TERRORISM AND INTERNAL SECURITY THREATS

By T H Shah

Introduction

• The principal concern of Pakistan's national life is security, both internal and
external i.e. country's defense from inimical forces from within and without. It is
fact that Pakistan is a peaceful country. Pakistan actively seeks a peaceful
international order and strongly adheres to the terms of the UN Charter and UN
Declaration of human rights. Pakistan holds the standpoint that any territorial
acquisition by force is totally unacceptable, and it has always sought and
advocated peaceful settlement of regional and international disputes. Despite this
policy of peace which is hallmark of Pakistan's ideology and orientation, the fact
is that in the first quarter of its existence the country has been the victim of
aggression three times i.e. war of 1947, 1965 and 1971.

• Pakistan has always framed its foreign policy keeping in view the factors like
Indian threat, Occupied Kashmir, strategic relations with USA and China,
economic security both at internal and external, and its relations with the Muslim
world. But subsequent to the end of cold war, crumbling down of USSR and
proclaiming itself as nuclear state and the tragedy of 9/11, the course of its foreign
policy has changed. It had to reorient its foreign policy in the light of terrorism,
the propaganda widely trumpeted by the Western countries of the world. Pakistan
wants normalization of relations with India, but Indian hostility, intentions and
attitudes, and enhanced military preparations have direct imprints on Pakistan's
national security.

At present, apart from above stated factors, Pakistan’s security centers round following
main factors:

• Defense and terrorism.

• Extermination of Jehadi culture from the country.
• Sectarian strife and killings.
• Infiltration of foreign terrorist groups in the Tribal Areas of the country.
• Eliminating smuggling, and Klashnikov culture from the country.
• Strengthening the federal character of the state.

Terrorism & Pakistan

Pakistan is quite opponent to terrorism in whatsoever form and manifestation it is

committed. Pakistan is in opposition to religious extremists who wish to stigmatize Islam
under the cloak of religion. It discourages any act of sectarianism committed on the part
of any section of society or religion. It is part of international campaign against terrorism.
The government of Pakistan is quite vigilant to the menace of terrorism, which can be a
security threat to its integrity and solidarity. It is pleased to say that Pakistan has signed
11 of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism and is a party to
10.

Subsequent to 9/11 tragedy, the Government of Pakistan has taken many laudable steps to
counter the threats of terrorism. They include,

• It became most important partners in the global coalition against terrorism.

• Pakistan continued operations in the autonomous Federally Administered Tribal

Areas, capturing and killing a number of terrorist operatives.

• Pakistan’s military, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies are cooperating

closely with the United States and the other nations to identify and eliminate both
within Pakistan and abroad.

• The Pakistani Government has also banned several militant and sectarians groups.

• Pursuant to its obligations under UN Security Council Resolutions 1267, 1333,

1390, and 1455, Pakistan continues to work with the UN 1267 Sanctions
Committee to freeze the assets of individuals and groups identified as terrorist
entities linked to al-Qaida or the Taliban.

• Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Courts continue to respond to both international and

domestic cases of terrorism. In April 2003, an Anti-Terrorism Court in Karachi
convicted four defendants charged with organizing the bombing of the US
Consulate in June 2002 in Karachi and, in June 2003, convicted three men
charged with the bombing in May 2002 that killed 11 French naval technicians. In
November 2003, the same court handed down death sentences for three members
of the banned extremist groups Lashkar-i-Jhangvi for planning and committing
sectarian murders.

• US-Pakistan joint counter-terrorism efforts have been extensive. They include

cooperative efforts in border security and criminal investigations. In 2002, the
United States and Pakistan established the Working Group on Counter-terrorism
and Law-Enforcement Cooperation. The meetings provide a forum for discussing
ongoing US-Pakistani efforts, as well as a means for improving capabilities and
cooperation. Pakistan provides significant assistance in the investigation of
international terrorism.

• Pakistan and Afghanistan have also made significant progress in sharing

information and coordinating their efforts to improve security along the border so
as to fight the menace of Al-Qaida’s infiltrators into Pakistan, because Al-Qaida
regards Afghanistan as an important base of operations and continues its armed
opposition to US presence. Al-Qaida fighters remain along the rough eastern
border between Afghanistan and Pakistan’s tribal areas.
 • Pakistan has handed over as many as 550 Al-Qaeda operatives into US custody
including some high value targets in the Al-Qaeda leadership; consequently the
‘Most Wanted’ list is growing shorter. Pakistan is committed towards fighting
terrorism at domestic as well as international level and has been very actively
pursuing the elements connected to the Al-Qaeda networks both within Pakistan
and facilitating efforts of international coalition outside Pakistan.

Reforms in Religious Madrassas

• Deeni Madaris viewed by the western decision makers as “breeding factories of

terrorism”, has some reality as almost all the terrorists arrested had been studying
in the Madrassa established in Pakistan. It has serious repercussions on two
accounts: firstly, most of the Madaris focused on purification of faith for the
purposes of knowledge therefore, branding all the schools involved in violent
jihad, maligned the good name of Deeni Madaris.

• Secondly, few odd Madaris involved in violent jihad, have tarnished Pakistan’s
sincere efforts to fight the menace of terrorism. In order to avoid the onslaught of
western decision makers, a strong need is felt to evaluate the efficacy of our Deeni
Madaris.

• In order to reduce extremism, attempts been made to modernize the religious

seminaries, which constitute the Religious Training System (RTS) in the country,
under the Madrassa Reforms Programme at the cost of 185.6 billion rupees. The
program aims at bringing the religious seminaries into the main stream of
educational culture of the country through teachers training and provision of
textbooks and equipment. Some 8000 Madaris would be regularized as normal
educational institutions of primary, middle and intermediate level.
Students of these essentially religious institutions would get the opportunity to
learn modern subjects like English, Economics and Computer Sciences. This is
indeed a great step forward for the cause of literacy in the country as well as for
religious seminaries for earning social and international acceptance.

Terrorism & economic development

• Fighting terrorism is in the interest of Pakistan it because it encourages

sectarianism and was a destabilizing factor in the country. There can be neither
development nor local or foreign investment without stability and peace in the
region, and terrorism cannot be condoned under any circumstances. Extremist in
any society are in a minority but Pakistan in general and Islamic world in
particular is facing a formidable challenge on all fronts. It should be understood
that concept of Enlightened Moderation as presented by Ex President Musharaf in
his address to OIC summit in Malaysia, is not a new phenomenon in Islam as
Islam is itself a religion of peace, brotherhood, liberality and tolerance in all
spheres of life. The need and challenge before all the Muslim countries is how to
interpret the modern civic and sociological trends within the universal teaching of
Islam. (The writer is associated with the PFP as Director Research. He could
be contacted at:tajammulhs@gmail.com)