Growing Terrorism in Pakistan: Narrative and Facts
By
Mujahid Husain
Translated
into English by Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam
7 January
2023
Ever Since
We Gave In To The Persuasive Influence Of A Word Called "Narrative,"
Only "Narrative" Has Flourished, With All Other Issues Receding Into
The Background.
Main
Points:
1. We will
continue to be the target of terrorists until terrorism and those who support
it are dealt with seriously and effectively.
2. The
situation is getting out of hand, and perhaps this time, no powerful,
resourceful country from abroad will even provide us with financial assistance.
------
Experts are
once more discussing why there are more instances of extremism in the country.
Following the most recent terrorist acts, the debate was anticipated, and it
was widely believed that we would end it by formally attributing these
incidents to our neighbours. What happened was that our Ministry of Interior
and Foreign Affairs revealed what seemed to be good discoveries about an attack
that occurred in Lahore last year, but all of this information was incredibly
out-of-date and, in some cases, already known to the public.
This
information was considered to be incredibly explosive and a breakthrough that
would force the government to treat the topic seriously due to the importance
of these issues for our country as a whole. It is uncertain how seriously it
was treated, but something must have happened because organizations that were
formerly seen to be extremely good at preventing radicalism have surely lost
that ability over time. The counterterrorism organization CTD in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa is the most recent instance of this.
Although
information about the incident was given to the media after a thorough
investigation during the hostage incident at the Bannu counterterrorism agency,
the specific information contained such horrifying details that it can be
inferred to what extent our significant institutions of this kind lack training
and necessary equipment.
The
compound where this incident took place had a few untrained guards allocated to
the most dangerous prisoners, and one of them grabbed the opportunity to turn
the entire place into a battlefield. Those who are aware of what transpired
afterward don't want to tell anyone else, and those who are aware of what
happened are unable to describe it. Ever since we gave in to the persuasive
influence of a word called "narrative," only "narrative"
has flourished, with all other issues receding into the background. When the
emphasis is placed on "narrative-creation" and it is extensively
disseminated through social media, it may be assumed that all the requirements
of the subject the narrative was made about have also been met.
For
instance, after 2014, a national narrative claimed that the security forces of
the state had defeated terrorism. It was reported that the security forces
eliminated all terrorist infrastructure as well as the terrorist cells and
support groups across the country with the help of the people. This kind of
narrative was desperately needed because there was a lot of discussion about
the state at all levels and there was conjecture worldwide that Pakistan would
turn into a tunnel for terrorists.
The
fundamental blunder made in this case was to provide the false impression—under
the sway of narrative—that the terrorists had been eliminated and that there
was no reason to be alarmed. Although it would have been more appropriate and
effective to announce that the terrorists had been driven from the country and
that the government would now work to establish circumstances that would
prevent them from reuniting and returning.
Naturally,
under this type of concept, the necessary actions would have been inevitable,
with the help of which a better strategy regarding the hotspots of terrorism
would have been adopted, and a thorough policy regarding the neighbouring
countries, especially Afghanistan, would have been developed on how to deal
with these violent groups and their remnants who have fled to Afghanistan after
operations by security agencies here, as well as how to deal with them if they
try to resurface.
All of
these unpleasant truths, however, were concealed by the word
"narrative," and there was a rumour going about that the terrorists'
backs had been broken. It was unquestionably a great success, but at a price of
more than 70,000 Pakistani lives lost and billions of dollars in lost revenue.
Along with this, the state's reputation abroad suffered. After suffering such
great loss, it was essential to move beyond meaningless platitudes and
implement a variety of practical and long-term solutions. Once more, we are in
the same location, and our narrative is no longer relevant.
Recent
reports indicate that terrorists have attacked again with full force, and since
there have been so many reports about them, fear is starting to spread. What
will happen if this series resumes? Can we enclose that 'narrative' and use it
to create a barrier that will keep terrorists out of our public spaces,
businesses, markets, and institutions as well as our own citizens? Or will
Necta, a multibillion-rupee institution, just issue a high alert and shut down
operations? Will declarations to that effect be made by our federal and
provincial interior ministries, stating that there is a terrorism threat and
that threat will be eliminated? Or will they be able to beg the Islamic Emirate
of Afghanistan, which on August 15 of last year declared the historic victory
of Afghanistan in the Islamic world, to stop supporting terrorists who wish to
murder our innocent children?
We will
continue to be the target of terrorists until terrorism and those who support
it are dealt with seriously and effectively. The future of our children will be
in danger as long as local terrorist sympathizers are not eliminated and
decisions are made based on certain entrenched interests. Until state and
national authorities take this threat seriously, terrorists will remain
committed to destroying our country.
The
situation is getting out of hand, and perhaps this time, no powerful,
resourceful country from abroad will even provide us with financial assistance.
The political problem is not being resolved, and our economic catastrophe is
getting worse every day. The country is heading toward anarchy as the federation
and the provinces are at odds with one another. Remember that this time we
might not even be able to develop a narrative if at the same time, the looming
threat of terrorism materializes. Additionally, unanimity and uniformity are
needed for narrative construction, which we currently lack.
---
Urdu
Article: Terrorism in
Pakistan: Narrative and Facts پاکستان میں دہشت گردی، بیانیہ اور حقائق
URL: https://newageislam.com/radical-islamism-jihad/terrorism-pakistan-narrative-facts/d/128816
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