Nine years after APS, Pakistan defied terrorism

Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts are ongoing to protect the country and thwart enemy plans.

Islamabad: Pakistan is resolute in its fight against terrorism and its commitment to protecting its people as it marks the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attack on the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar on December 16.

In 2014, APS was the target of a brutal attack by militants who killed over 140 people, mostly teachers and students.

Often referred to as “Pakistan’s 9/11,” the day emphasizes Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to combating terrorism and safeguarding the security of its citizens.

The nation’s military and civilian leaders came together after the APS attack to create a thorough National Action Plan. Significant operations, such as Zarb-e-Azb and Radul Fassad, which sought to eradicate terrorists and secure the country, were the result of this plan.

Pakistan is one of the most severe victims of terrorism, despite its widespread occurrence worldwide. After more than 70,000 lives were lost and more than $150 billion in economic damage, the country is still adamant about eliminating this threat.

Pakistan’s main cities have seen waves of terrorism come and go, but Peshawar has been hardest hit, with the APS attack being the worst event in the city’s history.

Pakistan has consistently asserted that India is a sponsor of terrorism on its soil, presenting a detailed dossier containing specific information such as bank accounts and the involvement of Indian nationals.

The locations of training camps for organizations like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch miscreants were also highlighted in the dossier.

A security analyst claims that TTP was given $1 million by India’s intelligence agency, RAW, to combine with four other terrorist organizations in order to commit acts of terrorism in Pakistan.

The analyst claimed that among other things, India had been funding activists and separatists in the Baloch region through think tanks in Afghanistan.

Additionally, Pakistan’s government has frequently revealed India’s role in terrorist acts intended to sabotage the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). For this reason, RAW invests a significant amount of money in various militant groups.

Mullah Fazal Ullah was the mastermind behind the APS attack, with assistance from Gul Zaman Orakzai, Omar Narai, and Muhammad Khurasani, who had connections to RAW and NDS handlers in Afghanistan.

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The country honors the martyred children and teachers on this anniversary by recognizing their sacrifices, including the leadership and civil society.

The day strengthens the nation’s resolve to combat terrorism, as there is a renewed demand on the interim Afghan government to act against terrorist groups, such as the TTP, and to stop using Afghan territory against Pakistan.

The country makes it abundantly evident that terrorism will not weaken its commitment to peace and security as it remembers the APS attack.