WITH militancy rearing its head throughout the nation as soon as once more, the civilian and army leaderships must deal with imparting higher counterterrorism coaching to our troops so as to scale back lack of life throughout antiterrorism operations. Ever for the reason that banned TTP rescinded the truce with the state in November of final 12 months, there was an alarming rise within the frequency of assaults wherein safety personnel have been martyred or wounded. In actual fact, based on figures collected by an Islamabad-based assume tank, Pakistan misplaced over 280 safety personnel final 12 months, with December being significantly lethal. As issues stand, the brand new 12 months just isn’t prone to be a lot totally different, until the terrorist menace is uprooted.
Each when it comes to intelligence gathering and counterterrorism coaching, there’s a dire want for our safety forces to remain two steps forward of the militants. That is very true for these on the entrance line within the battle in opposition to terrorist violence, particularly the army models involved and the counterterrorism departments of the provincial police forces. The actual fact is that militants — whether or not they’re religiously motivated and sectarian parts or separatists — usually are not typical enemies that armies meet on the battlefield. They’re irregular foes utilizing uneven strategies, and the state must grasp the required guidelines of engagement whether it is to defeat the enemy, and save the lives of our troops and cops. For instance, whereas IEDs could also be powerful to identify, there isn’t a motive why such a excessive variety of safety males ought to lose their lives in intelligence-based operations. The federal government, along with the army excessive command, must replace CT coaching modules for each the army and the police forces. If want be, a particular army unit will be raised that’s particularly educated within the newest strategies, and outfitted with the requisite instruments to combat terrorism. Or, current formations will be educated to fulfill the menace. This can be a resolution safety consultants and the excessive command must make so as to restrict casualties inside the ranks, and efficiently counter terrorism.
Certainly, the combat is not going to be a painless one, and lots of of our courageous troops and cops might be placing their lives on the road to guard Pakistan. It’s the state’s obligation to supply them with the coaching and instruments they should defeat a shadowy and ruthless foe that has few scruples. If a excessive variety of safety males proceed to lose their lives or undergo grave accidents through the course of antiterrorism operations, it is going to have a significant demoralising impact on safety personnel, whereas handing a psychological victory to the militants. Terrorism could have made a resurgence because of the failed insurance policies of the state, however these defending the nation shouldn’t must pay for these errors with their lives.
Revealed in Daybreak, January third, 2023
