By Afshain Afzal

The stage has been set to purposely create an uncontrollable law and order situation in Pakistan. Self-engineered situations are being created in Balochistan and former FATA as well as areas and regions having centrifugal presence to revolt against the Federation. In the latest development, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi issued a warning to ghost protesters who have not yet entered Islamabad’s sensitive zone and are only visible in fake social media videos that the Government may take extreme steps, including invoking Article 245, imposing a curfew or any other extreme steps. If we recall, in April 2024, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s National Assembly member, Syed Mustafa Kamal gave an idea of immediate deployment of Army personnel and demanded that Karachi should be handed over to the military for three months. A few days back Karachi-based businessmen and industrialists also have appealed to the Chief of Army Staff to assume control of the Sindh's provincial capital for six months to resolve its basic civic issues, as the business fraternity in turn will help Pakistan retire its massive foreign debts. Interestingly, recently, the Federal Government approved an additional Rs 60 billion in funding to support ongoing military operations, "Pakistan’s counter-terrorism strategies,” in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) as part of “Operation Azm-e-Istehkam announced by Pakistan Army on 21st June 2024.

Closely associated with the situation, there are elements not in favour of recognizing the sovereignty of Afghanistan, keeping the Government in Kabul in limbo with an extremely sour relationship with Pakistan. Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan is on focus to condemn the Government at Kabul for their involvement in terrorism inside Pakistan. Spokesperson of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Amna Baloch in a press briefing on 21 November 2024, disclosed that Pakistan conveyed the US authorities concerns about the terrorist threat that Pakistan faces from Afghanistan and the sophisticated equipment that these terror groups have, which continue to kill Pakistani nationals. Islamabad hopes to work with the US for peace in Afghanistan and to ensure that Afghanistan fulfills its commitment of countering terrorism so that these terror groups do not threaten Pakistan's security. Pakistan claims that the Taliban Administration is supporting terror groups, particularly Fitna e Khuwarij.

Islamabad or any other country should not be mistaken that President-elect Donald Trump, following the Republican policy, will not deploy American forces in Afghanistan, Pakistan or foreign soil. Some Indian agents and personnel on American agencies’ payroll are actively leveling grounds to initiate war in Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, if Washington refuses to fund Islamabad in this new war or decline assistance through American ground troops and equipment, in months to come Pakistan will be an uncontrollable hell for terrorist attacks. In a Press Briefing dated 19 November 2024, Mr Matthew Miller, spokesperson US Department of State clarified regarding attacks on Pakistan military personnel and acts of terrorism from Afghanistan in its policy, “We have regular high-level dialogues and working level consultations dedicated to enhancing both civilian and military capabilities to detect and counter these type of threats”.

In another shocking statement, nullifying the role of the Federation and Armed Forces in the provinces, Pakistan’s Minister for Interior Syed Mohsin Reza Naqvi on 22nd November 2024, told the media regarding Parachanar terrorist attack that the responsibility of law and order in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is on KPK government which is involved invading the Federation of Pakistan “Dhawa Bol Deya”. KPK government should be questioned whether the province's responsibility should be to eliminate terrorism or to give a call for attacking the Federation. Our responsibility is only to assist and after the passage of the 18th Amendment, the Federal Government is not responsible for the control the law and order but despite 40 killings they are not doing it and it is their sweet will to take action or not. It is high time that security forces should follow the Constitution in letter and spirit to save the Federation and attain peace rather than acting on the dictates of individual political leaders.