Pakistan's Political and Military Leadership have again announced a renewed commitment and resolve to tackle security challenges. On Tuesday, the National Security Committee convened to assess the rising terrorism incidents in Pakistan, emphasizing the urgent implementation of the National Action Plan and the Azm-e-Istahkam Strategy to strengthen national security. The meeting, chaired by the Speaker of the National Assembly, was attended by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, members of the Parliamentary Committee, political leaders, Army Chief General Asim Munir, key federal ministers, and senior officials from military and intelligence agencies. Following the meeting in Islamabad, a statement was issued stressing the importance of counter-terrorism consensus and a strategic political resolve to confront this escalating threat with the full strength of the state. However, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and some other parties chose to stage an opposition boycott and did not attend the session. This meeting was convened in response to recent militant attacks, including the Jaffer Express attack and multiple security incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Baluchistan security situation over the past two weeks. The statement also raised concerns over terrorist social media propaganda, highlighting the increasing misuse of digital platforms for recruitment, spreading extremist narratives, and coordinating attacks. The committee stressed the need for stronger measures to curb this digital exploitation, including digital network disruption efforts. Furthermore, the committee emphasized that no enemy force collaborators, whether individuals, institutions, or groups, would be allowed to destabilize national peace and stability. While expressing disappointment over the absence of some opposition members, the committee reassured that the opposition consultation process would continue to seek national consensus. PTI, the Baluchistan National Party (Mengal), and the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party boycotted the meeting, with PTI demanding Imran Khan’s parole release as a condition for participation.
After the official ISPR statement was released, the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), also shared details of the Army Chief’s statement during the National Security Committee meeting, highlighting Pakistan’s evolving counter-terrorism strategy and national security policy. Although Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif read out the official statement of the meeting, it did not include details of Army Chief General Asim Munir’s speech, which emphasized Pakistan’s military stance on security challenges and governance. According to the ISPR statement, Army Chief General Asim Munir stressed the urgent need to transform Pakistan into a hard state, reinforcing a war on terror Pakistan approach that prioritizes security and governance reforms. He questioned, "How long will we continue to sacrifice countless lives as a soft state?"—a direct reference to the hard vs soft state debate in Pakistan’s defense and security circles. The National Stability Plan was also a key focus, as the Army Chief stated, "There is no agenda, movement, or personality greater than the security of the country. For sustainable security measures, all elements of national power must work in harmony." This aligns with ongoing efforts to strengthen political and military alignment in tackling security threats. Emphasizing the elimination of terrorism, the Army Chief remarked, "This is a battle for our survival and the survival of future generations. I urge religious scholars to expose the distorted interpretation of Islam propagated by extremists." His remarks address concerns regarding extremism and stability, underlining the role of ideological warfare in countering terrorism. Furthermore, he underscored the significance of Pakistan’s sovereignty and strengthening national security, stating, "Our existence is tied to the existence of this country. Therefore, nothing is more important than national security. To safeguard Pakistan’s defense policy, we must unite and adopt a narrative that prioritizes national interests over political and personal agendas." Concluding his remarks, the Army Chief issued a firm warning in response to terrorist threats, declaring, "Today’s message to those who believe they can destabilize Pakistan through these terrorists is clear: we stand united and will not only defeat them but also their facilitators." This statement reaffirms Pakistan’s commitment to counteracting terrorism and maintaining terrorism and governance as a top national priority.
Ehsan Ghani, the former head of the counter-terrorism agency NETCA, told the BBC that the situation appears to be moving towards 'military action'.
Military operations in Pakistan, Counter-terrorism action, and Security forces deployment are now under consideration following the recent National Security Committee meeting. Pakistan army operation against terrorist networks is expected to be a decisive step in the country’s ongoing battle for security. Defense analyst Major General (Retired) Ejaz Awan, commenting on the National security response, stated, "It now seems that an operation will take place." He further emphasized that this was not just his analysis but that he had also received a message confirming the likelihood of intelligence-based operations. He asserted, "There will be an operation against the perpetrators of the Jaffer Express attack retaliation." Ejaz Awan highlighted that details regarding this terrorist crackdown are yet to emerge, including how it will be conducted and which security forces will participate. Referring to the Azm-e-Istahkam strategy, he noted, "The current situation indicates that multiple special forces interventions will take place soon." Responding to a question about Pakistan's military strategy, he stressed, "Right now, the important issue is not how transparent the electoral process is, but rather how much public support for the operation exists." In his view, law enforcement action requires strong backing from the citizens to ensure success. Drawing from his experience, Ejaz Awan recalled the army-led counterinsurgency in Swat, where public support was overwhelming, with 2.2 million people evacuating their homes. He stated, "Within six weeks, we successfully conducted targeted military strikes and eliminated militants in all eight districts of Malakand." Meanwhile, Ehsan Ghani, former head of NACTA (National Counter Terrorism Authority), suggested that the country is heading towards war on terror escalation. In his opinion, "This time, they have not explicitly stated it in the ISPR statement, suggesting that they intend to proceed quietly, unlike the loud announcements made during the Azm-e-Istahkam operation." This approach signifies a shift towards covert military actions to enhance national security enforcement and ensure stabilizing Pakistan’s security while countering terrorist threats response.
