Operation Azm-e-Istehkam

Operation Azm-e-Istehkam (آپریشن عزم استحکام) is a counter-insurgency operation launched by the government of Pakistan in June 2024. The operation was approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The operation will not only include military action, but socio-economic uplift to deter extremism.

Etymology
translates into "Commitment for Stability" or "Resolve for Stability". (عزم) means "commitment" or "resolve", while (استحکام) means "stability" in Urdu. The phrase Azm-e-Istehkam has been chosen to emphasize onto the non-kinetic parameters of the operation aimed at socio-economic upliftment to counter extremism.

Background
Pakistan has been facing a looming Islamist insurgency in North-Western parts of the country since 2001 that came to haunt Pakistani state in an aftermath of 9/11 attacks. The al-Qaeda terrorists fled Afghanistan seek refuge in the bordering Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. The insurgency blew up in 2004 when tensions rooted in the Pakistan Army's search for al-Qaeda fighters in Pakistan's mountainous Waziristan area escalated into armed resistance. Pakistan's actions were presented as its contribution to the U.S. War on terror.

The situation in erstwhile FATA further complicated with the emergence of Tehreek-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Local Pakistani jihadi fighters that had previously fought Soviets, with support from Central Asian militant groups along with Arab fighters of al-Qaeda, in 2007 formed TTP.

The TTP emerged as one of the most lethal groups with the goal to overthrow Government of Pakistan in Islamabad and replace it with a Taliban-style government.

History of Pakistan's previous military campaigns
Responding to the threat posed by the Islamists, Pakistan Army under command of General Kayani's tenure started to turn the tide in its war against terrorism. In order to contain the militants General Kayani launched series of military campaigns to recapture areas fallen in the hands of militants from 2007 to 2013 beginning with Operation Rah-e-Haq. The campaign that launched by Kayani ended with success of Operation Zarb-e-Azb in late 2016. Pakistan Army under the Kayani Doctrine was able to capture six tribal agencies and four settled districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa including Swat and South Waziristan, which were two strongholds of TTP.

The last operation Zarb-e-Azb was conducted by the Kayani's successor General Raheel Sharif to purge last remaining agency of North Waziristan from the clutches of TTP. Thus, Pakistan Armed Forces successfully recaptured seven tribal agencies of FATA and four districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa by conducting a bloody armed campaign from 2007 to 2016. With help of military campaigns Pakistan Army was able to push back TTP into Afghanistan from where it continues to launch terrorist attacks on Pakistan. By 2014, the casualty rates from terrorism in the country as a whole dropped by 40% as compared to 2011–2013, with even greater drops noted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa despite a large massacre of schoolchildren by TTP terrorists in the province in December 2014. The reduction in hostilities eventually changed the conflict from a war to a relatively low-level conflict. However, massacre of schoolchildren in Peshawar and continues sense of insecurity forced Pakistani political leadership to draft National Action Plan.

National Action Plan 2014 and Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad 2017
On 24 December 2014, the Parliament of Pakistan approved a 20-point National Action Plan to counter terrorism and extremism, that had been chalked out by the National Counter Terrorism Authority. The decision was taken following a terrorist attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar. The plan was envisaged to undertake non-kinetic and kinetic measures to fight terrorism and extremism.

In line with National Action Plan, Pakistan launched Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad under its commander COAS Qamar Javed Bajwa. This operation was launched in order clean-off militants that escaped across country due to army's earlier campaigns in FATA. The operation was aimed at consolidating efforts of previous military campaigns.

Radd-ul-Fasaad vowed to tackle cross border militancy, purge sleeper cells in Urban Pakistan, flush of remnants militants escaped across country, and pursuit National Action Plan.The operation entailed the conduct of Broad Spectrum Security (Counter Terrorism) operations by Rangers in Punjab and Sindh, and by the Frontier Corps in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and focus on more effective border security management. Countrywide disarmament and explosive control were also given as additional objectives of the operation. The National Action Plan was pursued as the hallmark of this operation.

Radd-ul-Fasaad resulted in major successes in counter-terrorism.

