Afghanistan and Pakistan: Counterterrorism Failures and Rising Militancy
Photo by @Gulistan for ADN
By Fatima Chaudhary
The ongoing escalation of terrorism in Pakistan highlights the systemic inefficacies of the country’s military and security apparatus in addressing the growing threat of militant violence. Despite decades of military campaigns and strategic operations, the menace of terrorism continues to plague the nation, particularly in its northwestern border regions. Compounded by the resurgence of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and strained relations with the Afghan Taliban, the situation demands a critical reassessment of Pakistan’s approach to counterterrorism, including the flawed tendency to externalize blame rather than instituting substantive systemic changes.
Recent months have witnessed a significant uptick in militant attacks within Pakistan, predominantly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The TTP, an Islamist militant group seeking to impose its version of Shari’a law in Pakistan, has intensified its operations, targeting security personnel and civilian infrastructure alike. For instance, a TTP-led attack on a security checkpoint in South Waziristan in December resulted in the deaths of 16 security officers. This surge in violence has laid bare the vulnerabilities in Pakistan’s counterterrorism framework and its failure to anticipate or effectively respond to the TTP’s growing influence.
A crucial factor exacerbating this situation is Pakistan’s reliance on military solutions without addressing the underlying causes of militancy. The army’s frequent airstrikes and ground operations underscore a short-term tactical focus rather than a long-term strategy. These operations have failed to dismantle the organizational and ideological networks sustaining groups like the TTP. Additionally, such measures often lead to civilian casualties, fueling resentment among local populations and inadvertently aiding militant recruitment efforts.
Pakistan’s approach to terrorism has also been marred by its reliance on external scapegoating. The country has consistently accused the Afghan Taliban of harboring TTP militants across the border, alleging that Afghan territory serves as a sanctuary for planning and launching attacks on Pakistani soil. While it is true that the porous border between the two nations enables cross-border militant activity, Pakistan’s attempts to externalize responsibility ignore its own role in fostering an environment conducive to terrorism. Decades of state policies that oscillated between supporting militant proxies for strategic depth and outright denial of their domestic impact have left Pakistan ill-equipped to address the current crisis.
The Afghan Taliban, now governing Afghanistan, have rebuffed Pakistan’s demands to act against the TTP, citing the group’s entrenched presence within Pakistan itself. Moreover, the Afghan Taliban’s reluctance reflects a broader geopolitical shift, wherein the group seeks to distance itself from Islamabad’s influence to assert its sovereignty and credibility on the global stage.
This dynamic has led to a deadlock between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with each side blaming the other for escalating violence. Pakistan’s recent airstrikes in Afghanistan, which reportedly killed 46 civilians, including women and children, have further strained relations.
Afghan officials have condemned these incursions as violations of sovereignty, while Pakistani authorities defend them as necessary measures against terrorist hideouts. The strikes targeted locations in the Barmal district of Paktika Province on December 24, drawing a strong response from the Afghan Taliban.
The Afghan Defense Ministry denounced the airstrikes as a “despicable act” and vowed retaliation, further escalating tensions between the two neighbors. Reports suggest that most of the victims were ethnic Pashtun refugees from Pakistan’s Waziristan region, heightening the humanitarian toll of these military actions.
Experts and observers argue that Pakistan’s inability to effectively curb terrorism stems from deeper structural issues within its governance and military institutions. The lack of coherent policy coordination between civilian and military leadership, coupled with a history of selective counterterrorism that distinguishes between “good” and “bad” militants, has undermined the credibility and efficacy of the state’s anti-terror measures. Additionally, socio-economic deprivation in border regions, coupled with inadequate state presence, provides fertile ground for militant propaganda and recruitment.
Another significant challenge is Pakistan’s failure to foster public trust and cooperation in counterterrorism efforts. Local populations in affected areas, such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, often bear the brunt of militant violence and military operations alike.
Civilian casualties, displacement, and economic disruption caused by these operations contribute to widespread resentment against the state, creating a vicious cycle that perpetuates insecurity. Rather than relying solely on military measures or externalizing blame, Pakistan must adopt a comprehensive and inclusive strategy to address terrorism.
On the international front, Pakistan must recalibrate its relationship with Afghanistan to foster mutual cooperation against terrorism. Diplomatic engagement with the Afghan Taliban, based on respect for sovereignty and shared interests, is essential to address the cross-border dimensions of the TTP threat. Rather than coercive measures, Islamabad should explore confidence-building initiatives, such as joint border management and intelligence sharing, to strengthen bilateral ties and counterterrorism efforts.
Fatima Chaudhary is a lecturer at a private university in Punjab province.
Note: The contents of the article are of sole responsibility of the author. Afghan Diaspora Network will not be responsible for any inaccurate or incorrect statement in the articles.
