The monster of terrorism has yet again raised its ugly head in the country’s most terror-hit region (KPK), which over the past several years has bore the brunt of terrorism and extremism. The Friday’s attack on ATI claimed by the dreaded Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan recalled the bone-chilling memories of gruesome attack on the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar that left an indelible mark and shook the nation’s conscience terribly.
The dastardly incident left nine people, including six students a security guard and two civilians, dead and scores injured as the TTP terrorists clad in burqas stormed the Agriculture Training Institute in Peshawar. The deadly attack took place even though security has been beefed up across the country for 12 Rabbi-ul-Awwal, the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The timely and well planed operation by Police and other law enforcement agencies saved hundreds of lives however there are certain loopholes in the security that need to be identified to avoid the recurrence of such incidents in future.
The overall security situation in the country has, undoubtedly, improved to a great extent. On the internal front the security establishment, during the recent years, has been able to establish and maintain the writ of the state thereby defeating the forces of evil operating within the country but decades’ long cross-border terrorism emanating from the neighbouring country (Afghanistan) poses a serious threats to national security and integrity. This is actually the greatest threat the Pakistan Army has referred to. DG ISPR pointed out that the attack was orchestrated by militants based in Afghanistan. “Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claiming the responsibility for the attack is a proof that it was planned by terrorists based in Afghanistan,” he said adding that the terrorists were in contact with their accomplices in Afghanistan and the executors of this attack are still based there.
The issue of cross border terrorism and presence of terrorist groups operating against Pakistan from within the Afghan territory needs to be taken vociferously and effectively with the government of Afghanistan. Besides TTP, Daesh and Jamaatul Ahrar groups there is also network of Indian intelligence agency (RAW) in Afghanistan which is involved in terrorist activities. Pertinently, the ATI attack is akin to the APS massacre, conducted on 16 December 2014 by six terrorists affiliated with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan. The surging attacks on educational institutions is a matter of grave concern, these wicked attacks are tantamount to an assault on the future of Pakistan. It is indeed a deep rooted conspiracy as Taliban insurgents, aided and abetted by foreign agencies, believe that these schools, colleges and universities they are targeting are the foundations that produce nothing but apostates.
So there is a big game going on in the region, what needs to be done at the earliest is to widen the security overview in the region particularly in the areas bordering to Afghanistan, plug the security loopholes, and consolidate inter-agency counter-insurgency mechanism and implementing NAP in letter and spirit besides mounting diplomatic pressure on the government of Afghanistan to eliminate terrorist sanctuaries on the Afghan side of the border.
