Pakistan Terrorism Ground Zero
Rohan Gunaratna and Khuram Iqbal
--------------------------------------------------------------
Introduction
Today, Pakistan is suffering from an unprecedented and grave crisis likely to last years. Located between the strategic cross roads between Asia and the Middle East, Pakistan borders three great powers - Iran, China, and India. The most pivotal state in the fight against terrorism, Pakistan also shares a border with Afghanistan. Compounded by superpower and geopolitical rivalry, threats from its neighbors, and decades of internal instability, Pakistan presents a set of complex problems. The only nuclear power in the Muslim World, support for Pakistan to restore stability and security is both a domestic and international imperative. Without steadfast international goodwill and support, Pakistan cannot achieve this feat.
Since its turbulent formation in 1947, Pakistan has been confronted with a range of internal and external threats. Throughout its history, Pakistan has been politically unstable, economically weak, and militarily confronted. But none of the threats has been so grave as today. The failure of Pakistan’s leaders to secure their country from violence within is contributing to regional instability and global insecurity.
The tier one national security threat facing most countries is ideological extremism and its vicious by product terrorism. Both conceptual and operational structures of terrorist and extremist groups located in Pakistan impact on its neighbors and beyond. There are reports about the presence of some terrorist of Chinese origin in FATA Area, but their involvement in terrorist activities inside China is yet to be established. A handful of ETIM members are suspected to be based in FATA, while other members of this organization are located in Afghanistan, UAE and some Central Asian Republics. Some circles believe that the CIA operatives are in league with the leadership of ETIM. Similarly, Judullah, operating in South Eastern Iran conducted its first suicide attack in Iran on 29 December 2008. The rising tide of militancy in tribal Pakistan and Islamism in mainland Pakistan has affected all its neighbors: Afghanistan, India, China and Iran. Unknown to the international community, Pakistan suffers mostly from it.
Chapter 1: Tribal Pakistan: The Epicenter of Global Terrorism
The long term strategic significance of al Qaeda successfully carving out a semi-safe-haven in FATA is yet to be realized. In addition to the inaccessible Afghan-Pakistan border emerging as the new headquarters of the global jihad movement, al Qaeda and its like-minded groups are seeking to change the geopolitics of the region. Using FATA, al Qaeda, its associated groups and self-radicalized homegrown cells have recruited globally and struck al Qaeda’s enemies both through its operational network and inspired and instigated cells. Operating from FATA, groups trained in that region are mounting attacks in Western China (Xinjiang), Iraq, Algeria, Somalia, and other conflict zones.
Chapter 2: Understanding the Pakistani Taliban
Utilizing Pakistan’s tribal areas, al Qaeda pursues its global agenda of terrorism. In order to neutralize al Qaeda, it is essential to counter its host, the Pakistani Taliban. Today the Taliban poses a major threat not only to Pakistan and Afghanistan but globally. Increasing strength of Taliban groups in Pakistan means that al Qaeda and other foreign groups would also get stronger. Eliminating the Taliban and the al Qaeda in both Afghanistan and Pakistan will ensure global security. This chapter presents an overview of Pakistani Taliban from its’ emergence, development and transformation into a highly organized movement following 11 September 2001. The chapter also highlights their ideologies, objectives and provides the framework to understand the driving forces behind the group.
Chapter 3: Terrorism and Karachi
As the 10th largest city in the world, Karachi’s population is bigger than that of 100 countries. Approximately 18-20 million people live, visit, and work in Karachi. But the mega city remains under constant threat from TTP and its allies. This chapter discusses the complex but dynamic urban, political and socio-economic environment of Karachi and how it impacts the overall security landscape.
Chapter 4: Mainland Pakistan Terrorist Groups
This chapter narrates the profiles of major terrorist groups operating in mainland Pakistan. The characteristics mainland militant groups are divided into six interrelated variables: 1) leadership; 2) rank and file membership; 3) organizational structure and functions; 4) ideology and political code of beliefs and objectives; 5) strategy and tactics, and 6) linkages with other non-state and state actors.
Chapter 5: Instability in the Region: The Wider Effects of Militancy in Pakistan
The chapter discusses the threat to the region, especially to India and Iran. Also it place emphasized on enhanced regional cooperation to counter the threat of terrorism emanating from Pakistan.
Chapter 6: The Suicide Terrorist Threat in Pakistan In the wake of US led War on Terror, Pakistani society witnessed the most brutal form of socially, politically and religiously motivated violence in the form of escalated suicide terrorism. In the cases of Afghanistan and Iraq, there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that the phenomenon of suicide attacks has been primarily motivated by the presence of foreign forces in these two Muslim countries. But if there is no foreign occupation in Pakistan, why has the country become a hunting ground for “death squads”? Why do suicide attacks have become the most dominant tactic among various modus operandi utilized by the terrorist organizations in Pakistan? This chapter seeks to answer the above mentioned questions.
Chapter 7: Is Pakistan the Ground Zero of Terrorism? The book concludes with an appeal for both understanding and support from the international community for Pakistan’s contribution to the global fight against terrorism, reminding an external, and particularly Western, audience, that Pakistan has accepted its obligations with unparalleled responsibility, and that its contributions towards this war “surpass those of any other country, and remain unmatched by any standard.
