After 9/11, Pakistan has plagued by the threats of Terrorism; these threats are escalating day-by-day not only in Tribal areas but also in other parts of the country. Since 2004, several military operations were performed against the terrorist groups and organizations. As a reaction, Pakistan faced the harsh menace of suicide attacks/bombings not only in its borders but also in the main cities. We know that Karachi is the backbone of Pakistan’s economy and for this reason, terrorist always smacks and create chaos in Karachi or kill 20 to 30 people on daily basis but these unprecedented killings are now shifting towards other cities and creating turmoil. Hence, Terrorism is now becoming a major predicament in Pakistan’s social and political progress that can only be overcome through persistent accumulation of productive strategies. This is true; many other countries have exaggerated with this nuisance and is suffering like Pakistan. But Pakistan is facing the most unique, hard and gruesome faces of terrorism. Since, it is in multiple forms like ethnic, domestic, separatist, international-state sponsor, political havoc and sectarian-religious motivated forms. The broad-based counter-terrorism procedure has adopted many strategies to defy this issue. The attack on Army Public School which killed more than 200 students proved to be a turning point for Pakistan’s counter-terrorism procedures. The government then launched National Action Plan, aimed at countering the terrorists militarily, efficiently, politically, religiously, and by edifying a counter-narrative approach. But we see the changing trends and shifting nature of terrorism which stress on the sub-national conflict and every time terrorists appear with different agenda.

On the other hand, the banned organizations, emerging every time with new- names, creating instability and turn the conditions toward another type of terrorism i.e.,  Socioeconomic (injustice, illiteracy, unemployment, intolerance) political (improper government system, conflicts between political parties, provincial issues) religious and external issues. These all issues come under the one umbrella i.e., terrorism. The terrorist attacks have a political /social purpose for instance drone attacks, Army GHQ, police stations, Peshawar school attack, Sri-Lankan cricket team and FC training centers etc are some examples. Similarly, ethnic, separatist is another type of terrorism which is deeply rooted in a society especially in KPK and Balochistan. They are facing the worst ever challenges. Primarily, Balochistan has indulged in un-solved ethnic-nationalist conflict, oscillating in a chasm from many decades and the problems are still unsettled. Now, the question arises here that which strategies should be espoused in order to control it?The strategies towards countering terrorism and extremism should mainly focus on peace, stability, safety, development and rely on soft power approaches rather than hard power. As terrorist proceedings are the combination of both internal/external factors but at the moment Pakistan is facing a great challenge from its external factors.

South-Asian Terrorism Portal (SATP) report states, there are 62483 fatalities in terrorist violence in Pakistan from 2003-2017, including civilians and security forces. Moreover, the terrorist’s organizations (whether they are religious and sectarian) targets Pakistani law enforcement agencies, general people, and military. The tactics of terrorists are now becoming more complicated and at the same time very alarming.The activities of terrorism do not transpire from single source there are several thwarting factors. Thus it is significant to handle terrorization with effective strategies. But, at first, it is essential to find reasons which force a person to resort violent behavior?

Pakistan is peace-loving country and playing its imperative role in combating terror to protect its security. Undoubtedly, Pakistan has deprived the most in the war against terror but still, its efforts have been disparaging at the national/international forum. Before it’s too late and our society turns towards more extreme violent activities our politician’s, motivated military/civil establishment should defy the main predicament, as this is the contagious disease in the peace-loving country. We must take steps and leave no stone unturned to remove the germs of dissatisfaction and injustice. As Martin Luther King said: “Mankind must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.”

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