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Similarly, the number of suicide bombings between 2001 and 2007 stood at 15 only, but from 2007 to November last year, suicide attacks jumped to 358 – the highest anywhere in the world.
— File Photo
PESHAWAR: Pakistan is the country most affected by terrorism in the world after Iraq, but if the severity of the incidents is considered, it even surpasses the Middle Eastern nation, according to a policy document on internal national security.
The draft of National Internal Security Policy (NISP) 2013-2018, currently being fine-tuned by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan before presentation to the cabinet, describes the scenario as dangerous, posing an existential threat to the integrity and sovereignty of the state.
“From 2001 to 2013, there were 13,721 incidents in Pakistan which is marginally less than Iraq. From 2001 to 2005, there were 523 terrorist incidents in Pakistan but from 2007 to November 2013, the total number of incidents has risen to 13,198.”
Similarly, the number of suicide bombings between 2001 and 2007 stood at 15 only, but from 2007 to November last year, suicide attacks jumped to 358 – the highest anywhere in the world.
According to data released by the US National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses for Terrorism (Start), Pakistan led the chart with 1,404 terrorist attacks in 2012, surpassing Iraq (1,271). Even Afghanistan was behind Pakistan at number three with 1,023 incidents.
More than one-third (33 per cent) of those attacks occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, followed by Balochistan (23pc), Fata (19.6pc) and Sindh (18pc), Start noted.
Ironically however, authoritative sources have revealed to Dawn that while KP has been the hardest hit, the interior ministry never asked it to join formal consultation while formulating the national internal security policy. “We were asked to give our input, but were never invited to formal discussions,” an official said.
The national internal security policy document says from 2001 to November 2013, 48,994 people were killed in the country including 5,272 personnel of the law-enforcement agencies, a large number of them – 17,642 – having been killed in just three years from 2011 to 2013 including 2,114 personnel of the law-enforcement agencies.
So far the interior minister has offered only snippets of the 86-page document which largely remains shrouded in secrecy. So much so that according to sources privy to deliberations on what is being billed as the country’s first internal security policy, all those in attendance were asked to return its copy within 24 hours of receiving it.
Loss to economy
The document goes on to estimate the total loss to economy in the last ten years because of terrorism at $78 billion. It provides a grim picture of the state of security in the country facing what it describes as serious traditional and non-traditional threats of violent extremism, sectarianism, terrorism and militancy.
“Terrorist networks lurk in shadows and thrive on a strategy of invisibility and ambiguity. They operate in an ideologically motivated environment to embroil the state on physical, psychological and ideological levels,” the document notes.
Offering a situation analysis, the document blames flawed and myopic foreign policy choices relating to Afghanistan, Kashmir and India, prolonged military rules and declining capacity of the state institutions and poor governance for the internal security threat.
All categories of violent groups in Pakistan, it notes, have hierarchical leadership, organisation and sources of funding. “They have weaved supportive political narratives and have carved out a domestic support base through which they operate,” it points out, adding that the most troublesome aspect of the entire phenomenon was their connections of varying degrees with external adversaries.
On pursuing dialogue, the document notes that while it seems a noble idea to proceed on a non-violent path, it also create confusion in the minds of the foot soldiers and police officers. “Without holding a strong position in negotiations, it is difficult for any party to reach…a favourable conclusion,” it argues.
Underscoring the need for capacity building of national internal security apparatus, the policy document however, notes that the total strength of 33 national security organisations, including the police and other civil armed forces, both at the federal as well as the provincial level, exceeded 600,000, which is more than the sixth largest standing army of the world i.e. Pakistan.
Pakistan spends Rs150bn on policing in a country where the citizen to police ratio, it notes, was well within the Police Rules, except for the Punjab and Sindh. It notes, however, that the countrywide crime rate registered a spike since 2008 and in 2013; the nationwide reported crime figures stood at a whooping 64,4554.
However, it acknowledges that the metamorphosis of crime accompanied by non-traditional challenge, has prompted the law-enforcement agencies to realign their preparation and posture accordingly, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan where the police forces have gone into an operational mode with other important areas of police work being relegated to the back seat.
The document puts forward three elements of the NISP framework revolving around Dialogue, Isolation and Deterrence, providing for an open-door policy for negotiations with “all” anti-state and non-state groups within the limit of the Constitution and “without compromising” the primary interests of the state territorial integrity and sovereignty, developing a national narrative to counterterrorism and extremism, de-radicalisation and reintegration & reconstruction and capacity building of the criminal justice system and law-enforcement agencies.
The document offers a comprehensive analysis of counterterrorism models in many countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Germany, India, Turkey and Singapore and ventures to offer its own solution to overcome the behemoth of terrorism.
The interior minister has indicated he intended to revamp and revitalise National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) to prepare a comprehensive response plan, rapid reaction force and an integral air wing.
But central to the revamped Nacta, according to the document, would be the establishment of a 'directorate of internal security’ to collate intelligence from six intelligence agencies, including the special branch operating at the provincial level, and coordinate efforts between 20 law-enforcement agencies. The whole operation is to cost Rs21bn, according to the document.
Comments (28) Closed
I would say that we must stop paying taxes because what we are getting out of it, we fear all the time, govt eat all money from us as well as the grant they got from other sources. There is no reason to accept govt. All are useless.
