Nurturing the Snake: Pakistan’s persistent use of terrorism and its consequences (IANS Analysis)

New Delhi, Aug 25 (IANS) Pakistan has long cried hoarse and portrayed itself as a victim of extremism and terrorism. As recently as June 2024, its federal government approved a “reinvigorated and re-energised national counter-terrorism campaign” to eradicate terrorism through coordinated, multi-faceted efforts.

While it is true that terrorism has surged exponentially in Pakistan in recent years, the blame lies squarely with its own rulers and military establishment. After nurturing various terrorist groups for over four decades, Pakistan is now entangled in the self-created chaos it hoped would only afflict its neighbours.

Pakistan’s relationship with terrorism is long and complex. While scholars and analysts generally agree that Pakistan first began ’employing Islamist militants’ as tools of its regional policy during the anti-Soviet jihad in Afghanistan, however, this is factually inaccurate.

Pakistan’s association with and use of non-state actors dates back to its very emergence as a nation-state in 1947.

Within two months of its existence, the newly created Pakistan pushed thousands of tribal lashkars (militias) to invade and seize Kashmir in what was construed as a holy war (jihad) to reclaim the Muslim majority region.

It followed up this duplicitous use of terrorism in 1965 when Pakistan Army pushed hundreds of armed insurgents, mostly its soldiers, under the so-called Operation Gibraltar, into Kashmir to incite the locals against the state, something that could serve as casus belli for Pakistan against India