Militant violence in Pakistan escalated by 27% in May, as reported by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS). The country is grappling with a surge in armed attacks, with no signs of abating. The Pakistan Army’s ability to contain these attacks is being questioned due to their consistency and increasing intensity.
The security situation has deteriorated at a time when the security establishment, led by Field Marshal Asim Munir, wields significant influence over domestic and foreign policies. Civilian leadership’s role has been reduced to endorsing decisions made by the security establishment, rather than actively governing. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has acknowledged a “hybrid model of governance” in Pakistan, emphasizing the necessity of this model to address economic and governance challenges.
Khawaja Asif’s public support for the Pakistan Army and attempts to shift focus from its failures to external factors have drawn attention. He has linked armed attacks to Afghanistan, accusing the Taliban regime of aiding groups like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Asif’s narrative aims to defend the Army’s actions against armed groups in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
The Pakistan Army’s operations against armed groups have not yielded desired outcomes, leading to human rights violations and mass displacements. Despite efforts to attract foreign investment through the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), investor interest in Pakistan is declining. The Army’s primary responsibility of ensuring security has faced challenges, evident from the increasing armed attacks across the country.
