Pakistan’s Security Challenges: Terrorism, Militancy, and Internal Security

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Topic 7 — Key Facts for KPK PMS Core concept: Pakistan has faced persistent terrorist threats since the 2001 US invasion of Afghanistan; key groups include TTP (Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan), Baloch separatists, and sectarian militant organisations; the National Action Plan (NAP) was formulated after the APS Peshawar attack in 2014 High-yield point: The APS Peshawar massacre (December 16, 2014) killed 149 people (132 children); it led to the establishment of military courts and the 20-point National Action Plan; the Pakistan Army launched multiple operations in FATA and KP including Operation Zarb-e-Azb (North Waziristan, 2014) and Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad (nationwide, 2017) ⚡ Exam tip: Know the key militant groups (TTP, LeJ, SSP, Baloch Liberation Front, TNSM), their objectives, and the major military operations — this is a high-yield security topic in the PMS exam

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Pakistan’s Security Landscape

Pakistan’s internal security situation has been shaped by multiple overlapping threats: religious militancy, separatist movements, sectarian violence, and cross-border terrorism emanating from Afghanistan. The military has been the primary actor in addressing these threats, leading to significant militarisation of internal security.

Major Militant Groups

Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP): Also known as the Pakistani Taliban, the TTP was founded in 2007 as an umbrella organisation for various Pakistani Taliban groups. Its stated goal is to enforce Sharia law in Pakistan and wage jihad against the Pakistani state.

• Headquarters: North Waziristan (formerly)
• Leadership: Baitullah Mehsud (founder, killed 2009), Hakimullah Mehsud (killed 2013), Mullah Fazalullah (killed 2018), now various splinter factions
• Key Attacks:
  • 2007: Red Mosque ( Lal Masjid) operation in Islamabad
  • 2009: Attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore
  • 2012: Attacks on military checkpoints
  • 2014: Attack on Jinnah International Airport, Karachi
  • 2022–2024: Resurgence in attacks in KP and former FATA areas

⚡ Exam Tip: The TTP is NOT the same as the Afghan Taliban. The Afghan Taliban (established 1994) are a nationalist movement focused on Afghanistan. The TTP is focused on Pakistan and has fought directly against the Pakistani state.

Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ): A Sunni extremist sectarian organisation founded in 1996. It targets Shia Muslims and has been responsible for numerous bombings:

• 2009: Attack on a Shia procession in Karachi (more than 30 killed)
• 2011: Attacks on Shia Hazaras in Quetta
• 2013: Attack on a Shia mosque in Peshawar
• 2016: Attack on the Safari Park restaurant in Karachi (Shia Hazara community targeted)

Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP): Another Sunni extremist organisation focused on anti-Shia activism. It has been banned multiple times but continues under different names.

Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) and Baloch separatists: Insurgent groups in Balochistan fighting for independence or greater resource control:

• BLA (Baloch Liberation Army)
• BLF (Baloch Liberation Front)
• BUPC (Baloch United Liberation Front)

Attacks have targeted Pakistani security forces, Chinese nationals working on CPEC projects, and railway infrastructure.

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and IS-K: Splinters from TTP and Pakistani affiliates of the Islamic State (Khorasan Province):

• IS-K (Islamic State Khorasan Province) claimed responsibility for the 2024 Mastung attack (80+ killed)
• Jamaat-ul-Ahrar has carried out multiple bombings in KP and Punjab

Key Military Operations

Operation Zarb-e-Azb (2014–present): Launched in North Waziristan on June 15, 2014, following the Karachi airport attack and the TTP’s refusal to negotiate. It targeted TTP and other militant sanctuaries in North Waziristan.

• Result: Significant displacement (over 1 million people); TTP leadership was decimated; many camps destroyed
• Aftermath: TTP militants relocated to Afghanistan; cross-border attacks continued

Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad (2017–present): Nationwide counter-terrorism operation launched after the 2017 attacks on security forces. It is ongoing across KP, Balochistan, and Punjab.

Operation Marwat Swal (2018): Military operation in Kurram Agency following TTP attacks; cleared areas of militants.

Operation Khyber I, II, III: Series of intelligence-driven operations in the Khyber Agency area (now Khyber district) targeting TTP and other groups.

The APS Peshawar Attack and National Action Plan

The Attack (December 16, 2014):

• Taliban gunmen (six attackers) entered the Army Public School in Peshawar
• Killed 149 people: 132 students and 17 staff members
• The attackers were all wearing suicide vests; four were killed by the Pakistan Army’s Quick Reaction Force, two died in a final firefight
• The attack was specifically targeting the children of military families

Response — National Action Plan (NAP): The 20-point National Action Plan was announced in December 2014:

1. Execution of convicts on death penalty for terrorism-related offences
2. Special trial courts for terrorism cases (military courts)
3. Establishment of a dedicated counter-terrorism force
4. Deweaponisation of Punjab and other provinces
5. Action against extremist literature and hate speech
6. Monitoring of social media
7. Counter-extremism curriculum reform in schools
8. Crackdown on the Jumaat-ul-Fitrat and Falahi Insanat Foundation (FIF)
9. Derecognition of militant wings of political parties
10. Registration of religious seminaries (madrasas)
11. Measures to curb money laundering and terrorist financing
12. CNIC verification for mobile SIM cards
13. Strengthening the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA)
14. Standardisation of security at educational institutions
15. Integration of tribal areas into KP
16. Crackdown on arms smuggling from Afghanistan
17. Border management with Afghanistan
18. Disputed land records in KP
19. Rehabilitation of the displaced population
20. Rebuilding and development of affected areas

Military Courts: The 21st Amendment (January 2015) allowed for the trial of civilians by military courts for terrorism offences. These courts were operational from 2015–2018 and sentenced numerous individuals to death.

⚡ Exam Tip: The 21st Amendment and military courts were controversial as they bypassed the civilian judicial system. The courts were allowed to operate until 2018 and were not renewed after the PML(N) government fell.

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Counter-Terrorism Framework and Challenges

National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA)

NACTA was established in 2013 as the coordinating body for counter-terrorism efforts across Pakistani civilian and military agencies:

Functions:

• Intelligence sharing between agencies
• Formulating and implementing the National Counter-Terrorism Strategy (NACTS)
• Monitoring terrorist financing
• Coordinating with provincial CTDs (Counter-Terrorism Departments)

Challenges:

• NACTA has been criticised for lacking operational authority
• Provincial agencies often bypass NACTA in intelligence sharing
• The military intelligence agencies (ISI, MI) often do not share actionable intelligence with NACTA

Provincial Counter-Terrorism Departments (CTDs)

Each province has a Counter-Terrorism Department under the Provincial Police:

KP CTD:

• Handles terrorism cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
• Has faced significant casualties (over 300 officers killed since 2001)
• Maintains a memorial for martyred officers in Peshawar

Key CTD Operations:

• Raids on militant safe houses
• Encounter operations
• Intelligence-based operations (IBOs)
• Protection of shrines, public gatherings, and important installations

The Issue of Disappeared Persons

Pakistan’s security agencies have been accused of enforced disappearances:

Khalid Mehsud’s Case: Khalid Mehsud (also known as Maqsood) was a senior TTP commander. He was allegedly taken into custody by Pakistani intelligence and has not been seen since 2013.

The Missing Persons Case: Human rights organisations estimate that over 1,000 people have been “disappeared” by intelligence agencies since 2001:

• Families have staged sit-ins (Dharna) in Islamabad demanding recovery of missing persons
• The Supreme Court has ordered recovery of missing persons
• The PTM’s core demand is recovery of missing persons and accountability

Border Management with Afghanistan

The Pakistan-Afghanistan border (Durand Line) is approximately 2,640 km long:

Key Border Crossing Points:

• Torkham (Nangarhar, Afghanistan / Khyber, Pakistan): Major commercial and passenger crossing
• Spin Boldak/Chaman (Balochistan / Kandahar): Second major crossing
• Kurram (North Waziristan / Khost): Used by pilgrims

Border Fencing: Pakistan has been constructing a fence along the Durand Line since 2017:

• Completion has been hindered by Afghan protests
• The fence is seen as infringing on Pashtun tribal connections

The Afghan Refugee Problem:

• Pakistan hosts over 2.7 million registered Afghan refugees (the largest caseload globally)
• Many have lived in Pakistan for over 40 years
• The US and international community pressured Pakistan to not repatriate refugees before the Taliban takeover
• After August 2021, Pakistan began requiring unregistered refugees to return

Civilian Security: Crime and Kidnapping

Kidnapping for Ransom (KFR): KFR has become a significant internal security concern, particularly in KP and Punjab:

• Businessmen, doctors, and wealthy individuals are targeted
• Some cases have involved TTP involvement (kidnapping-for-funding)
• The KP government established an Anti-Kidnapping Unit

Police Encounters: The use of encounter killings (police killing suspects in allegedly “spontaneous” exchanges) has been controversial:

• Human rights organisations have documented cases of extrajudicial killings
• The Supreme Court of Pakistan has taken suo motu notice of encounter killings
• The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police have been criticised for a high number of encounter killings

The Security Infrastructure

Fortress Areas in KP: The government has established fortress areas — clusters of security-checked buildings and compounds where families can evacuate in emergencies:

• Schools have been converted to fortress areas in high-risk areas
• The APS school in Peshawar was NOT a fortress area at the time of the attack

Security at Educational Institutions: After APS, all schools were required to:

• Conduct security audits
• Establish parent verification systems
• Hire private security guards
• Create emergency response plans
• Conduct regular drills

⚡ Exam Tip: The APS attack fundamentally changed how Pakistan views security at educational institutions. The phrase “soft targets” (civilian, unguarded locations) entered the Pakistani security lexicon. The distinction between “hard targets” (military installations, government buildings) and “soft targets” is important.

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