Resurgence of Terrorism in Pakistan: Evaluating Counterterrorism Strategies through a Human Security Lens

Abstract

The return of the Afghan Taliban to power in August 2021 was widely perceived by many observers as a strategic success for Pakistan due to its facilitative role in the Doha peace process and its long-standing engagement with the Taliban leadership. Contrary to these expectations, however, Pakistan witnessed a significant resurgence of terrorism, particularly through the renewed activities of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The re-emergence of TTP has resulted in escalating violence across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and Balochistan, posing serious challenges to Pakistan's national security and internal stability. This study examines the factors contributing to the resurgence of TTP following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and critically analyzes Pakistan's response to the renewed terrorist threat. The paper explores the peace negotiations between the Government of Pakistan and TTP, assessing the motivations behind the talks and identifying the political, ideological, and strategic factors that led to their eventual failure. It further investigates the social, economic, and security consequences of terrorism on both the Pakistani state and local communities, highlighting the broader implications for human security. The study evaluates the effectiveness of Pakistan's counterterrorism strategy by examining both kinetic measures, including military operations and intelligence-based actions, and non-kinetic initiatives such as radicalization programs, community engagement, and policy reforms. Using a qualitative research methodology and relying on secondary sources, including government reports, academic literature, policy papers, and media analyses, the study employs the Human Security Framework as its analytical lens. The findings suggest that while Pakistan has achieved certain tactical successes in countering terrorism, significant structural and policy shortcomings continue to undermine long-term peace and security. The paper argues that an overreliance on state-centric security approaches has limited the effectiveness of counterterrorism efforts and emphasizes the need for comprehensive policies that prioritize human security, governance reforms, socio-economic development, and sustainable peacebuilding.