By Staff Writer with Agencies
In a grim resurgence of violence, Pakistan finds itself once again grappling with the specter of militancy, with experts and locals drawing parallels to the dark days of the late 2000s. The airstrikes, militant attacks, and counterterrorism measures that defined that era are resurfacing, creating an environment of fear and uncertainty.
The Legacy of 2007
In the fall of 2007, Pakistani warplanes bombed a village in North Waziristan, killing around 50 people. The region, a hub for Al-Qaeda and the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) bore the brunt of counterterrorism operations and U.S. drone strikes. Among the most notorious events was the Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) siege in Islamabad, where a military operation against militants led to over 100 deaths, escalating tensions nationwide. Additionally, the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in December 2007 shocked the nation and highlighted the reach of extremist groups during that turbulent time. Civilians were often caught in the crossfire, with mass displacements becoming a grim hallmark of the era.
In the fall of 2007, Pakistani warplanes bombed a village in North Waziristan, killing around 50 people. The region, a hub for Al-Qaeda and the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) bore the brunt of counterterrorism operations and U.S. drone strikes. Civilians were often caught in the crossfire.
“That was the darkest era of terrorism,” recalls Adil Dawar, a local activist whose uncle and cousin were among the victims of the 2007 attack. Today, Dawar warns that the situation has deteriorated to levels reminiscent of those turbulent times.
Rising Violence
Statistics underscore the severity of the current crisis. In January 2024, militants launched a coordinated attack on a military convoy in Bannu District, killing 12 soldiers and wounding several others. In April, a suicide bomber targeted a political rally in Quetta, leaving over 30 civilians dead and many more injured. These are just a few examples of the violent incidents that have become alarmingly frequent. The Islamabad-based Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) reported 685 security personnel fatalities in 2024, marking a nearly 40% increase compared to 2023. Similarly, the Pak Institute of Peace Studies (PIPS) noted a 70% rise in militant attacks in 2024. These incidents, attributed to the TTP and groups like the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), have ravaged northwestern Pakistan and Balochistan. underscore the severity of the current crisis. The Islamabad-based Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) reported 685 security personnel fatalities in 2024, marking a nearly 40% increase compared to 2023. Similarly, the Pak Institute of Peace Studies (PIPS) noted a 70% rise in militant attacks in 2024. These incidents, attributed to the TTP and groups like the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), have ravaged northwestern Pakistan and Balochistan.
Experts link the resurgence of militancy to the Taliban’s 2021 takeover of Afghanistan. The U.S. withdrawal left behind military equipment, some of which has reportedly fallen into the hands of the TTP and Baluch insurgents. “Pakistan’s Taliban policy has backfired,” says Amir Rana, head of PIPS. Despite Pakistan’s expectations that the Afghan Taliban would curb TTP activities, the group has reportedly sheltered and aided Pakistani militants.
The Human Cost
Pakistan’s military has intensified its efforts to quash the insurgencies, but these actions have come at a significant cost. Major offensives like Operation Zarb-e-Azb (2014) and Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad (2017) were launched to dismantle militant networks but resulted in widespread civilian casualties and displacement. For instance, during Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan, over one million residents were forced to flee their homes, creating a humanitarian crisis. The use of heavy artillery and airstrikes in populated areas has drawn accusations of indiscriminate targeting and human rights abuses.
Critics argue that the government’s heavy-handed approach has fueled support for insurgencies among marginalized groups like the Baloch and Pashtun ethnic minorities. Reports of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings have further alienated these communities.
“The security state controls the entire system,” says Afrasiab Khattak, a former lawmaker, lamenting the military’s alleged human rights abuses. Meanwhile, the Pakistani Army claims it achieved a “record” number of militant kills in 2024.
Civilians remain trapped in a perilous situation. Attiqullah Dawar, a lawyer from North Waziristan, was held captive by the TTP for eight months in 2021 before being released after a $40,000 ransom payment. “People have lost their lives and properties both because of the militants and the security forces,” Dawar said.
Pakistan’s military has intensified its efforts to quash the insurgencies, but these actions have come at a significant cost. Major offensives over the past two decades have killed thousands of civilians and displaced millions. The government’s heavy-handed approach, critics argue, has fueled support for the insurgencies among marginalized groups like the Baloch and Pashtun ethnic minorities.
“The security state controls the entire system,” says Afrasiab Khattak, a former lawmaker, lamenting the military’s alleged human rights abuses. Meanwhile, the Pakistani Army claims it achieved a “record” number of militant kills in 2024.
Civilians remain trapped in a perilous situation. Attiqullah Dawar, a lawyer from North Waziristan, was held captive by the TTP for eight months in 2021 before being released after a $40,000 ransom payment. “People have lost their lives and properties both because of the militants and the security forces,” Dawar said.
A Country at Crossroads
Recent government actions have included intensified military operations in TTP strongholds and the expansion of surveillance in insurgent-prone areas. Additionally, policies have focused on strengthening border security to limit militant movement between Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, critics argue that these measures lack transparency and fail to address underlying socio-political grievances fueling the insurgencies. As Pakistan battles this renewed wave of terrorism, observers argue that addressing the root causes of militancy is essential. Groups like the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement have called attention to government abuses but often face backlash. Idress Mehsud, a member of the movement, has been placed on the government’s terrorism watch list for his advocacy efforts. “It is a tragedy that the state is oppressing the very people who oppose terrorism,” he said.
With violence escalating and trust in state institutions eroding, Pakistan’s path forward remains uncertain. The government’s reliance on force over dialogue has deepened divisions, leaving ordinary citizens to bear the brunt of a conflict that shows no signs of abating.