Pakistani Columnist: '444 Terrorist Attacks In Which At Least 685 Security Forces Personnel Lost Their Lives, Occurred In [Pakistan] In 2024'

Memri

28-02-2025

Recently, Pakistan's Urdu-language daily Roznama Jang published a column assessing the impact of terrorism in Pakistan since the 1980s and the difficult situation in which Pakistan finds itself currently amid the continuing attacks by jihadi group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the secular Baloch secessionist groups in Balochistan. [1]
Columnist Muhammad Mansoor Khan, in the column, titled "The Elimination Of Terrorism?" noted that "terrorism started in the 1980s" and since then Pakistan has rendered "unprecedented sacrifices in the war against terrorism with the number of lives lost exceeding 75,000."
Although Khan did not mention it, the violence in the 1980s in Pakistan was provoked by the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, which fostered the Shi'ite-Sunni schism in Pakistani society leading to domestic terrorism between armed Shi'ite and Sunni organizations in Pakistan. It was also caused by Pakistan's own support, with U.S. and Saudi aid, of the Afghan mujahideen against Soviet troops in Afghanistan during that decade, and again against U.S. and NATO troops from 2001 onward.
"The economic losses were also not less in any way. They are estimated to be over $150 billion. Despite these devestating blows, Pakistan's resolve has always remained steel-strong and unshakable, serving as a shining testament to its unwavering determination and steadfastness for regional and global peace," Khan wrote.
A screenshot of the column
Following is a translation of the Urdu-language column.
"Pakistani Security Forces Had Overcome Terrorism In The Country In Around 2020, But When The [Afghan] Taliban Came Into Power On August 15, 2021, And Thousands Of People Were Released [From Prison], The Explosions Started Again"
"The Elimination Of Terrorism?
"Nowadays, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan [provinces of Pakistan] have become special targets for terrorists. Their training camps are outside Pakistan. In a bid to prove that they are very powerful, these people target security forces and the civilians.
"In Pakistan, terrorism started in the 1980s. Pakistan rendered unprecedented sacrifices in the war against terrorism with the number of lives lost exceeding 75,000. These include both brave and courageous security personnel as well as innocent civilians. The economic losses were also not less in any way. They are estimated to be over $150 billion. Despite these devestaing blows, Pakistan's resolve has always remained steel-strong and unshakable, serving as a shining testament to its unwavering determination and steadfastness for regional and global peace.
"Pakistani security forces had overcome terrorism in the country in around 2020 but when the [Afghan] Taliban came into power on August 15, 2021, and thousands of people were released [from prison], the explosions started again. In any strategy adopted against terrorism, the use of force holds central status, but its political, economic, and social impacts cannot be overlooked. Pakistan is currently facing a difficult situation.
"Mao Zedong had said, 'Just as a fish cannot live without water, so a war cannot be won without the support of the people.' In Pakistan, terrorist activities are mostly being observed in Balochistan and the northern regions [bordering Afghanistan], where anti-state elements are involved in separatist movements, receiving substantial support from India and Afghanistan. The DG ISPR [Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations, the media wing of Pakistan military] has once again demanded of the Kabul administration to control cross-border terrorist activities and not allow its territory from being used against Pakistan.
"However, the Kabul administration is not only fully supporting the terrorists and Khawarij [2] present in Pakistan but is also giving them advanced weaponry left behind by the U.S. in Afghanistan. The terrorists use these weapons against our security forces. The Afghan Taliban and TTP are ideologically the same."
"The BLA [Baloch Liberation Army] And Other Baloch Separatist Groups Have Formed An Alliance, With The Agenda To Harm The Unity And Security Of Pakistan"
"The BLA [Baloch Liberation Army] and other Baloch separatist groups have formed an alliance, with the agenda to harm the unity and security of Pakistan. The weapons left behind by the United States while withdrawing from Afghanistan have fallen into the hands of terrorist groups like TTP, BLA, BLF [Balochistan Liberation Front], and Daesh [Islamic State], who are now using them against Pakistan. These groups do not want Pakistan to be economically stable.
"Due to the activities of these the terrorist groups, the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has deteriorated to such an extent that now the people of the province are demanding strict action from the authorities against these terrorists because their businesses and daily life routines are being affected by these activities. The recent incidents [of terror attacks] in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan is the proof that Pakistan's enemies are frightened by the completion of developmental projects.
Map of Pakistan's provinces (Courtesy: Bahaaristan.com)
"According to the Center for Research and Security Studies, a total of 444 terrorist attacks occurred in the country in 2024, wherein at least 685 security forces personnel lost their lives. In these incidents, a total of 1,612 individuals, including civilians and security personnel, were killed, while 934 militants were also eliminated. The total fatalities recorded this year are the highest in the past nine years. The highest casualties due to violence occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where 1,616 people were killed, while 782 people lost their lives in Balochistan.
"After the U.S. withdrawal in 2021, India also felt it sensible to flee from Afghanistan because the investment India had made during Ashraf Ghani's government faced difficulties; so, India did not waste a moment in leaving Afghanistan. There is no doubt that former Afghan presidents Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani had titled toward India, and during their tenures, India also bestowed favors upon Afghanistan. The primary objective of these favors was to harm Pakistan diplomatically. India was largely successful in achieving its goals."
"The Terrorism Being Executed In The Name Of Baloch Nationalism Has No Connection With The Ordinary Baloch Citizens. Rather, It Involves A Handful Of Elements Who Are Carrying Out Such Activities At The Behest Of India's Support, Weapons, And Funding"
"Our security forces stand firm against the nefarious designs of these elements, and operations against them are ongoing in every corner of the country. However, there are certain weaknesses in our security system that are exploited by anti-peace elements, and they succeed in carrying out sabotage activities.
"Those responsible for matters related to security policy should identify these weaknesses and formulate policies to overcome them in order to prevent the enemy from advancing its malicious intentions. Undoubtedly, as the Pakistan army had made the country a haven of peace in the past, it will continue to play its role in the same manner in the future, and the enemy will face defeat.
"The terrorism being executed in the name of Baloch nationalism has no connection with the ordinary Baloch citizens. Rather, it involves a handful of elements who are carrying out such activities at the behest of India's support, weapons and funding.
"It has become unavoidable to immediately address the deteriorating law and order and security situation in the country but besides military force, the political leadership must also shoulder its responsibilities. The [counter-terror] National Action Plan outlines the responsibilities of security agencies, the federal government, and provincial authorities. There is the need for political leadership to unite on this issue and commit to a unified approach for eradicating terrorism."
[1] Jang.com, February 9, 2025.
[2] The Kharijites (literally, "those who come out"), were an early Islamic sect that advocated excommunicating Muslims for even minor sins and was proclaimed heretical by the mainstream Sunna. Today, the term is used to brand Muslim groups as extremist. In this context it refers to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).