Can Pakistan's new anti -exterior policy defeat growing armed attacks? | Conflict news

Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan presented a new policy to deal with “violent extremism”, using an incredible bouquet of instruments, including changes in school curricula, religion and information information about social media, in addition to military tactics, at a time when lethal armed attacks are increasing.

However, many analysts warn that the plan is too ambitious, thin in detail and difficult to implement under the overall leadership of the army, adapted to the use of military force as a major weapon. Some experts say that the national policy of preventing violent extremism (NPVE), as the new plan is called, is in fact “old wine in a new bottle”.

Last policy posted for Public View last week comes during escalating violenceEspecially in the northwestern province of Hiber Pahtunva and the southwestern province of Belokistan.

According to figures The CRESS Research Center (CRSS), based in Islamabad Brain Trust, 2024 is the deadliest year of almost a decade for Pakistan. The data revealed that 2526 people were killed in the attack last year – including nearly 700 security officers, more than 900 civilians and approximately 900 armed fighters.

The greater part of these attacks were carried out by the Pakistani Taliban, known by the abbreviation TTP, an armed group, ideologically linked to the Taliban in Afghanistan. TTP leads an armed rebellion against Pakistan after its appearance in 2007.

While Pakistan has introduced such anti -clumism in the past, the new 71 -page document (PDF) prepared by the National Terrorism Authority – an autonomous government body responsible for the collection of intelligence, threat evaluation and terrorism strategies – is different, said Dayyaab Gillani, Director of NACTA for research and development.

According to him, the key shift is that the new policy encourages the strategy for a “overall society” to prevent “violent extremism”, including the use of “nonkinetic” means. In military terminology, kinetic measures refer to the armed force.

“The so -called war against terror has taught us that only military operations are not a sustainable strategy. Kinetic successes are only temporary as they fail to eliminate terrorism in his roots, “Gilani told al Jazeera during a recent interview in Islamabad. “The causes and engines of terrorism have never been eliminated, which is why terrorism has appeared many times, despite short -term profits.”

What does NPVE policy say?

Gilani, who joined Nacta two years ago, said the NPVE work initially began in 2019, but political instability delayed its completion by 2024. The policy was approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's office in December.

The policy presents an approach “5-R”-review, reaching, reducing, reinforcement and reintegration-with a series of 700 key corporate style performance (KPI) to measure efficiency in short, middle and long-term.

The first political action, “review”, focuses on the reform of the curriculum and the involvement of young people and influencing as teachers and religious leaders. “Getting to” is intended to promote a national story through the media and through counteracting hard stories on social media.

“We live in the era of social media, which has become a major tool for radicalization,” Gilani said. “This imposes an updated communication strategy.”

“We must encourage a culture of tolerance, acceptance and inclusion, where people respect social, political and religious differences without resorting to violence,” he added.

The “reduction” of the goals of young people and women through peace and research initiatives of women's roles in armed rebellion. Reinforcement seeks to encourage peace and tolerance through arts, culture and scientific innovation.

The final action of the policy, “reintegration”, includes programs for dedicalization, rehabilitation and reconciliation for former fighters and conflict -affected communities.

“The main responsibility of the state to its citizens is to provide care for them. Nonkinetic measures that have empathy and approach are what the government must focus on to oppose extremism, “Jilani said.

Military operations and old policies

Pakistan has been confronted with two decades of armed violence and has begun numerous military operations to combat armed groups.

Following the attacks on September 11 and the subsequent invasion of the United States in Afghanistan, Pakistan has become a haven for the leaders of the Taliban and Al -Qaeda members fleeing Afghanistan.

After TTP is recruiting land in Pakistan, the army has launched several upbringing campaigns and regained control over the territory. However, while the 2014 attack against the Peshawar Army State School, which killed over 140 children, the government formulates a national plan of action (NAP), one of its first official frameworks to counteract the armed rebellion. Similar policies have been launched and updated.

But Jilani claims that these previous policies are “reactive” and focus mainly on kinetic measures, which makes the preventive and community -based approach of NPVE unique.

“Community engagement is crucial to success. Kinetic measures leave lasting features of communities that have been violent, “he said. “That's why we emphasize prevention.”

Challenges to implement policy

But while analysts admit that NPVE is a balance between military and non-military strategies, they have warned that the ambitious scope of policy is challenging.

“Pakistan has a history of well -meaning policies that fail due to poor implementation. The success of this policy depends on whether the state guarantees its proper implementation, “says Abdul Basit, a research associate at the School of International Studies in Singapore.

Similar concerns were raised by Iftikhar Firdous, co -founder of Horasan's diary, a platform that follows regional security.

“This policy acknowledges that intellectual capital is as decisive as hostilities as ideologies are often more influential than weapons. However, the policy framework lacks the rigor needed to achieve its goals, “says Firdus, who is based in Peshawar.

At the heart of these challenges is a central question: Who should implement the policy?

Civilian vs military control

Although NACTA is a civic institution, Pakistan's security policies have been historically dominated by their powerful military, which has governed the country directly for more than three decades and continues to have a significant influence on civil governments.

“At a time when the rapid influence of the military in almost all aspects of society is visible, NACTA is no exception, so when an unmiliated framework for dealing with violent extremism is carried out by the military, who can guarantee its success?” Basit, based in Singapore Academic, said.

Firdous agreed that military supervision of politics would raise concerns.

“How can NACTA act effectively if it is perceived as an encroachment on the jurisdiction of other law enforcement agencies? Can a Nacta civilian in a military dominated system? These are decisive questions that need to be answered for the construction of consensus and the implementation of policy, “he added.

Rohan Gunarate, Professor of Security Studies in the S School of International Studies S School of School of School, claims that the new policy also suffers from another disadvantage.

It is essential for Pakistan to develop “adapted political options” that take care of the specific needs of each group of society, he said.

“Although NPVE policy can serve as a complete direction, it requires the region -specific models to deal with the unique challenges facing different groups and regions,” Gunarata told Al Jazeera. “One -size approach for everyone will not work.”