As the military operation Ruddul Fasad, aimed at countering urban terrorism and wiping out TTP hideouts in the mountainous Rajgal valley, is breaking the back of various violent extremist groups, security forces and law enforcement agencies are coming under frequent attacks. Last Wednesday, 15 people, including seven civilians, were martyred and 32 others wounded in a suicide bombing targeted at a military vehicle near a bus stop in Quetta. This was the second terrorist strike in the city in as many months. On July 13, unidentified terrorists opened fire on a police patrol team. Four policemen, among them a DSP, were martyred in that targeted killing. During the last few weeks, several members of the police force have similarly been attacked in other parts of Balochistan as well as in Karachi.

Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has termed the assault on the soldiers just two days before the Independence Day celebrations "an attempt to mar Independence Day festivities" expressing the resolve not to "succumb to any challenge." In fact, a celebratory event to mark the occasion was in progress in a nearby stadium at the time of the blast. So far, no one has claimed responsibility for it. Addressing a news conference after participating in a high-level security meeting at the Balochistan Chief Minister's House, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal pointed the finger at terrorists coming from "another country". Which is not off the mark considering the TTP terrorists have been using sanctuaries in neighbouring Afghan provinces to launch attacks into this country. Unfortunately, the Kabul government has not only been looking the other way, there is enough evidence to suggest that these extremist groups have the active backing of the Afghan intelligence agency, NDS, as well as India's RAW. As a matter of fact, New Delhi makes no secret of its desire to undermine the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. It openly supports Baloch insurgents to foment trouble in Balochistan, and is also believed to use some TTP militants to commit acts of terrorism in other provinces to destabilise this country. Meanwhile, the Kabul government keeps making counter accusations against Pakistan of harbouring Afghan Taliban Haqqani network.

Without a question both Pakistan and Afghanistan need to end mutual distrust and address issues of their respective concerns. The situation though is not about to be resolved anytime soon; too many outside interests are involved. The focus therefore must remain on degrading and defeating terrorists on the home front. The ongoing urban counter-terrorism action together with Khyber-IV operation in the Rajgal valley and fencing of the Pak-Afghan border are vital steps in that direction. Equally important is the need to fully implement the National Action Plan. All these measures will take time to deliver the desired results, but they constitute the only way to rid this country of the scourge of terrorism.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017