ISLAMABAD - Operation Rad-ul-Fasad (RuF), launched in February 2017 under the able leadership of Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa helped the country root out terrorism and achieve the desired goals when it comes to internal security. It was through trust of the nation and professionalism of the Armed Forces that Pakistan successfully defeated the menace.
Pakistani nation has paid a huge price to eradicate terrorism from the country as the Pak Army fought this menace bravely. More than 80,000 fatalities are the cost but the war on terror also proved the great resilience of the nation. In order to eliminate the “residual/latent threat of terrorism”, consolidating the gains made in other military operations and further ensuring the security of the country’s borders, Pakistan Army continue to render sacrifices. The Army’s contributions under the operation involves playing a critical role in implementation of National Action Plan, mainstreaming of erstwhile FATA and controlling extremism by taking part in the government’s reforms.
During the operation RuF, the total combing operations/IBOs were 222,836 all over the country. Around 72,364 weapons were recovered while 5.029 mn pieces of ammunition was recovered. During the operation, a total of 217, 702 combing operations / IBOs / ADOs / ASOs were conducted and 80,228 weapons and 7.01m pieces of ammo were recovered. In pursuit of creating a secure environment, the Army suffered 24,530 casualties in NMDs since 2001 including 5,460 Shaheed and 19,070 injured. Whereas, since 2017, 291 Shaheed and 647 all ranks have been wounded in Balochistan. In pursuit of creating a secure environment, the Army suffered 26,677 casualties in KP and Balochistan including 6,074 Shaheed and 20,603 injured whereas 12,914 terrorists were killed since 2009. It was through trust of the nation and professionalism of the Armed Forces that Pakistan successfully defeated the menace of terrorism.
Pakistan’s war against terrorism and the improvement in the overall internal security paradigm are success stories which created a safe environment for foreign investments. Undoubtedly, a safe and secure environment provides confidence to investors and boosts the tourism industry. Pakistan Army also remained a linchpin behind developing a consensus-based counter-terrorism narrative document signed by thousands of Pakistani Islamic scholars, which disapproved of the militant groups extremist ideology and defined their brutal acts, including suicide attacks, as against the basic doctrine of Islam.
Pakistan, due to the efforts of Pakistan Army, has nearly completed the fencing of the 2,600-km-long Afghan border which is aimed at stopping unchecked cross-border movement which fanned both terrorism and smuggling since security of the people is the top priority of the Pakistan Army. Around 94 percent of the fencing has been completed along the Western Border. The Afghan border fencing is done in an effort to protect the people on both sides as well as to regulate trade. The fence on the Pak-Afghan border was needed to regulate security, border crossing and trade. The purpose of this is not to divide the people, but to protect them. Pakistan Army also played a cardinal role in post-US withdrawal management in Afghanistan, by playing an important role in signing of Doha agreement and beefing up security on Western Border. Sequel to hasty withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan, maximum facilitation was extended to the evacuation process; commenced from 15 August 2o21. The country allowed landing of 266 international flights to / from Kabul and also permitted 181 flights. Assistance in transit of 13,737 foreign nationals belonging to 31 countries from Kabul was provided and in addition, facilitated transit of 5,09,168 persons and the process still continues on a reduced scale.
The Pak Army also facilitated approval of regulatory framework along with development of required infrastructure in 2021 for facilitation and security of Zaireen visiting Iran. Marking of Wakhan Border area through Army funding in synchronization with Survey of Pakistan was also made possible.
Introduced in 2009 to de-radicalize and remove psychological burden of surrendered individuals, so as to make them useful members of the society, 2670 individuals were successfully reintegrated in the society in the last 5 years (5372 since 2009). Success of the programme is evident from the fact that Pakistan has one of the lowest recidivism rates worldwide.
Pakistan in the interest of regional security has always professed negotiated political settlement in Afghanistan also acceptable to people of Afghanistan, professed an effective CT mechanism to prevent use of Afghanistan soil against other / neighbouring countries and led the diplomatic effort to facilitate humanitarian support and a positive interface with the global community. Pakistan Army also facilitated the process by providing institutional input and assistance in the conduct of visits by foreign and domestic delegations / media persons to the LoC to witness first-hand the adverse effects of Indian forces and sentiments of locals especially in Post abrogation of Article 370 in IIOJK.