SADF COMMENT. Dr. Tehseen Nisar 08/03/2017

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1 08/03/2017 SADF COMMENT No. 82 ISSN SADF COMMENT The new wave of Terror onslaught in Pakistan: Coverage, Reactions and Responses from Pakistani and International Print and Electronic Media Dr. Tehseen Nisar SADF - South Asia Democratic Forum 19 Avenue des Arts 1210 Brussels Belgium info@sadf.eu Reg. Num. BE Following the new onslaught of the Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan characterised by successive series of suicide bombings in Quetta (Baluchistan); Peshawar (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa); Lahore (Punjab) and Sehwan (Sind), the entire Pakistani civil society remains stunned and under a state of shock. The way in which the trend of suicide bombings has taken the nation by frenzy is beyond any figment of imagination. Ever since 9/11, Pakistan s overall all security scene has remained rather chaotic and it s not out of place to say that the allencompassing political and social as well as economic situation in the country has remained under the shadow of the war on terror. This article will throw the light on the issue of the recent spate of attacks that have rocked Pakistan from East to West and North to South. In the current climate, although the Pakistani nation as well as the government both stay resolved to address the menace of terrorism, there are renewed threats from the new organisations in the Af-Pak region. The recent attacks were claimed by The Islamic State (the Khorasan chapter) along with the convergence of the interest between the Tehreek-e Taliban, and the Pakistani Jammat-ul Ahrar group. With the stage set for the operation Rad-ul Fasaad, which was launched in the immediate aftermath of the suicide terror attacks by the TTP (Ahrar group), there is a clear recognition on the part of the Pakistani authorities so as to the need of completely rooting out the hide-outs of terror networks as well as recognising the presence of ISIS in the Af-Pak region, the latter issue being Keywords: Pakistan, Terrorism, Tehreek-e Taliban, Khorasan, Islamic State, ISIS, Jammat-ul Ahrar, Media

2 a matter of contention (as there were conflicting reports on the issue about the organisation in the region. Of late, there were numerous opinions maintained by the authorities in charge concerning the presence of ISIS in Pakistan-benefitting both Pakistani and Afghan Taliban networks with a range of logistical, military and other kinds of support. The years following the wars in Syria and Iraq are considered to the regrouping of ISIS factions in AF-Pak region. In 2016, ISIS formed Wilayat Khorasan (Khurasan Province), a historical region incorporating parts of modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan. The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) in its report published in September last year alarmed of the Wilayat Khorasan activities stating that the composition of the shura formed by the ISIS could lead the group to eventually engage more heavily in Pakistan than Afghanistan. 1 The leaders of the Wilayat Khorasan shura, being predominantly Pakistani, have an established understanding of the Pakistani terrain and its people. Their influence with local tribes could help Wilayat Khorasan build a support base in Pakistan. Shura member Omar Mansoor also reportedly has ties to Lal Masjid in Islamabad, which serves as a networking nexus for extremists and that the shura s connections with the Lal Masjid could help ISIS develop linkages with multiple terrorist groups and recruit from Deobandi madrassas throughout Pakistan, which are connected to Lal Masjid. 2 The presence of ISIS was denied by the Pakistani interior minister Chaudhry Nisar and former Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz who refuted the group s presence. Conflicting opinion s pertained later following Aftab Sultan s (the director general of the Intelligence Bureau) briefing to the Senate Standing Committee on Interior, recognising the threat of ISIS. He reportedly said that the Islamic State group was emerging as a threat in the country because several militant groups had [a] soft corner for it. Such apprehensions were also shared by the then-foreign Secretary Azaz Ahmed Chaudhry who admitted in front of the 1 Tariq Pervez, The Islamic State in Pakistan, The United States Institute of Peace(USIP), Dated September, ibid. 2

