. It involves the various branches of India’s military conducting offensive operations as part of unified battle groups. In this strategy, more than 80% of Indian troops are deployed on border with Pakistan. Pakistani army is responded this Indian threat by conducting Azm-e-Nau exercise.

Simultaneously AFPAK strategy is another threat to internal security in Pakistan. The central problem confronting the United States in the region is no longer Al Qaeda or Taliban, it’s the Pakistan Army.

Fourth Generation warfare is another big threat which is difficult for army to respond it because such techniques are being used to misguide the public and create anarchy and uncertainty among the masses. Hence it is the responsibility of State loving media and nation to respond.

The contemporary spate of terrorism might be a part of isolation policy. Since the announcement Pakistan’s Super League (PSL) in Lahore and soon after that a series of bombs were exploded. Hence, Indian involvement can’t be ignored, similarly, authorities claimed that enemy wants to destabilize Pakistan by attacking soft targets, but the fact is that Eenemy is within and in the shape of refugees and local outfits while foreigner players are virtually a rider clause. Thus there is need of strong checkup rather than putting an eye on them.

Conversely, Pakistan is in state of a war, and every country in that situation of war passes through a bang-bang situation. In fact, Pakistan is facing the same case, where a myriad of internal problems is greatly aggravated by number of agents of external factors within the country. Once these agents are out of the picture, the internal problems will remain, but their resolution will not be as complex as it is now.

Today Pakistan’s internal security is on stake. More than 150 peoples lost their lives and dozens were maimed in recent wave of terrorism. Sehwan blast had mourned the whole nation and there is strong fear of Insecurity and terrorism is the agenda of discussion among masses. To cope with this problem Operation Radul Fasad” has been launched to counter terrorism and conduct intelligence based operations to eradicate the damn terrorism from Pakistan. A well known number of soldiers sacrifice their lives for the better and peaceful future of Pakistan but still we failed to eradicate terrorism in practical manner because enemy lies within and now it is more furious, supportive and powerful, which can be imagined from recent attacks.

Security in Pakistan is linked with Afghanistan and Peaceful Afghanistan is in the favor of Pakistan. To cope with this serious issues Pakistan needs to strengthen border security and its strong control over tribal areas. Finally, Pakistan shouldn’t expect much collaboration from Afghanistan but rather depend on its assets and techniques to secure the outskirt from the Pakistani side. These two measures will empower Pakistan to oversee successfully the drop out of the inward strife in Afghanistan in coming five to ten years.

The writer is a research affiliate at Strategic Vision Institute Islamabad and he can be reached at [email protected]/ [email protected]

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