CTDs’ shortcomings
WHILE threats from terrorist groups need to be countered on the battlefield through military means, long-term success against violent extremists requires action by civilian LEAs. Yet as a recent report points out, the provincial counterterrorism departments lack the capability to adequately address the terrorist threat. The document, published by the Islamabad-based Pak Institute for Peace Studies, points to several inadequacies in the performance of CTDs. The think tank says that CTDs “lack clarity” on the dynamics of militant groups, and have few skills needed to analyse relevant intelligence. Moreover, apart from the Punjab CTD, departments in other provinces face funding constraints.
It should be noted that ‘capacity building/ strengthening of CTDs’ is amongst the points mentioned in the revised National Action Plan. Moreover, many law-enforcement professionals, especially those who have worked in CT, advocate a greater role for the police, specifically in CTDs, in order to uproot militant groups. Also, the federal interior minister has spoken of ‘restructuring’ Nacta, which is supposed to be the nation’s premier CT body. This cannot be achieved without addressing the deficiencies of the provincial CTDs. The departments must be revamped so that they can defeat the terrorist threat. The lacunae that experts have highlighted — shortcomings in training, procedural issues, funding bottlenecks, etc — need to be addressed. The CTDs should be able to block funding sources of terrorist groups, and bust cells through intel operations before militants can strike. The current wave of terrorism that gained momentum after the collapse of the ceasefire with the banned TTP, has resulted in a high toll amongst the security forces, with the militant threat particularly acute in KP and Balochistan. Before these threats transform into a full-blown insurgency, requiring military operations to quell, the state must empower the CTDs with the tools, training and funds needed to stop militants in their tracks. We cannot afford to neglect our civilian CT bodies.
Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2024
In good faith
THE ‘P’ in PTI might as well stand for perplexing. After a constant yo-yoing around holding talks, the PTI has now set preconditions for engaging in dialogue with the government. This has come after leaders of the party — including Imran Khan — initially ruled out any deal with anyone. Some leaders signalled the intent to only talk to the ‘real’ power brokers, while others insisted Mr Khan had never refused talks. Most recently, the party has demanded the release of all political prisoners and the withdrawal of all cases against its members. The demand for the ‘stolen mandate’ of the party in the Feb 8 polls to be returned has also been put forth. This is not how productive dialogue is conducted. In a democracy, negotiations are a fundamental process for resolving conflicts and reaching consensus. However, entering talks with rigid preconditions undermines the process. Dialogue should begin in good faith, with parties presenting their demands and being open to negotiating terms. Preconditions set in stone create additional barriers to the already challenging task of reconciliation. The recent statements of PTI leaders in the National Assembly have further muddied the waters. While signalling a willingness to engage, the insistence on prior concessions reveals an uncertainty within the party about its approach to dialogue. This inconsistency will harm progress towards a resolution.
That said, the government, having the upper hand, must take the lead and initiate dialogue to ease tensions. It must consider facilitating bail to key leaders, including Mr Khan, to enable direct talks and mitigate the disparate approaches to negotiations among various PTI mouthpieces. Ensuring the presence of central figures in the talks is crucial, as their participation will lend credibility and direction to the negotiation process. Further, ordinary workers arrested after the May 9 riots must be released as part of confidence-building measures. The PTI, on its part, must dispense with its rigidity and recognise that it must deal directly with the government. The persistent proclivity to involve unelected quarters in political matters detracts from the essence of democratic dialogue and undermines civilian supremacy. All parties must recognise that. Political parties must resolve their differences through democratic means, reinforcing the authority of civilian institutions. Only through dialogue, in good faith, can we hope to end the current political impasse.
Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2024