3 Senate Foreign Affairs Committee at Parliament House that ISIS posed a serious threat to Pakistan. 3 The new wave of the terrorist attacks has been a break from the renewed wave of peace witnessed in Pakistan. What are the causes and implications of such a wave and to what extent have Pakistani authorities addressed the root causes of the rising force of terrorism in the country? What are the questions raised by both the Pakistani and International print and electronic media sources in the series of analyses, programs and discussions that have followed in this context? Ever since the launch of Operation Zarb-e-Azb (which literally means swift and conclusive strike)- the terrorists networks have taken to revenge tactics. Zarb-e-Azab was successful as it guaranteed the effective elimination of terrorist hideouts in the tribal belts of Pakistan but after the transition of power from General Raheel Shareef to General Bajwa in 2016 as the Chief of Pakistani Armed Forces, there is a belief that terrorist wanted to exploit the period of transition and convert the gains earlier made into a plausible zero sum game. The Launching of the Operation Rad-ul-Fassad was an ample manifestation of the attempt to bolster the fight against terrorism. Rad-ul-Fasaad means to get rid of the evil or to bolster the fight against terrorism. Its salient features include unlike previous operations, a bi-focal approach which means that it aims to function by rooting out terrorism from the country comprehensively. In other words, it defines the tasks of securing Pakistan s borders and securing the home front as organically linked: the more successfully terrorism is defeated at home, the more secure the borders will become. 4 It is believed that Operation Rad-Ul Fasaad will cover the areas that Zarb-e-Azb did not touch. It is in the area of its dual strategy to combat not only by securing Pakistan s borders but its inner frontiers as well. Furthermore, the aims of the operation include the elimination of residual terrorist threats, the consolidation of gains made during previous counterterrorism operations and the tightening of border security. 3 Pakistan military admitted for the first time in September 2016 that the Islamic State (ISIS) group had a presence in the country Daily Mail Dated September, Syed Talat Hussain, The News, Fasaad Dated February 27,

4 Operation Rad-ul-Fasaad is cognisant of the need to completely root out the hide-outs of terror networks. Geo TV News Channel reported that the Director-General of the Inter- Services Public Relations (ISPR) wing of the Pakistan Army declared that the operation includes the elimination of the residual and latent threat of terrorism, consolidating gains of operations made so far and ensuring the security of Pakistan s borders. 5 Furthermore, a very salient feature of the operation is countrywide de-weaponisation and explosive control as well as a broad spectrum security and counter-terrorism operations by Rangers in Punjab, continuation of ongoing operations across the country and focus on more effective border security management. 6 The aims of the operation included the elimination of residual terrorists, the consolidation of gains made during previous counter-terrorism operations and the tightening of security. The operation will be joined by the PAF (Pakistan Air Force), the Pakistani Navy, Paramilitary organisations, civilian law enforcement agencies and Pakistani intelligence. 7 Troops and police have been on high alert in Pakistan after the wave of attacks, which included one in Lahore and another on a Sufi shrine in Sind province and killed more than 100 people. After the attacks, Islamabad launched a violent crackdown, with Pakistani forces saying they had killed dozens of terrorists and carried out strikes on militant hideouts along the border with Afghanistan. 8 As noted by a famous Pakistani journalist, Syed Talat Hussain, Pakistan s future rests on defeating terrorism and without prosecuting those waging war against the state, the country isn t moving an inch. 9 After a period of relative stability, the terrorist attacks have once again heightened the fears among citizens about their safety and that of their families. The people remain resilient despite this daunting security environment and keep their hope in the security institutions. 5 Pakistan launches nationwide operation Rad-ul-Fasaad Geo TV News Dated February 22, ibid., 7 Discussion on Strategic &Foreign Affairs. China Backs Operation Rad-ul-Fasaad Pakistan Defence Dated Feb 25, The News Pakistani Army Kills two high Profile JUA Terrorists Dated February 23, Syed Talat Hussain as quoted in the News, Pakistan, op.cit., 4

