Introduction
The attack on
Gwadar’s Port Authority Complex on 20 Mar 2024, is yet another reminder of the
grim trajectory of militancy in Pakistan. Within days of a major terrorist
attack in North Waziristan, in which seven Pakistan Army soldiers, including
two officers were killed, militants targeted a facility which houses government
offices, including those of security agencies.
On
18 Mar, between the two attacks, Pakistan Air Force had conducted strikes on
multiple targets in the Spera District of Khost Province (KP) and Barmal
District of Paktika Province, in Afghanistan. The Pakistan Foreign Office had
issued a press release stating that in addition to the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban
Pakistan (TTP), commanders of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Network were also the ‘Prime
Targets’ of these airstrikes.
The
Majeed Brigade, affiliated with the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA),
claimed responsibility for the attack. The lethal Guerilla Cell Majeed Brigade
formed in 2011, is named after a guard of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali
Bhutto who was killed while attempting to assassinate the Pakistan People’s Party
founder. It is known for mostly targeting security forces and Chinese interests
in Pakistan.[1]
A
press release from the Inter Services Public Relations said that “A group of
eight terrorists attempted to enter the Port Authority Colony but were
successfully thwarted by security forces personnel. Own troops employed for
security responded immediately and effectively engaged the terrorists, and in
ensuing fire exchange, all eight terrorists were sent to hell”.[2]
They
also reported the death of two Pakistani soldiers in the attack while stating
that Security Forces in Pakistan “Remain determined to thwart attempts at
sabotaging peace and stability of Balochistan”.
In
yet another incident on 21 Mar two soldiers were killed after a suicide bomber
struck a military convoy on Tank Road, in, Dera Ismail Khan. It is reported the
attack also injured at least 22 personnel. These incidents reveal that
far from being neutralised; separatist militants remain a potent threat in
Pakistan.
Previous Incidents
This is not the first
time Gwadar and its environs have been targeted by insurgents. Here, separatism
and geopolitics combine in a lethal cocktail, as militants target Chinese
interests in what is supposed to be the ‘Jewel in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
(CPEC) Crown’.
The
luxury Pearl Continental Hotel was attacked in 2019, also by the BLA, with the
terrorist group saying it had targeted the facility as it was hosting “Chinese
and other foreign investors”.[3] Even Confucius Institute, a
Chinese institute inside Karachi University was hit in a deadly attack in 2022,
in which the Director was killed.
Even
though Gwadar is reported to be under a security blanket, to protect Chinese
nationals and others associated with CPEC projects in Balochistan, the
militants are able to strike at will. In fact, some analysts have pointed to
the ‘Working Relationship’ between religiously inspired militant groups such as
the TTP, and Baloch separatist outfits, including the BLA.
This
nexus can compromise the fragile security situation existing in KP and
Balochistan, especially if both sets of militants have bases in the countries
neighbouring these provinces. After the Gwadar attack the Chief Minister of
Balochistan Sarfraz Bugti said that whoever uses violence “Will see no mercy
from the state”.
Significance of
Gwadar
Gwadar is the
centrepiece of the multibillion-dollar CPEC, Pakistan’s most ambitious
infrastructure and investment project.
Gwadar
Port is a strategically important naval base and outpost that Pakistan is
providing to China. China's interest in the Port has implications for the
maritime security architecture of South Asia. The development of the Gwadar
Port is a good indicator of the steady expansion of Chinese maritime interests
and strategic influence in India's neighbourhood. Being only 180 nm from the
exit of the Straits of Hormuz, Gwadar, enables control over the world energy
jugular and interdiction of tankers.
Striking
Gwadar has immense geopolitical significance, as such attacks are designed to
scare away whatever investment and economic activities are being carried out in
the coastal city as also reveal the vulnerability of CPEC.
The Taliban Threat
The Taliban’s
takeover of Kabul in Aug 2021 was welcomed as a ‘Victory of the forces of Islam’
against another superpower, this time the US, by many in Pakistan. Then Prime Minister Imran Khan, had commended the Afghan
people on “Breaking the shackles of slavery” by militarily overthrowing the
Ashraf Ghani government.
The
Inter Services Intelligence Chief had even travelled to Kabul in Sep 2021, and it was reported that Pakistan was negotiating
a ceasefire with the banned TTP. At that time, Lt Gen Faiz Hameed had remarked
to a Western journalist "Don't worry, everything will be okay".
But
Pakistan continued to suffer relentless terror attacks, the responsibility for which was claimed by other
terrorist groups and not TTP throughout 2021 and 2022 in spite of the mediation
by the Afghan Taliban. By the end of Nov 2022, TTP announced the end of their
ceasefire with Pakistan, and ordered their operatives to conduct attacks
whenever and wherever they could. This vicious trend continued throughout 2023,
with many attacks and casualties.
