Courtesy: DW Commentary by Haroon Janjua in Islamabad
A Summary
Pakistan has initiated a new military operation, Azm-e-Istehkam (Resolve for Stability), to address the escalating militancy and armed violence in the country. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government announced this latest in a series of operations aimed at countering militant groups.
Over the past two years, Pakistan has experienced a significant increase in violent attacks, resulting in the deaths of at least 62 soldiers, including two officers, this year. The military has reported the elimination of 249 terrorists and the arrest of 396 in over 13,000 intelligence-based operations.
Most of these attacks have been claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella group of Islamist militants aiming to establish an Islamic state in Pakistan based on their strict interpretation of Islam. The TTP ended a ceasefire with the Pakistani government in November 2022 and has since intensified its attacks.
The new operation is expected to target militants crossing over from Afghanistan. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that the military will not hesitate to launch cross-border strikes in Afghanistan if necessary to protect Pakistan’s sovereignty.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, known for harboring various militant groups, including the TTP and local branches of the “Islamic State,” remains a focal point for these operations. The ongoing tensions with the Afghan Taliban, who Pakistan accuses of providing safe havens to these militants, complicate the situation further.
The operation also aims to address the increased threat to Chinese nationals and investments in Pakistan. Attacks on Chinese workers involved in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects have prompted pressure from Beijing for Islamabad to enhance security measures. The CPEC, a critical component of Pakistan’s economic strategy, involves numerous infrastructure projects funded by China, and ensuring the safety of Chinese nationals working on these projects is a priority for Pakistan.
Despite support from the federal government, the operation faces opposition from some political factions within Pakistan. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party have expressed opposition to the military campaign, particularly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where the PTI governs.
Political analysts are skeptical about the campaign’s potential success, citing low approval ratings for the military in certain regions and a lack of consensus among local political leaders. Nonetheless, defense analysts emphasize the necessity of the operation to ensure stability and protect Pakistan from terrorist threats.
A Summary