5 This is evident from the fact that they continue to send their children to schools and perform their routine activities despite the uneasy feeling that terrorists could at any moment wreak havoc. BBC Urdu Service quoted that many in Lahore feared that terrorists were now directly coming and targeting their homes. 10 The resilience that the People of Pakistan exhibited on the event of the PSL, Pakistan Super League Cricket Final which was held in Lahore recently is a case in point. Thousands of people turned up to watch the Cricket Finals at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore as to what was seen as an answer to the growing menace of terrorism in the country. The spectacle was a rebuttal to the terrorists that Pakistani society can withstand the challenges and obstacles faced in the current precarious situation of security in the country. We will continue playing our music here, and our families and kids will go to parks and enjoy themselves, reacted one of the spectator who turned up to watch the spectacle with his family. 11 The success of this event gives a message to terrorists that their nefarious designs cannot shake the courage and determination of the Pakistani nation quoted Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif. 12 On the other front, it is observed that the Pakistani government and security establishment are now compelled by the resurgence of terrorist attacks to seal the Afghan border as well as hit terrorists training camps along the Af-Pak border, after reports that those who perpetrated the dastardly attacks were based in Afghanistan. 13 Pakistan is faced with an extraordinary situation which warrants extraordinary responses, Commented Malik Mohammad in an op-ed published in an English Daily, The News International. 14 Pundits commenting on terrorism and violence often note that the way in which military and armed forces are used is often both productive and counter-productive at the same time. After operation Zarb-e-Azb (which was launched in the aftermath of the attack on the Army Public 10 BBC Urdu World News Service 11 Quoted in Daily Dawn PSL 2017 Final Showdown: Will not bow our heads before anyone says Sethi at ceremony Dated March 5, Nawaz Sharif, The Pakistani Prime Minister responding to the success of the PSL (Pakistan Super League Final Cricket event held in Lahore amidst heightened security threats) quoted in The Express Tribune, Days of isolation over Dated March 6, Malik Mohammad Ashraf, The News International Dated February 27, ibid., 5

6 School massacre and bombing in June 2014), guaranteed plausible results not only in terms of obliterating the terrorists hideouts but also containing the spill over of the terrorist offshoots in the rest of Pakistan, the last two years showed a relatively calmer scenario in terms of security stability as well as an overall economically secure environment in the country. During the two years, the global credit index ratings on Pakistan remained positive. 15 According to an article published in the New York Times, Pakistan today has boasted the best stock markets in Asia in The high flying Karachi Stock Exchange Index is up more than 52 percent5 over the past year-and rising. The exchange broke through the vaunted 50,000-mark last month a first in history. What s more, Pakistan is winning plaudits from the International Monetary Fund, and its economy is forecast for a healthy 5.2 percent growth rate in 2017, according to the World Bank. 16 On a fairer note, and despite these indicators, the overall picture in the country looked bleak and uncertain as the events of the last two weeks ended up raising heightened doubts about the risks and danger of the country falling into a trap of terrorism and continued instability. Many observers of the national and domestic scene had doubts over the lingering menace of terrorism in spite of the functional implementation of Operation Zarb-e-Azb. Deutche Welle s coverage of the terrorist attacks in Pakistan also centred on the issues of Jihad, Terrorism and ISIS s presence in South Asia and Paksitan. A rapidly increasing presence of the Islamic State in Afghanistan and Pakistan could threaten the stability of the whole region. The bombings in Lahore and Sehwan were followed by Islamabad s harsh criticism of Kabul and New Delhi, with Pakistani authorities vowing to target insurgents inside Afghanistan. But the blame game is not new in South Asia. India and Afghanistan also react to terror attacks by blaming Pakistan in an attempt to conceal their own 15 Standard & Poor's credit rating for Pakistan with stable outlook. In addition, Moody's credit rating for Pakistan was last set at B3 with stable outlook & 16 Afshin Molavi, The New York Times, Dated Feb 21,