As a result of Radd-ul-Fasaad, TTP suffered huge losses and divided into various splinter groups that weakened its operational capabilities. According to Delhi-based South Asian Terrorism Portal (SATP) 2019 was post peaceful year for Pakistan since the time of start of insurgency in 2004. According to SATP, The suicide attacks in Pakistan in 2019 was decreased to 8 from record high of 85 in 2009. By 2021, More than 375,000 operations have been carried out against terrorists, including over 150,000 in Sindh, 3,4000 in Punjab, more than 80,000 in Balochistan and over 92,000 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Operation was a tactical victory for Pakistan as country saw consolidation of gains of Operation Zarb-e-Azb by further denting the terrorist capability to carry out activities against Pakistan which was visible in drastic drop in suicide and IED attacks. Yet it deemed as a strategic failure due to failure of operation to achieve objectives of National Action Plan. The country failed to foster durable peace, specially after Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021. The political change in Afghanistan triggered new wave of terrorism in Pakistan. Since 2022 Pakistan has seen a visible uptick in terrorism-related incidents.

Resurgence in Insurgency since August 2021
After 2019, country saw slow implementation on the National Action Plan specially on its primary aim of combating extremism. Resultantly since fall of Kabul in August 2021, Pakistan is confronted with renewed threat of terrorism as TTP has been injected with fresh dose of strength due to the victory of Taliban in Afghanistan. The fresh recruits, easy access to US made weapons, and a sanctuary under the shadow of Afghan Taliban have once again bolstered the TTP to again target Pakistan. In 2023, Pakistan saw an increase in terror incidents, especially in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after the banned militant group Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan terminated its ceasefire with the government in November 2022.

In 2022 After failure of negotiations, the TTP and the government announced a ceasefire in June 2022. However, in November 2022, the TTP renounced the ceasefire and called for nationwide attacks against Pakistan.

2022 Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan
Surge in terrorism led Pakistan to strike on TTP safe havens present on Afghan soil. On 16 April 2022, the Pakistani military conducted predawn airstrikes on multiple targets in Afghanistan's Spera District of Khost and Shultan District of Kunar provinces. Afghan officials said the attacks killed at least 47 civilians and injured 23 others. Initial reports described the attacks as either rocket strikes or aerial strikes carried out by a number of aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force, and Afghan officials claimed the operation was carried out by Pakistani military helicopters and jets. Pakistani officials initially denied Pakistan carried out the airstrikes, but Pakistani security officials later claimed the airstrikes involved drone strikes from inside Pakistani airspace, and that no aircraft were deployed. Some reports said the Pakistani airstrikes also targeted parts of Paktika Province. According to the Pakistani media and some Afghan media outlets, the attacks targeted militants belonging to Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

2022 Pakistani airstrikes marked the first instance of foreign country launching attack on Afghanistan after establishment of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and withdrawal of US from Afghanistan.

2024 Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan
On 18 March 2024, in response to the attack from Afghanistan, Pakistan Air Force carried out two intelligence based airstrikes on Afghanistan's eastern border provinces of Khost and Paktika. The Afghan government claim that Pakistan killed five women and three children. Pakistan denies this, claiming that it killed terrorists instead while targeting the Hafiz Gul Bahadur militant group, a splinter organization of the Pakistani Taliban, and that it had successfully killed Sehra alias Janan, a high-value target commander. Another commander, Abdullah Mehsud, was claimed to have been killed, but later released a video refuting the claim. It was also reported that Mehsud's house was targeted in which his wife and a minor son was killed. Pakistan went on to blame the Pakistani Taliban and its splinter militias for the deaths of hundreds of Pakistani civilians, and claimed that they used Afghanistan as a base and that they had support from within the Taliban.

2024 Pakistani airstrikes marks the third instance of foreign country launching attack on Afghanistan after establishment of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and withdrawal of US from Afghanistan followed by 2022 Pakistani Airstrikes and 2022 US Drone attack in Kabul

Given the deteriorating law and order situation in North-West Pakistan, on 7 April 2023, Pakistan's National Security Committee under leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif decided to launch a new military operation to root out militants posing threats to its western regions. The meeting was also attended by the Pakistan's new military leadership COAS Asim Munir and CJCSC Sahir Shamshad Mirza.