In all my past comments I have been ringing alarm bell on situation in Pakistan knowingly it is a waste of time because there is not a single Pakistani leader who genuinely cares about Pakistan and Pakistani people. This is the reason why Pakistan has reached to the lowest level of peace and security. I may be wrong but I honestly believe only a general with determination and courage with full support of men and women in uniform can take Pakistan out of the hell of terror and militancy and doom and gloom.
Pakistan's 'raw' wounds...
@Mustafa: " I honestly believe only a general with determination and courage with full support of men and women in uniform can take Pakistan out of the hell of terror and militancy and doom and gloom."
Obviously you are too na
states' like US which manufacture and export guns have the max gun related deaths in civilian "warfare". Is it a wonder that those who had a policy of "good taliban bad taliban" and terror by a thousand cuts would be denied the fruits of the evil seeds they sow by civilian deaths from the evil they create as an act of security policy? Raw wounds yes, but minus the acronym, just plain dictionary meaning of the word which applies to a wounded civilian Pakistan !
@El Cid: And how is that?
when you guys are running behind religion and forget about welfare of people. this will happen..what pakistan need is revolution ( communist), otherwise pakistan will become a multiple parts.
@El Cid: Generals in Pakistan have made Pakistan what it is today? The killing of Liaqat Ali Khan is the basis for today's terrorist controlled Pakistan. In 1951, there was no MQM, no PPP, no Msharraf and still some one killed first Prime Minister of Pakistan. Who should we blame, except that Pakistan's today's politics was created that day.
Regardless, the only solution to Pakistan's morass is to let a foreign nation manage our country for some time. Only country that seems to be able to do that is probably China which can lease Pakistan for 50 or so years in exchange for our resources, which they need very badly.
@Mustafa: Nope! Generals will always apply the law of force and you cant contain these types of problems with force. You need a common man somewhat similar to Gandhi to rise up. People will automatically follow because everyone is frustrated. Probably Ghaffar Khan would have led the effort had he been alive.
"Where there is a will there is a way". Don't expect it from the type of leaders we have and then see the stuff from where they are elected.
No kidding, really?
I wonder what changed since 2007, oh wait it was iron fisted Musharraf in the office, since then we got thugs running the show. Now I wonder what is the need of the hour? Who do we need to tackle this non sense Taliban crap and their supporters.
Sorry but you reap what you sow. In trying to compete with India you can barely keep your own nation alive now.
@BJP Shah: " some one killed first Prime Minister of Pakistan. Who should we blame, "
Look across the border...will become obvious even to one such as you.
Pakistan should focus on getting rid of its internal problems, instead of focusing on India.
@Akber: All the criminals are already not paying any taxes - it is only the law-abiding citizens, who number very few, are actually paying taxes and do you really think these criminals will allow these few honest people from getting away without paying taxes? I highly doubt it!
@El Cid: There is real life beyond conspiracy theories. What does Pakistan offer that outsiders will be out there to kill you?
@Akber:- Create Aam Admi Party (AAP) and go full bore to chuck the filthy rich, corrupt and crooked politicians out.
@Sarwat: I absolutely agree with you. Why media doesn't report the facts what Musharraf Govt. did good for the country for the people. Musharraf was actually leading the country towards moderation and peace. We as a nation are so dumb that we actually try to punish patriotic people while allow criminals to rule us.
@John:"There is real life beyond conspiracy theories"
Thank you for the tip. However, I don't deal with conspiracy theories. Only with verifiable facts.
@Sarwat et al: I think ppl tend to see things in shorter context (i am not blaming anyone)... did you ever see cooking in a pressure cooker? from outside it seems quite calm and everyhting is fine but the next moment it explodes.. thats what Mr. Musharaf regime was all about... the way he handled things seems to be pretty smooth but he has irked everyone i.e. US (by playing double game), Radicals (by having peace aggreements and allowed US to use airbases and drone strikes), Avg. Pakistani (by hijacking constitution not once but twice)... this list goes on and on... so I feel Mr. Musharaf is responsible of everything from Kargil to TTP insurgency... he just can conquer PM house nothing else..
Education and Education is the only solution
As if we don't know. Thanks for informing us with outdated information.
Once again, Pakistan tops the list. No wonder.
Pakistan spends Rs150bn on policing in a country where the citizen to police ratio, it notes, was well within the Police Rules, except for the Punjab and Sindh. It notes, however, that the countrywide crime rate registered a spike since 2008 and in 2013; the nationwide reported crime figures stood at a whooping 64,4554.
We donot have enough Police for 130 million Pakistani . Why has this fact being downplayed. The police rule suggest 1 policeman for every 400 persons (this is around 100 year old ratio, when criminals use to run on horses and tanga ) the ratio should be around 1 police officer for 200 to 300 persons at least
Pakistan nurtured these terror groups for many decades to wage proxy war against India and to colonize Afganisthan in the name of strategic depth. Now they are turning against their masters. The only way is to make peace with the current terror groups and forbid all non-state militancy. The terror groups may want to govern their own regions by their own primitive laws. If Taliban was considered goog enough by Pakistan to rule all of Afganisthan, why not let them rule some small parts of Pakistan?
@Ragu: Excellent comment on article.
@Muhammad: So far many captured terrorist are well educated like doctors, engineers, chemist etc in foreign countries and all are Muslims too, so school education alone will not solve the problem All hatred shall be removed including religious one.