7 shortcomings and failure to accept responsibility. Military operations won t resolve the conflicts as long as the jihadist narrative exists in South Asia, argued Shamil Shams. 17 The truth is that Pakistan had no choice after a cold shoulder response from Afghanistan to its repeated request for action against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistani (TTP) operatives and other terrorist outfits who were carrying out attacks within Pakistan from Afghanistan. It simply could not afford to allow terrorists to indulge in inhuman activities with impunity, 18 writes The News International. Arguing in the same light, the newspaper states that the threat is aggravated by the intelligence-gathering structures which have at present some serious gaps while the challenges in their line of work are formidable; lack of a reliable database of residents makes it even more difficult. Local intelligence-gathering structures are weak. Police stations have been diverted from their core function and instead made to focus on reactive rather than preventive policing. All police stations must have their own intelligence units integrated with other police units such as the CTD and Special Branch. 19 While many Pakistani newspapers as well as their op-ed sections and editorials are understandingly abreast of the shortfalls as well as the tipping points of the terrorist phenomenon, the media and especially the electronic media has been quite vociferous in their outright condemnation of the terrorists and their agenda. One picture that remains very clear is that media s role in covering the plight of the innocent victims is laudable. The critics of the Pakistani electronic media, however claim that although Pakistani media adds a great weight to its criticism to the fight against terrorism but it falls short of overtly criticising the outlandish Salafi dominated ideology that has caused more harm to the social fabric of the Pakistani society. Religiously motivated Islamism (which has manifested in radicalization of the Pakistani society) fails to get any real coverage in the electronic media in Pakistan. The Pakistani Electronic Media Authority (PEMRA), has recently banned the transmission of the hosts and anchor persons that promote hate speech, 20 yet it fails to take 17 Shamil Shams, Why Pakistan needs a new state narrative Deutche Welle Dated February 24, Op.cit., 19 ibid., 20 In February, 2017 the host of Bol TV S show Aamir Liaquat Hussain was banned from hosting a live show Aise Nahi chale ga in view of his hateful speech. The Pakistani Media Regulating 7

8 notice on the real debate on the issue of suicide jihad, the rising trends and causes of militancy and militant nationalism. Local terror offshoots of TTP like Lashkar Jhangvi, Sipa-e-Sahaba Pakistan as well as Jamat-ud-Dawa which have been officially banned but have been operating by other names and are given a blank check to operate in the country. 21 Yet, coverage by electronic media remains in some instances seriously objectionable, for example regarding the horrendous coverage of the blast sights-which is often very unhealthy for public consumption especially by children and minors. One editorial in the newspaper The News International writes, media debates needs to be injected with realism and some sense of responsibility. This is the job of the media industry itself. Last week s Lahore explosion s coverage shows the destructive power of mindless reporting and poor editorial judgement. An explosion in the basement of a building stunned the country and paralysed the whole city because of irresponsible reporting. 22 There have been also reported instances of misinformation concerning the Sehwan bomb attacks. Some media channels were reportedly airing news from the F.I.R. (First Information Report) content of the site without taking into consideration the actual CCTV Report revealing the identity of the terrorist. The completely flawed and unsubstantiated reporting referring to the series of events that preceded the Sehwan attack should be a point of great concern. Geo News TV reported for instance that this aspect of jumping to conclusions before any plausible and authentic data available is extremely risky. 23 One can thus be mindful of the fact that apart from causing a tremendous jolt to the minute details of preliminary investigation, this kind of reporting can lead to a series of grave errors and mistakes in the authorities threat perceptions and security measures. Authority(PEMRA) along with The Supreme Court of Pakistan have temporarily banned Aamir Liaquat Hussain s programme, for preaching hate. 21 The local terror offshoots of the TTP include many Sunni religious organisations that are directly responsible for sectarian attacks and preaching hate against minorities. These include Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal-Jamaat(ASWJ), Jamaat ud-da wa, (JUD), Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) See also Daily Mail Banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa thrives in Pakistan Pakistan.html Dated February, 2015 & The Express Tribune Banned religious Organizations in Pakistan Dated October, Syed Talat Hussain, Op.cit., 23 Geo TV News Live 8