On 22 June 2024, Pakistan's Apex Committee on National Action Plan approved a new operation codenamed as Azb-e-Istehkam (Resolve for Stability) that is meant to address slow implementation of National Action Plan specially by addressing its vow of healing extremism across Pakistan.

Approval and launch
On 22 June 2024, the operation was approved during a meeting of the Apex Committee on National Action Plan in Islamabad. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and attended by key federal cabinet members, chief ministers from all provinces including Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, provincial chief secretaries, services chiefs, and others.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif clarified on 25 June 2024 that "Operation would not be large scale operation.Sharif said Operation Azm-e-Istehkam is being “misunderstood” and compared to previous military operations such as Operation Zarb-e-Azb and Operation Rah-e-Nijat. He said militants in these operations were killed for creating “no-go areas” in the country and for challenging the writ of the state, adding that they caused massive displacement of the population. There are currently no such no-go areas in the country as the ability of terrorist organizations to carry out large-scale organized operations inside Pakistan has been decisively defeated by past armed operations. Therefore, no large-scale military operation which would require population displacement is being contemplated.Its objective is to instill a new spirit and drive in the ongoing implementation of the revised National Action Plan, which was launched after a national consensus in the political arena. Operation Azm-e-Istekam is a multi-domain, multi-agency and national vision to bring about sustainable peace and stability in the country.

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on 28 June 2024 added that Pakistan may carry out cross border strikes inside Afghanistan on terrorist bases enjoying safe havens on Afghan soil.

Goals
The Operation is primarily aimed at speeding-up implementation of the Pakistan's National Action Plan (NAP) which was conceived in an aftermath of politico-military consensus in 2014 to combat extremism and terrorism within Pakistan. According to PMO statement, following objectives has been laid down in line with NAP.

The main objective of the operation is to end extremism and terrorism decisively and comprehensively. The operation aims to coordinate and coordinate efforts on multiple fronts to counter these threats, while intensifying efforts to curb terrorist activities through regional cooperation in the political and diplomatic arenas.

25 June
Military related handles on X released a footage of drone strike on Masjilis-e-Askari Karwan of terrorists belonging to Hafiz Gul Bahadur group of Tehreek Taliban Pakistan in the Darga Peerpal area of Bannu District. Reportedly, three terrorists were claimed to be neutralized.

26 June
Pakistani authorities report the arrests of Commander Nasrullah and Commander Idress in Quetta, who were two key Pakistani Taliban commanders. Moreover, six militants and two Pakistani soldiers were killed in Hassan Khel Tehsil, Peshawar District, during military raids on multiple hideouts.

27 June
On 27 June, in Tank District, military raids on insurgent bases killed ten militants and a military operation in Bagh, Khyber District resulted in the deaths of seven militants and five Pakistani soldiers.

28 June
Pakistani ambassador to the United States, requested military aid including modern weaponry to aid in Operation Azm-e-Istehkam as well as addressing the need for strengthening of military ties between the two countries for fighting terrorism diplomatic comeback in Kabul.

30 June
On 30 June, the Government of Pakistan began the second phase of the deportation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan, this time with the target of expelling around 800,000 illegal migrants.

1 July
Three people were killed in a roadside bombing in Turbat District, Balochistan. Along with two members of security forces were killed in a rocket attack on their post in Jamrud, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Seven militants were killed in a military operation in Tirah including Pakistani Taliban commanders, Najeeb Abdul Ur Rehman and Ishfaq Muavia and two more militants were killed in a separate engagement in Lakki Marwat.

2 July
The gas pipeline supplying natural gas to Quetta was blown up by an Improvised Explosive Device near Machh, Bolan District. Moreover three civilians were killed and one wounded in a shootout and bomb blast in Turbat.

3 July
Pakistan Army and United States Army troops started a two-week-long counterterrorism exercise in Pabbi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the American troops being deployed at the National Counterterrorism Centre. Moreover, an IED bombing in Bajaur District killed senator Hidayat Ullah, who was campaigning in an election run-up, initial death toll was reported to be three but later rose to five. Furthermore, two members of security forces were also wounded in terrorist attacks on Polio vaccination teams in Bajaur District. Also, Pakistani security forces carried out an intelligence based operation in Bajaur District and Pakistani Taliban Commander Irfan Ullah after a firefight between security forces and militants. Also, a bomb attack and shootout in Kalat, Balochistan killed a Frontier Corps soldier along with a civilian working on the Sui gas field. Islamabad police foiled a terror attack ahead of Muharram by capturing a large amount of weapons and explosives after a firefight with militants who managed to flee.

