What is missing in fight against terror?

The right mix

The remark by Ch Nisar that while we are winning militarily, we are losing the psychological war against terror is a specious observation. Much more still needs to be done before we can hope to win a military victory. The terrorist groups have suffered heavy losses in the tribal areas, particularly in North Waziristan and Khyber Agency. Finding it impossible to withstand the military onslaught they have shifted to safe havens in Afghanistan to wait out the operation. Meanwhile, Da’ish has raised its head in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province from where it attacked Pakistan’s Consulate in Jalalabad early this month.

The fate of the war against the terrorists operating in urban centres will depend less on military action than on a vigilant NACTA, which has yet to emerge out of the files and get an office and staff. Terrorists meanwhile continue to make their presence felt in Quetta and Karachi. Four terrorist incidents have taken place in Balochistan this month. In Karachi individuals having links with Da’ish have been arrested. In Punjab, where the government had long ignored the activities of the extremists, cases of women travelling to join Da’ish in Syria have been reported. Early this month the Punjab law minister conceded arresting 42 Da’ish suspects. As if to cock a snook at the interior minister, who has consistently denied its presence in Pakistan, Da’ish targeted ARY office in Islamabad. On Thursday the passengers of a Lahore bound rail car from Pindi were saved when a shepherd reported to Motorway police that he had seen a stranger indulging in suspicious activity near the railway track. The terrorist who blew himself up during the encounter was reportedly an engineering student known for religiosity.

Along with an active NACTA equally important is to initiate an all out and comprehensive campaign to root out extremism through media, text books and pulpits. The vital task can be conducted successfully by the government alone but has so far remained totally neglected. As long as extremist thinking persists terrorist networks will never be short of recruits.