9 Another very crucial factor identified by the media has been the issue of the efficacy of the police services; it could be argued that substantial advances leading to plausible and concrete results towards identification and threat assessment can be achieved through the monitoring of the modus vivendi of the police force. Such measures can be very helpful in the war against terrorism. Since the police station is the level with effective command, it could be used to obtain intimate knowledge of all those living within its jurisdiction. In order to ensure the effectiveness of the police institution not only must the number of police stations be increased but more training for upgrading manpower and resources must be provided everywhere. 24 In the background of the above point, Geo TV News for instance identifies the lack of security and police presence at the entrance of the Sehwan shrine as a major cause of the attack. The claim that the police was visibly present was quite far from reality, for CCTV images of the scene showed only one police personnel at the gates of the shrine, being unable to monitor the entrance of the suicide bomber. Clearly, the security breach revealed the absence of surveillance mechanisms and shows the mishandling of the extremely large crowd. While some Pakistani channels covered the details of the conditions present during the Sehwan attacks, (including electricity failure, absence of scanning machines at entrance, administrative manhandling and police inaction); many others were ready to drumbeat the new sets of supposedly authentic tapes. After the incidents, there have also been a trend in many Pakistani channels to renew discussions on inherent weakness and shortfalls of provincial coherence in following concrete police reforms. Furthermore, The Police Act 1861, provides for a very limited role while the Police Order 2002 is applicable differently by the police force in the provinces where the Police Act is applicable. 25 Concerning the policy efficacy of NACTA (National Counter-Terrorism Act) and the overall viability of the National Action Plan (NAP), Bol TV Channel, Dawn News Channel, and Geo 24 Tasneem Noorani, Fighting Extremism Dawn, Pakistan Dated February, There has been an austere criticism on the lack of coherence in Police Code in Pakistan. While Baluchistan had disregarded Police Order of 2002 and opted to enact a new provincial police act in 2011 which was largely drawn from the 1861 Police Act, Punjab preferred to implement the Police Order 2002, Sindh follows the Police Act 1861, (having reverted to it after abolishing Police Order 2002), which is at least theoretically followed in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Quoted in Dawn, Ahmer Bilal Sufi, Police Law challenge Dated June 27,

10 TV News Channel had been airing news interviews and discussions on the lack of implementation of the NAP. There is more or less the same trend concerning the thematic coverage of NACTA, which is covered by an op.-ed by Tasneem Noorani in the Dawn arguing that the government s announced resolution in fighting terrorism was indicated by an investment figure of Rs.50 billion. The fact that the proposal was not included in the NAP was backed by the assertion that money will never be a problem in the fight against terrorism. But we now know that instead of the reported demand by NACTA of Rs.1.6bn,only a fraction of that sum was sanctioned. 26 Commenting on the launch of the new operation, one op-ed of the Pakistani News International observed that Operation Rad-ul-Fasaad is a justifiable response to what has been happening in this country. It is being taken with the framework of the NAP s implementation. The additional tenets of the operation-demilitarization across the country-is a thoughtful initiative. Easy access to weapons and explosives makes the job of terrorists and militants much easier. The operation against them must aim at closing the avenues that help their cause. 27 Similarly, many experts are of the view that a balanced civil-military relationship is an important ingredient in the standoff with the terrorists. Talat Hussain in The News International s editorial argues that above all civil-military cooperation and a stable political environment are the keys. From operational friction to strategic misunderstanding, all dysfunctions ought to be avoided or mechanisms ought to be formed for quick resolution through direct communication. So far, the model of facing important decisions as mutual endeavours has worked. The Federal government and the GHQ have acted as two wheels of the proverbial cart, with neither trying to our turn the other. It should stay that way. Countering terror is not a publicity war against each other Tasneem Noorani, Fighting Extremism Dated February, Ibid. 28 Syed Talat Hussain, Op.cit., (The issue of the civil-military relations in Pakistan has been quite a controversial one which has seen several ups and down in the consecutive years. In the current context, there is a perception in Pakistan that the civilian government as well the military establishment are at the same page. This is symptomatic of the fact that the friction between the two institutions has been rectified. But many observers are of the opinion that in the context of the war on terror, the military takes a credible stake holder in playing its leading role in defending the country from internal and external threats as well as to take important policy decisions in both domestic as 10

