Terrorism in Pakistan has been the result of decades of its complex history, change in its alliances and majorly the influence of external forces intervening deeply into the country that had a significant impact on shaping its political, social and economic development.[1] Pakistan got itself into major geopolitical issues during the cold war, after its independence in 1947, which later in was defined by the event of 1979 where the soviets invaded Afghanistan and Pakistan played a significant frontline role by supporting the Afghan resistance fighter, predominantly supported and backed by the US and Saudi Arabia. This was the period when Pakistan experienced the influx of madrassas that were playing a prominent role on the militant interpretation of Islam and a significant number of foreign fighters in the tribal areas of Pakistan. The conflict got resolved but the hideouts, ideologies and the weapons used by these militant groups remained in the country for a longer period of time. Another issue aroused in the 1990s when Pakistan had to face a surge in the sectarian violence when different groups started targeting minority people of other religions in the country and was also funded by the external sources. The governments of that time chose to support many groups for their own political purpose and that purpose specifically aligned with the evergreen Kashmir issue and because of this selective approach, the extremist group deepened their roots in the states and still plays a significant role in influencing the political structure of the country. As the new millennium approached, terrorism was no longer an isolated threat at the borders but a force capable of disrupting the very heart of Pakistani society. The foundations laid in these decades created an environment where radical groups could recruit, spread propaganda, and challenge the authority of the state itself.
After the attack of September 11, the whole scenario was changed when Pakistan decided to join UD-led war on terror against Afghanistan in 2001.[2] The military operations were mainly launched against the Al-Qaeda and later were against the local militant group residing in the tribal areas of Pakistan.[3]Pakistan had to face immense backlash from the groups that had once supported it like Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan(TTP) that viewed the state as the main cause of betrayal. A series of horrifying violence in the form of suicide bombing, attacks on the military places, and targeting of civilians in the mid-2000 started after Pakistan supported the US in war on terror. The targeted areas mostly included the mosques, educational institutes, markets that completely changed the pattern of everyday life of a civilian. These events shook the nation with immense fear and a form of terror was seen in the state which also changed the overall dynamics for Pakistan globally as well. The security crises in Pakistan were more seen from the 2007 to 2014, after series of event following the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, and the event that shook the core of the state was the tragedy of Army Public school in 2016. These events not only terrorized the nation, but also were idealized to generate a wave of fear, mistrust for the government and to push the country in a state of chaos. These events not only effected the daily routines but also shook the nation and created a new normal for the people to live under the fear of terrorism and faded the idea of normal life[4].
To counter the growing waves of terrorism and bearing the consequences in broader spectrum, the Government of Pakistan came up with the strategy to counter it from limited military action to major counterterrorism initiative. A national Action Plan (NAP) was announced in the 2014 by the then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif which aimed in the dismantling of the terrorist networks in Pakistan, control hate speeches in the state, have complete check and balance of the working mechanism of madrasas and to improve coordination among the intelligence agencies.[5]under the national action plan, two major operations were performed. Operation Zarb-e-Azb and operation Radd-ul-Fasaad, that targeted the militant hideouts especially in the federally administered tribal area (FATA). Thousands of militants were killed or arrested, and many of their strongholds were destroyed[6]. This operation marked a prominent change in the overall security of the state and reduced the attacks on a larger scale but the challenge remained intact. These challenges gave wind to more deeper issues like weak criminal justice system, ideological extremism, reforms in educational system were not fully addressed. The selective enforcement of laws and occasional political compromises with certain groups undermined long-term peace efforts along with the issues like constant political instability in the country, the gradual change in the leaderships and internal insatiability and weak reforms considering the instable relation and Pakistan’s close proximity to Afghanistan and India, these issues added fuel to the fire. So, for Pakistan, the true security was not only to strengthen the military, but also addressing the internal factors like the inequality about certain groups, improving the governance system and providing the youth with the proper platform where they could excel in their respective strengths , that could have worked as an alternative to the extremist thoughts that usually arise when the reality of poverty hits with lack of education, proper facilities not being provided by the government, righteous religious teachings and proper guidance missing in the society.[7]
With all the hurdles in getting rid of the terrorism in the state, there’s still hope for a terror free country. The terrorist attacks have declined with the passage of time especially in the cities like Karachi and Peshawar, that once were filled with fear and crashing economies. An increase in the tourism and sports activities has been observed and the society is seen to be returning to their normal life. This is yet a small recovery compared to the damage Pakistan has experienced with each passing day, its resilience is evident and is on the road to the complex and deep commitments for the betterment of people of its nations. It is to be learned that removing terrorism from a state is not necessarily linked with the appointment of more military into the state or actively engaging in the cross-border fights but it can be reduced with small steps which would have eventually greater impacts like promoting education, tolerance and investment in the marginalized regions equally. The idea of “good’ or “bad” militant should be removed from the country and the state should adopt zero tolerance policy towards the extremist. Strengthening democratic institutions and empowering civil society to promote peaceful narratives are essential to counter extremist propaganda. Finally, regional stability remains critical. Better relations with neighbors and efforts to prevent militants from exploiting conflicts across borders can help sustain the progress achieved so far. Pakistan’s trajectory illustrates a painful journey shaped by historical choices and external pressures, but also marked by resilience and adaptation. By learning from past missteps and embracing comprehensive reforms, the nation can hope to build a more peaceful, inclusive, and secure future for generations to come.
About the Author
Sana Alam
Sana Alam is a PhD scholar in International Relations at Lahore College for Women University and a Lecturer at the University of Lahore. This blog is part of the collection from the ROADS Initiative Summer School.
[1] “The Taliban Revival: Violence and Extremism on the Pakistan-Afghanistan Frontier | Project on Shi’ism and Global Affairs,” accessed July 31, 2025, https://shiism.hds.harvard.edu/publications/taliban-revival-violence-and-extremism-pakistan-afghanistan.
[2] Hassan Abbas, “Extremism and Terrorism Trends in Pakistan: Changing Dynamics and New Challenges – Combating Terrorism Center at West Point,” accessed July 31, 2025, https://ctc.westpoint.edu/extremism-and-terrorism-trends-in-pakistan-changing-dynamics-and-new-challenges/.
[3] Mark Roberts, “Fighting to the End: The Pakistan Army’s Way of War. By C. Christine Fair. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2014.,” Journal of Strategic Security 7, no. 4 (December 2014): 125–27, https://doi.org/10.5038/1944-0472.7.4.11.
[4] Zahid. Hussain, “Frontline Pakistan : The Struggle with Militant Islam,” 2007, 220.
[5] Strengthening Governance, “Strengthening Governance in Pakistan Assessing the National Action Plan to Counter Terrorism and Extremism,” no. December (2020): 1–85, https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/pakistan/18096.pdf.
[6] Center for Preventive Action, “Instability in Pakistan | Global Conflict Tracker,” accessed July 31, 2025, https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/islamist-militancy-pakistan.
[7] “Revisiting Counter-Terrorism Strategies in Pakistan: Opportunities and Pitfalls | International Crisis Group,” accessed July 31, 2025, https://www.crisisgroup.org/asia/south-asia/pakistan/revisiting-counter-terrorism-strategies-pakistan-opportunities-and-pitfalls.