Terrorism in Pakistan: Members of Parliament demand briefing

The MPs have demanded that they be briefed on the talks with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and the incidents of terrorism in the country. They also demanded an investigation into incidents like the attack on the CTD center. The members were told that on their demand, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah will soon issue a statement regarding the action plan or policy of the government. Since the war against terrorism, Pakistan has been suffering its negative effects.

?According to the Ministry of Interior, terrorism in Pakistan is a major threat to the people of Pakistan. The current wave of terrorism started in 2000 and peaked during 2009. Since then, it has been significantly reduced as a result of the actions taken by the Pakistan Army. According to the South Asian Terrorism Portal Index (SATP), terrorism in Pakistan decreased by 89% from 2009 to 2017. In 2021, 48.29 percent of Pakistan's total terrorist deaths (664 deaths) were from Balochistan alone. According to a report, 60,000 civilians and around 10,000 security personnel have been martyred in the war against terrorism. According to official figures, direct and indirect economic losses due to terrorism from 2000-2010 were $68 billion.

A 2018 media report stated that due to the war against terrorism, Pakistan's economy has lost a total of 126.79 billion dollars so far. At the end of 2013, due to the continuation of terrorist attacks, the political and military leadership launched a military operation against the terrorists named Zarb Azb. Joint military operations were conducted against various militant groups including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Jundullah, Al-Qaeda, East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU). The TTP and IMU claimed responsibility for the attack on Karachi's Jinnah International Airport on June 8. Operation Zarb Azb is considered a turning point in Pakistan's war against terrorism. The operation was successful and there was a sharp decline in terrorism. According to the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (NECTA), Pakistan had the highest number of terrorist attacks in 2010. Since 2014, there has been a significant decline in terrorist attacks in Pakistan. After fencing the Pakistan-Afghan border, terrorism in Pakistan further decreased. Pakistan's economic losses due to the war on terror decreased by 62 percent from 2014 to 2018. Pakistan's economy suffered a loss of $23.77 billion in 2010-11 due to expenditure related to the war on terrorism. This amount decreased to $12 billion in 2011-12. In 2016-17, the Pakistani economy lost $5.47 billion and in 2017-18 $2.07 billion.

Fears of the return of terrorists have raised concerns in areas where violent organizations have been active. Thousands of people participated in peace rallies in various towns of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, condemning the recent attack on Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines in Peshawar and the resurgence of militancy in the province. The participants demanded the government to end militancy and ensure sustainable peace. The level of sensitivity people are showing at the social level is not seen in the political parties. There is a close relationship between peace and economic development. Economic development cannot be possible without peace and peace and security cannot be sustained without development. Terrorism has a direct and indirect impact on economic growth. Accumulation of financial and human capital is the main factors of economic development. Terrorism, conflict and violence destroy both physical and human capital and undermine socio-political institutions that positively affect economic growth.

A country with severe violence loses the confidence of national and international investors, reducing domestic and foreign investment. Moreover, terrorist activities divert both human and financial resources abroad, adversely affecting economic growth. The expression of serious interest in security issues by Pakistani parliamentarians has rarely been seen. Terrorism is affecting the social, economic and political dimensions of the country, so the parliament should play a role in dealing with it. It will be important how the parliament will be able to play its role when half of the parliament is empty.