Dawn publishes analysis of Pakistan’s 25-year fight against terrorism
Pakistan has not been able to definitively overcome terrorism in the 25 years since the September 11, 2001 attacks, although it eliminated major militant strongholds and deprived them of control over parts of the territory. This assessment is contained in an analysis published by the Pakistani outlet Dawn.
The author of the article notes that the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021 intensified security challenges for Pakistan, particularly due to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group. Balochistan remains another important security area, where separatist groups attack security personnel, infrastructure and Chinese interests.
Operations and human losses
According to data cited in the analysis, Pakistan lost 75,366 people during this period. They include 3,189 military personnel, 2,598 Frontier Corps personnel, 3,599 police officers and 26,547 civilians. The country conducted 2,961 medium- and large-scale military operations against terrorists, as well as other counterterrorism operations.
The key campaigns named include Rah-e-Rast, Rah-e-Nijat, Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad. According to the author, they made it possible to eliminate major terrorist strongholds and end groups’ territorial control in Swat and the former tribal areas.
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Security, economy and politics
After 2001, Pakistan emerged from international isolation and became a US ally in the global “war on terror,” later receiving the status of a major non-NATO ally. At the same time, this partnership was accompanied by mutual distrust over Afghanistan, terrorist sanctuaries, drone strikes and the 2011 operation in Abbottabad.
Pakistan received billions of dollars in US aid and Coalition Support Funds, but did not turn this opportunity into lasting economic transformation, the author of the analysis argues. Terrorism, in his assessment, caused human losses, reduced investment, damaged infrastructure and increased security spending.
The country also established specialized counterterrorism structures, including Nacta, centers for countering extremism and NFTIC. In addition, Pakistan prepared 13 policy documents, including the National Action Plan, the National Security Policy and Paigham-i-Pakistan.
