Pakistan’s Counterterrorism Policy in the Post-9/11 Regional Security Environment: An Analysis

Abstract

The terrorism attacks of the September 11 attacks drastically transformed the global security situation and made Pakistan re-strategize its foreign and security policies. Confronted by good diplomatic and strategic compulsion by the United States, Pakistan entered the Global War on Terror with the United States as a frontline partner; a significant change in Pakistani policy in Afghanistan. The Pervez Musharraf administration launched a large-scale counterterrorism program that would counter the terrorist organizations through destruction of militant groups, religious schools, and limiting extremist groups operating in the nation. Pakistan played a role in logistical, military and intelligence support to coalition forces and, in large scale security operations against the local and transnational militant groups. Some of the key al-Qaeda members were also arrested due to collaborative intelligence operations, and this shows that Pakistan was fully operational in counterterror. Simultaneously, reforms in policies were served to control madrassas and integrate them into the national education system to curb the ideological radicalization. Nevertheless, the militant groups restructured and changed their approach and began to attack Pakistani state and society more than ever. Thus, Pakistan had to contend with a complicated domestic security issue as it tried to act on the international and political pressures within the country. This paper examines counterterrorism policies being pursued by Pakistan within the context of the post 9/11 regional security environment and the implications of these policies on domestic stability, regional security processes as well as the overall war on terrorism.

Keywords: Pakistan; Counterterrorism Policy; Post-9/11 Security Environment; Militancy and Extremism; Global War on Terror; Madrassa Reforms; Regional Security Dynamics.