A matter of national security
“Taliban sources also claimed that 80 percent militants have fled to Afghanistan. Pakistani army itself also acknowledged that the senior leadership of TTP has fled and there’s a threat that TTP might re-establish itself across the border. Pakistani government did not coordinate with the Afghani government and this has been a huge weakness.”
It has been two years since the ongoing operation Zarb-e-Azb was initiated. It all started with the breakdown of peace talks with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The TTP provoked the army when they used Islamic movement of Uzbekistan to attack the busiest airport of Pakistan, Jinnah International Airport, Karachi which resulted in 28 deaths. The aftermath of this attack was this that 30,000 troops marched into North Waziristan and the military launched airstrikes.
After one week of the terrorist attack, the Pakistan military intensified air-strikes, killing 140 militants mostly Uzbek and Afghan in North Waziristan.
Furthermore, the targets of this operation are to wipe out the militants from the area and to retake control of FATA and surrounding areas. The prime minister said in a speech at the National Assembly on 16 June, 2015, “On the one hand we were pursuing dialogue, and on the other we were being targeted. We were pursuing talks, but from Islamabad courts to Karachi airport we were being targeted. Our places of worship were targeted, our schools were targeted. Despite the sacrifices of our soldiers, we gave peace talk’s first priority but our efforts were rendered in vain. The now ongoing operation would conclude only with the total defeat of the insurgents. We will change the fate of this country and under no circumstances will the country be allowed to serve as a safe haven for terrorists. Whatever the cost, this nation will never be handed over to terrorists”.
In addition to that, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated: “Using North Waziristan as a base, these terrorists had waged a war against the state of Pakistan and had been disrupting our national life in all its dimensions, stunting our economic growth and causing enormous loss of life and property. They had also paralysed life within the agency and had perpetually terrorised the entire peace loving and patriotic local population.”
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the nation stood by its military, “The decision was taken after the strategy of dialogue failed. The operation will continue until it reaches its logical conclusion.”
He also stated, “Any group that challenges Pakistan’s constitution, attacks civilians, soldiers, and government installations and uses Pakistani territory to plan terrorist attacks will be targeted”
However, it’s difficult to evaluate success of the operation mostly because there is no other reliable source of facts other than the ISPR.
At the first anniversary of the operation, ISPR issued a statement saying, “The military has destroyed 837 militant hideouts in North Waziristan, recovered and destroyed 253 tons of explosives, captured 18,087 weapons, conducted 9,000 intelligence-based operations and killed 2,763 militants, at the cost of losing 347 officers and soldiers”.
In addition to facts and figures, comparatively there is peace and tranquility in cities, especially in FATA. The total number of fatalities in FATA was 2,863 during 2014 whereas the fatalities from the first three months of 2015 stood at 411. In June 2015, ISPR stated that army was in control of 80 per cent of North Waziristan. A general agreement is growing that Operation Zarb-e-Azb has made Pakistan more secure. According to government reports there is a 70 per cent decline in major militant attacks across the country since the beginning of the operation.
Pakistan army chief, General Raheel Sharif, added, “It’s a matter of great privilege and honour to be commanding such an accomplished and battle hardened army. We will not stop until we achieve our end objective of a terror free Pakistan.”
According to sources there has been no civilian loss in this operation. Not only that, monthly attacks in KP have also been reduced. Pakistani forces have regained all militant held territory in FATA, resulting in destruction of all Taliban affiliated gangs.
But the government will also face a lot of problems in the near future; the government faces the huge issue of IDPs on how to rehabilitate the hundreds and thousands of them. 700,000 IDPs remain in refugee camps across the country.
Moreover, Taliban sources also claimed that 80 percent militants have fled to Afghanistan. Pakistani army itself also acknowledged that the senior leadership of TTP has fled and there’s a threat that TTP might re-establish itself across the border. Pakistani government did not coordinate with the Afghani government and this has been a huge weakness.
The question also arises about the fate of FATA; will it be merged with KP?
Analyst Raoof Hasan said that there are three options circulating:
- FATA to be an autonomous province.
- FATA to be merged with KPK.
- Or a referendum would finalise.
Significant challenges lie ahead for the government as TTP remains potent threat because of the newly created safe havens in Afghanistan, status of FATA is yet to be decided and displaced families return to their homeland in December.
The decision to launch this comprehensive operation was widely supported with journalists, politicians and other social media users. Pakistan also got international support from China, Russia, USA and UAE.
This operation has so far managed to bring considerable peace in Pakistani cities.
A recent study by the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies which monitors militant activities in South Asia, Central Asia and West Asia, noted that attacks by the militants in the country dropped to six years low after one year of the Zarb-e-Azb operation.
According to reports, Zarb-e-Azb not only improved security situation in Pakistan but also hurt the unity of TTP. The operation also enhanced the role and image of the army.
In addition to that, the operation also sends a clear message to the militants that anyone who attempts to destabilise Pakistan will be met with a clear response. However to ensure complete security Pakistan and Afghanistan both should support each other to counter terrorism.
To sum it up, by the claims of ISPR the operation seems to be successful. Only time will tell.