And NAP, again
Relevant security agencies are pretty up to scratch when it comes to following up on terrorist incidents. They can quickly ascertain the identity of the attacker (in case of a suicide attack, like Quetta the other day), and figure out how many kilograms of explosives were employed. Soon enough, they often also furnish the press with the attacker’s route – usually from the tribal area – places of rest, etc, all the way to the hit. Not much later the interior ministry and ISPR resume their rhetorical offensive (which, ironically, of often reactionary), claiming once again that perpetrators of the latest attack, too, will soon come within the folds of Zarb-e-Azb.
Yet such meticulous operational ability is not as often on display before terrorist strikes. As we have come to understand, it takes an extensive machinery to preempt such attacks. Intelligence agencies first pick up ‘chatter’ about patterns fitting possible attacks. Then they locate and track couriers smuggling bomb-making equipment, suicide vests, etc, towards target places. Then relevant forces apprehend suspects and disrupt their logistical network. No doubt our agencies carry out numerous such procedures successfully. But a notable uptick in number of attacks since the New Year proves that a large number is also slipping their radar, and more must clearly be done to win the long war.
It was to enhance just such capabilities that NAP mandated intel-sharing between the dozens of intelligence agencies working in isolation. That such steps are not being taken despite the increase in violence is troubling. Often enough there is talk of the ‘foreign hand’. But even if so, there needs to be more impressive movement on ‘internal facilitators’ that aid such hands. Balochistan is without doubt the soft under-belly. Only recently the army chief spoke at length about it, signaling a firmer security regime. Yet the enemy is free to strike; that too deep in the heart of its most sensitive city. As much as Zarb-e-Azb has turned the security environment around, there is still an urgent need for recalibration so available recourses are employed more efficiently.