Under the command of General Bajwa, Pakistan Army played a major role in the implementation of 20-point National Action Plan (NAP) on countering terrorism and extremism

ISLAMABAD  -   As the nation celebrates September 6 as Pakistan Defence Day, Chief of ArmyStaff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has played a key role in strengthening country’s defence by spearheading all kinetic and non-kinetic measures to eliminate threats concerning the national security. 

Since its elevation as the Army Chief in November 2016, General Bajwa can be seen on the forefront when it comes to the elimination of terrorism in the country, and the security of borders besides countering violent extremism that had shaken foundations of the state. 

Under the command of COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Pakistan Army launched Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad on February 22, 2017 to eliminate the latent threat of terrorism, end the support base of terrorists, consolidate the gains made in other military operations, and to ensure the security of country’s borders. It was also meant to consolidate the gains of Operation Zarb-i-Azb launched by Pakistan Army in North Waziristan against the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan in June 2014. 

The Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad was launched under a “two-pronged strategy,” one focused on curbing terrorism and the other on countering violent extremism. It was launched at a time when terrorists were taking refuge in cities and settled areas after the Armed Forces and security agencies in previous operations had dismantled their infrastructure and safe havens in tribal areas of the country. 

Under the Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad, the army and other law enforcement agencies conducted hundreds of thousands of intelligence-based operations (IBOs) to control urban terrorism, eliminate terrorists’ networks in settled areas, to make de-weaponisation and explosives’ control and to clear the areas of mines. The incidents of money laundering, extortion, abduction for ransom and target killings in cities especially in Karachi were overcome through an effective strategy. 

Under the command of General Bajwa, Pakistan Army played a major role in the implementation of 20-point National Action Plan (NAP) on countering terrorism and extremism— a consensus document having approval of all major political parties and the Parliament that was formed in December 2014 after the incident of terrorist attack on Army Public School in Peshawar. 

Many of the points of NAP were military related and it successfully got these implemented. 

The army helped the civilian institutions to bring erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) into the mainstream. It extended its help during the transition period following merger of FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and ensured that vacuum could not be created till civilian institutions gradually held responsibilities of the law and order in the area. 

Under the NAP, the military courts were formed, and as many 717 cases were referred to them. The military courts awarded death sentences to 344 terrorists, out of which 58 were executed, while 106 terrorists were given life imprisonment, and 195 were given different sentences. 

A de-radicalisation plan was launched and 5,000 extremists were re-integrated into the society from February 2017 to February 2021. 

With the support of Pakistan Army, over 1800 religious scholars unanimously gave a decree against terrorism and extremism through “Paigham-e-Pakistan” that was launched in 2018. Paigham-e-Pakistan was propagated by army at institutional level which helped in giving a counter narrative on extremism and overcoming sectarianism and thus enhanced country’s defence. 

On February 24, 2021, the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of Pakistan and India agreed to strictly observe all agreements, and understandings of ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and all other sectors. The agreement caused a drastic decrease in the incidents of ceasefire violations by India forces along LOC since then. Thus with the efforts of General Bajwa, the security situation on the eastern border of the country improved saving lives and properties of citizens living along the LOC. 

The western border of the country was also considered insecure due to the continuous attacks of TTP from Afghanistan. Under the command of COAS General Bajwa, Pakistan Army in 2017 started a gigantic task of fencing the western border besides enhancing surveillance of the border areas. Now 90 per cent of fencing of the 2,611 kilometer (1,622-mile) border with Afghanistan is complete while around 50 percent fencing along Pak-Iran border has also been completed. 

With the support of the army leadership, Pakistan also led Afghan peace process that brought the Taliban on the negotiation table. The international community has now acknowledged Pakistan’s role in this regard.