Despite
Pakistan’s desire to have a favourable relation with the Taliban Government
after it came to power, tension between the sides rose as attacks grew, and
2023 was among the bloodiest years in recent Pakistani history, with more than
650 attacks across the country, killing nearly 1,000 people.[4]
Pakistan
has accused the Afghan Taliban, of providing safe haven to terrorists
associated with the TTP, who are based in the border regions of Afghanistan and
use it as a launching pad for strikes in Pakistan. The Taliban denies that it
hosts Pakistani militants and other international jihadists.
Pakistan
has failed to realise that there is no distinction between a ‘Good’ and a ‘Bad’ terrorist”. A
militant organisation can only be defeated by a coherent national strategy and
an effective tactical and operational approach to internal security and border
security. There is no place for ambiguity and nurturing of some terrorist
organisations. Unfortunately, a lack of cohesion continues to prevent Pakistan
from dealing with the terror threat and also preventing this from metamorphosing
into a conventional threat from the present Afghan government.
Issues That Need
Addressing
Military operations
are largely tactical in nature, and hence can
reduce terrorist incidents in the shorter term; therefore, military operations need
to be backed by strategic plans carried through by all agencies of the
government for a long-term solution.
Along
with the security dimension, the socio-political and economic aspects of the
insurgency must also be examined to include educational reforms and job
creation. Balochistan is Pakistan’s poorest province, despite being rich in
natural resources, including oil, coal, gold, copper and gas reserves. Poverty
and deprivation in Balochistan need to be addressed if the issue of separatism
is to be tackled successfully.
Foreign
investment is direly required but the fruits of these projects whether
CPEC-related, mining schemes, or others needs to reach the people of
Balochistan. Furthermore, issues such as enforced disappearances, and miserable
health and education indicators cannot be ignored and must be given priority.
The
Durand Line which cuts through Pashtun and Baluch ethnicities fuels differences
with Afghanistan and continues to be a source of tension. The fencing of this
line and the Taliban 2.0 have now brought these tensions to the fore, Pakistan
has now realised that its security lay diminished due to the presence of the US
troops in Afghanistan but now it is being forced to address the security issues
on its western borders.
Poverty,
deprivation and the state’s apparent disinterest in the welfare of the
populations of both Balochistan and KP, have contributed to swelling the
militants’ ranks.
Unless
these contributory factors are addressed in earnest, eradicating separatism
will be very difficult, and militants will continue to exploit internal
weaknesses.
Conclusion
Confronted by the
complexities of an increasing wave of terrorist violence Pakistan needs to
review their policies. They can also no longer afford to support extremist
groups who are supportive of Islamabad's foreign policy towards India. This
convoluted policy of incessant support to terrorism had led Hillary Clinton to
remark “You can’t keep snakes in your backyard and expect them to only bite
your neighbour.”
Further,
Pakistan’s approach ignored the affiliations between the Afghan and Pakistani
Taliban. After the US-North Atlantic Treaty Organisation withdrawal from
Afghanistan, the jihadist ecosystem of Afghanistan is now targeting Pakistan. Tit-for-tat
actions could further destabilise two fragile nations, but hostilities are
presently unlikely to spill over into a broader conflict.
Pakistan
faces threats of rising Islamic extremism but is reluctant to face up to how
these ‘Threats are internally rather than externally driven’. Pakistan must
realise that playing with fire can also cause burns and hence it needs to come
down on all forms of terrorism in a concerted manner.
Endnotes
[1] Sasoli, Ismail, Tahir Khan, and
Iftikhar Shirazi. “2 Soldiers Martyred, 8 Terrorists Killed in Attack on Gwadar
Port Authority Complex: ISPR.” DAWN.COM, March 20, 2024. https://www.dawn.com/news/1822759.
[2] Attack on Gwadar Port Authority
complex kills two Pakistani soldiers and eight Baloch terrorists, The telegraph
India, March 21, 2024 https://www.telegraphindia.com/world/two-pakistan-army-soldiers-and-eight-baloch-terrorists-killed-in-attack-on-gwadar-port-authority-complex/cid/2008310
[3] Nabeel, Fahad. “Gwadar Hotel Attack:
The Revival of Balochistan’s Ethno-Nationalist Insurgency?” Centre for
Strategic and Contemporary Research, August 2, 2019. https://cscr.pk/explore/region/asia/gwadar-hotel-attack-the-revival-of-balochistans-ethno-nationalist-insurgency/.
[4] Hussain, Abid. “‘Cousins at War’:
Pakistan-Afghan Ties Strained after Cross-Border Attacks.” Al Jazeera, March
20, 2024. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/19/cousins-at-war-pakistan-afghan-ties-strained-after-cross-border-attacks.
Major General Jagatbir Singh, VSM (Retd) is a Distinguished Fellow at the USI of India. Commissioned in 1981 into the 18 Cavalry, he has held various important command and Staff appointments including command of an Armoured Division.
Article uploaded on 02-04-2024
Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the organisation that he belongs to or of the USI of India.