11 Retrospectively and in the context of the recent events related to the rise of terrorist activity in Pakistan, one can fairly draw one s attention to the content published in the Pakistani print media as well as discussions within the electronic media. The current terrorist wave has been a rather serious one, and one that needs attention as well as a proper strategy and well formulated responses. The role of the media is in any case quite a significant one. The editorials and op-eds published about the case of both The News International and Dawn newspapers provide interesting case studies. Apart from discussions concerning the dynamics of terrorism in the country as well as the feasibility of NACTA, and NAP; both news sources contributed substantially in raising a well-balanced and healthy awareness about plausible implications in terms of policy. The content of both newspapers as regards counter-terrorism strategies is thus highly informative as well as analytical. It is noteworthy to say that the role of the Pakistani media is in constant evolution, that being said, media acts as an institution where there is a series of debates highlighting the intricacies, complexities as well as salient points concerning issues as crucial as terrorism. This reflects the media s capacity to respond to the many deadly threats as well as to generate a positive debate within the public. The context and the platform provided by the media thus acts as a decisive space for civil society to express their resentment against as well as support for national policies and decision making dynamics, thus sharing perceptions and generating feedback. The examples provided by the news coverage on terrorism by GEO News Channel, Dawn News Channel, as well as the BBC Urdu World News Service are all important cases that serve as point of reference regarding our study analysing the coverage of the news stories on terrorism. The coverage of terrorist activity in Pakistan, particularly by the international media can be seen to reflect the concern and seriousness regarding the issue of terrorism in Pakistan. This is indicative of the fact that the international community is aware of the seriousness on the debate about terrorism in Pakistan and shares a great sense of concern when it comes to terror related events in the country. However, the question remains with regards to the strains of jihadi salafi ideologues, many of whom are claimed to be a soft under belly of the state itself and pose a rather serious threat to well as foreign policy domains. See also & 11

12 the entire fabric of the Pakistani civil society. The hate based rhetoric against minorities, combined with shrinking space for dissent and public culture of rights and freedom being shrunk to almost non-existent proportions are serious issues; unless the Pakistani state comes to term with these underlying ills, military strategy cannot be a panacea. Biography of the author Dr. Tehseen Nisar has a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) from The LUISS University, Rome, Italy. She was enrolled for the academic program and was awarded the PhD degree in Political Theory from The Centre for Ethics and Global Politics, Department of History and Political Science, Faculty of Political Science, Luiss University, (Libera Universita Internazionale Degli Studi Sociale), Rome, Italy. Her Topic of Dissertation was The discourses on state and civil society in the context of colonial and post-colonial Narratives: Re-conceptualizing the Civil Society in Pakistan She served as Senior Research Fellow/Lecturer, (Gazetted Officer Grade 17), European Studies Centre, Area Study Centre for Europe, University Of Karachi, Pakistan, from 2000 to 2008.Also served as an Adjunct Faculty, Greenwich University Karachi, Pakistan, Program in International Relations Karachi, Pakistan, From She has published and spoken extensively on topics including Conflict Resolution, Crisis Management and Peace in South Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Dr. Nisar also has a Masters in Arts Degree in International Relations from the University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan (1999) with a first class second position throughout Karachi, Pakistan and a Bachelors of Arts Bachelors (Honors) degree in International Relations from University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan (1998) with first class first position. 12