Ehsan Ghani stated, “The term ‘hard state’ suggests that there is no longer room for soft options and that the policy of resolving issues through force has been adopted. This approach is likely to continue for a long time.” In his opinion, “This would be a flawed policy because such issues cannot be solved through force alone. At most, you might eliminate some individuals, but the real question remains: what comes next?” Ehsan Ghani believes that “there should first be soft interventions, with priority given to confidence-building measures.” According to him, at present, the Baloch people have lost trust in the state. Major General (Retired) Ejaz Awan disagrees with Ehsan Ghani on this point. In his view, “Very few people in Baluchistan are actually against the state, while the majority supports it.” He suggested, “A commission should be established so that anyone who wants to make disclosures can do so at once, and progress can be made.” According to him, “Political leadership must also accept its incompetence because, in some cases, one brother becomes the leader of the BLA while the other serves as a member of the assembly and criticizes the state.” Ehsan Ghani argues, “We need to change our narrative first. So far, we have maintained a mindset that might be understood in Aabpara and Rawalpindi, but it does not resonate with the Baloch people or the country’s youth.” He further stated, “Currently, there are six different security agencies in the country, and there is no clear understanding of their specific roles.” According to Ehsan Ghani, “To achieve the desired results, political engineering must be stopped as a governance model. Otherwise, the situation will continue as it is.” Military Claims: 33 Militants Killed, 300 Hostages Rescued – “Rules of the Game Have Changed After the Jaffer Express Incident” Jaffer Express: How Are Complex Military Operations Conducted Amid Hostages and Suicide Bombers? "The Blast Was So Intense It Felt Like an Earthquake" – Eyewitness Accounts of the Bannu Cantonment Attack ISIS, Taliban, and American Weapons: Can Afghanistan Bring Pakistan and the US Closer Again?
Quaid-e-Azam University’s Professor of International Relations, Ishtiaq Ahmed, stated, “Even after several decades, we are still at point zero.” In his opinion, “For three decades, we have been fighting religious extremism, for two decades, we have dealt with ethnic separatists, and it has been over a decade since the National Action Plan was introduced. Yet, it seems we have not moved an inch forward. This highlights Pakistan's recurring security crises and the stagnation in counter-terrorism policy.” He believes that the same outcome will follow this time as has happened in the past, reflecting long-term instability in Pakistan. He remarked, “Even after all this time, our debate still revolves around whether we should adopt a hard policy or a soft strategy. The lack of strategic evolution in our approach has led to decades of unresolved conflict.” According to Ishtiaq Ahmed, “We have been hearing the same rhetoric for three decades that was repeated in the National Security statement and the Army Chief’s speech. The real question is: where is the practical implementation of these statements? Without it, the national security deadlock remains.” He asserted, “The military cannot eliminate terrorism—this is the job of the police, as they have direct interaction with the public and better human resources. Without sustainable security solutions, Pakistan’s struggle with militancy will persist.” In his view, military operations weaken terrorist networks temporarily, but after some time, they begin to resurface in one form or another, proving that military operations with no outcome do not solve the problem.” He agrees with Ehsan Ghani that the state needs to change its narrative and establish a system where the state itself moves away from religious influence and does not provide a conducive environment for extremist groups to thrive. The failure to eliminate terrorism has made counter-terrorism challenges in Pakistan even more severe. Ishtiaq Ahmed added, “We talk about being a hard state, yet in the past five years, India has infiltrated our country, carried out assassinations, and left without consequence. This exposes the stagnant security progress we have made.” He believes that “we currently lack determination, willpower, and capability, which results in repeating past mistakes in governance.” He further stated, “Our global reputation has suffered, and we are becoming increasingly isolated. Even neighbors like China are now hesitant to trust us because we have failed to provide security for their citizens. This no progress after decades has made Pakistan’s national security issues worse.” According to him, political parties, including PTI, must stop using national interests for political gains. However, he noted, “Right now, the entire focus of the state and government is on PTI, leaving no attention for anything else. This repeating security failure is dangerous for the country.” Ishtiaq Ahmed emphasized that the National Action Plan includes everything necessary, but the real issue is its implementation. Counter-terrorism policy stagnation is preventing us from making real progress.” Retired Major General Ejaz Awan also agreed with Professor Ishtiaq Ahmed, stating that the National Action Plan has never been implemented. This lack of sustainable security solutions is one of Pakistan’s major security challenges.” In his view, “This plan was never enforced before, and it will not be in the future either. Until there is political will, the military exit plan from counter-terrorism will remain incomplete.” Recently, during a session of the National Assembly, Bilawal Bhutto called for the introduction of National Action Plan II, emphasizing that without a strategic shift, Pakistan’s unending security battles will continue.” He stated, “If, after the APS tragedy, then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif could unite all parties to create the National Action Plan, then why can’t Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif create National Action Plan II when the situation is even worse today? Without a strong exit strategy from militancy, Pakistan will remain in a security deadlock.” He further remarked, “We are passing through an era more dangerous than before. The failure to implement a comprehensive plan has led to decades of war with no resolution.” Bilawal Bhutto asserted, “Nawaz Sharif was the Prime Minister when we formulated the first National Action Plan. There is no reason why Shahbaz Sharif cannot introduce National Action Plan II. Without action, Pakistan’s security crisis will only deepen.”
According to these points, Pakistan's anti-terror measures dictate that militant and armed groups will not be allowed to operate. It will be ensured that banned organizations do not become active again, terrorist communication networks will be dismantled, and militancy will not be tolerated in Punjab. Additionally, strict action will be taken against sectarian organizations under extremism control strategy and security and governance reforms. Failure to implement the National Action Plan (NAP implementation) and allegations of leniency towards banned organizations led to demands for the resignation of former Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan during Nawaz Sharif’s tenure. Critics argue that judicial and legal reforms and police and intelligence coordination were not effectively enforced, hindering progress in Pakistan’s war on terror. It is worth noting that earlier, on April 7, 2023, during a National Security Council meeting, approval was granted for launching a new comprehensive counter-terrorism operation to tackle extremism and radicalization in the country. The decision aligns with counter-extremism initiatives, border security enforcement, and strengthening internal security under the broader Pakistan security strategy.