By Uzma Ehtasham
In a region long haunted by the spectre of militancy and cross-border intrigue, Pakistan’s recent security operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa mark a decisive moment. Over the course of targeted encounters in Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, and Khyber district, nine armed militants were killed—individuals reportedly backed by India in a broader campaign of proxy warfare. The operations, carried out with clinical precision and guided by intelligence, signal a recalibrated national approach to an old but evolving threat. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), these militants were directly involved in orchestrating terror attacks across the region. Their elimination, accompanied by the seizure of weapons and ammunition, is not just a tactical success but a symbol of strategic vigilance.
Yet the significance of these encounters goes beyond numbers or weapons recovered—it lies in the message being sent: that Pakistan will no longer tolerate militancy, whatever its origins, and will counter it through a mix of resolve, readiness, and refined intelligence. This shift in posture coincides with deepening regional tensions. Following the disputed events in Pahalgam and claims of a false flag operation, India’s increasingly aggressive stance has drawn global attention. In response, Pakistan launched “Operation Bunyān-e-Marsūs,” during which the military claims to have downed six Indian fighter jets, including three Rafale aircraft. While India has yet to fully acknowledge the extent of those losses, the aftermath has seen a renewed push in indirect warfare—what many in Islamabad interpret as an effort by New Delhi to reassert pressure through unconventional means.
Proxy militancy is not new in South Asia. For decades, both countries have accused each other of fueling unrest in their respective border regions. But what makes the current phase distinct is the precision with which Pakistan is choosing to respond. It’s no longer about sweeping operations or reactionary postures. The new playbook appears to rely on surgical strikes, actionable intelligence, and pre-emptive action—methods that aim to dismantle terror cells before they metastasize. The response from the civilian leadership has been swift and supportive. Both President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the military for its professionalism and effectiveness. Their words of commendation, however, must be more than ceremonial. If this campaign is to achieve long-term success, political will must remain unwavering.
Short-term victories on the battlefield must be backed by a long-term internal security vision—one that identifies and isolates the fault lines that allow militancy to fester, be it economic marginalization, administrative lapses, or ideological exploitation. What happens next will be crucial. Militancy, especially with suspected foreign support, is not limited to a single district or moment in time. To root it out, Pakistan must expand its operations beyond current hotspots. Balochistan, parts of South Waziristan, and even urban centers cannot be overlooked. This is a national challenge that demands a national response. Security cannot be compartmentalized. Nor can the threat be seen in isolation from its underlying causes. The reality is that hybrid warfare is no longer a future threat—it’s a present one. It blends conventional tactics with psychological operations, digital propaganda, and asymmetric strikes.
In such a complex theatre, border security is necessary but not sufficient. Vigilance must extend inward—to social media spaces where narratives are shaped, to schools and madrassas where minds are moulded, to the economic peripheries where disillusionment breeds desperation. Pakistan has an opportunity here. Not only to restore peace, but to set a precedent that foreign-backed subversion will meet both strategic resistance and internal resilience. That requires more than bullets. It calls for investment in institutions, community engagement, and the political maturity to prioritize unity over short-term scoring. For too long, Pakistan’s narrative has been reactive—responding to crises as they unfold. This time, it must write a different story. One that shows not just the capacity to fight terror, but the foresight to prevent its return.
Because at stake is not just military prestige or territorial integrity—it is the everyday dignity of citizens who deserve to live without the constant threat of violence. These latest operations are a reminder of what’s possible when intelligence, intent, and integrity align. But the road ahead will require even greater clarity. The enemy, after all, is not always in uniform. It hides behind ideology, across borders, and sometimes even within systems. And if Pakistan is to protect its sovereignty in the truest sense, then the art of defence must go hand in hand with the architecture of peace.
(The writer is a public health professional, journalist, and possesses expertise in health communication, having keen interest in national and international affairs, can be reached at uzma@metro-morning.com)
