There is a philosophy that terrorism has political motives. The sense of this thesis goes wider when it is amalgamated with the strategies of terrorists. Often terrorists follow the rules defined by the famous war strategist Sun Tzu. According to Sun Tzu “open confrontation will trigger over-powering resistance. Thus, the key to victory is the ability to use surprise tactics”. That is the element of surprise in terror activities.
During the muddling political situation going around in Balochistan, terrorists hit the heart of Balochistan, Quetta. Seven people, including five Balochistan Constabulary personnel, have been deceased after a suicide bomber struck a security forces truck near the Balochistan Assembly. The offshoot of Afghan Taliban named as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan took the responsibility of the attack.
Most importantly Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan is an outlawed terrorist organization which has been defeated by the Pakistan Army and the Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs). There is no strong networking of the TTP in Balochistan, these attacks have been planned in Afghanistan and carried out by the Fidayeens/Fidae bombers (those who blow themselves following a specific ideology). Hence, Balochistan is vulnerable because of its border.
Effective border management is required to contain these activities. Recently Major General Asif Ghafoor representing Pakistan Army said that Pakistan has restored to peace on its soil and now Afghanistan will also have to do so. He further said that “fighting war against terrorism was a difficult phase, however, we restored peace on our side and now Afghanistan will have to do so. Fencing on the 2600-km-long border (with Afghanistan) has already begun and there would be a significant improvement if the border is managed by the coming year.”
So as being briefed by the DG ISPR, if the border would be fenced, terrorist attacks would be paced down. Moreover, extensive joint operations are required to cut down the activities from the Afghan soil. TTP is already on the run and Balochistan’s security situation has also transformed from the last decade.
Now discussing the last suicidal attack on Balochistan, it was a move which really surprised the LEAs. The whole province was focusing on the stir of political fermentation. Mark Jequalin has a theory that whenever the region is in political chaos, terrorists or insurgents must take the full advantage of the situation as it highlights their cause and rhetoric. Same has been done by the Tehreek e Taliban.
Balochistan is unique in all aspects, its geographical disposition, its significance, its labour, its natural resources, that is the only reason that the hostile countries and non-state actors like Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan, Islamic State, Lashkar e Jhangvi etc. want to destabilize Balochistan. Domestic contours already spoiled Balochistan very much, Sardars like Bramdagh Bugti and Marri being on top lists. Regional states have their own proxies which they are using against Balochistan whereas the province was in the gist of violence, terrorism and vandalism. However, now things have changed, operations like Rad-ul-Fasad have led to Balochistan’s progression day by day.