4 July
In Khaplu, Gilgit Baltistan another Pakistani Taliban commander Shah Faisal who was responsible for multiple terrorist attacks in the region was killed in a military operation. Clashes were eventually extinguished after hours of fighting which left two civilians and four soldiers of Gilgit Baltistan Scouts wounded.

5 July
A roadside bombing in Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa killed three people and wounded eight people, including two police officers.

7 July
A bombing in Bolan, Balochistan carried out by the Balochistan Liberation Army wounded a soldier of the Frontier Corps. A shooting in Karachi killed a senior Counter Terrorism Department official engaged against the Pakistani Taliban and Lashkar-e-Taiba, and a civilian passerby, and a private security guard was wounded in the incident and later succumbed to his injuries.

9 July
A police officer and his three nephews were killed in a shooting in Dera Ismail Khan. In North Waziristan a military engagement between Pakistan Army and Pakistani Taliban led to the deaths of two militants and one army captain. Thirteen people were detained in Punjab during an operation conducted by the Punjab police against supposed militant activities before Ashura. Three soldiers were killed and twelve wounded in a gun battle in South Waziristan, casualties of militants are unknown. Three Frontier Corps soldiers were abducted in Tank District.

10 July
An attack on Ashura observations was foiled when the Counter Terrorism Department arrested a key Pakistani Taliban militant Mohammad Shoaib in an operation in Karachi. An engagement in Hassan Khel Tehsil of the Peshawar District led to the deaths of four security personnel and three militants including militant commander Abdul Raheem.

12 July
The bodies of two security personnel who had been missing since 11 July in Tank were discovered. Two Pakistani Taliban militants, Abuzar and Yaqoob Masood, of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group with alleged ties to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan were arrested during a raid by the Counter Terrorism Department in Karachi.

13 July
A driver of the Frontier Corps was killed in a roadside bombing near Quetta. A Pakistani Taliban militant was arrested in Karachi during a raid by the Counter Terrorism Department.

15 July
The Pakistani Taliban launched two coordinated attacks on the military cantonment in Bannu. A militant attacked the base with a vehicle loaded with explosives while another exploded a suicide vest outside the perimeter of the base. Eight soldiers and ten militants were killed and about 141 people including 7 civilians were wounded in the attacks. At least eight civilians were amongst the injured. Several houses and buildings were damaged. The attack caused significant casualties but was unsuccessful in its main aim to penetrate and capture the garrison. Jaish E Fursaan E Muhammadi, a faction within the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group of the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility. Military helicopters were dispatched to the region and ground troops were also deployed in the region. A military operation is being conducted in the area by Pakistan Army. The Special Service Group was also deployed in the area.

16 July
Five civilians (two children and two female health operatives) were killed in a militant attack on a health facility in Dera Ismail Khan. The military then engaged the militants, killing three of them. Two soldiers died in the skirmishes.

19 July
A senior Al Qaeda leader Amin al-Haq who was a close associate of Osama bin Laden and was on the United Nations global list of wanted terrorists was arrested by the Counter Terrorism Department in a raid on his hideout in Sarai Alamgir, Punjab. Three people including a policeman were killed in an attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa meanwhile a Frontier Corps soldier was killed in Balochistan. Two civilians were killed in a shootout during a peace rally, this attack is suspected to be a militant attack.

International reaction
It is widely believed that this anti-terrorist operation was carried out under pressure from China, as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has been hit by terrorist attacks many times before. Pakistan announced its new counterterrorism plan soon after Shehbaz Sharif returned from a five-day visit to China.

Although Pakistan urges the US to provide modern small arms, a spokesperson of the US State Department said "We support Pakistan's efforts to combat terrorism and ensure the safety and security of its citizens in a manner that promotes the rule of law and protection of human rights." Starting from 3 July, the American and Pakistani troops started two-week-long counterterrorism exercises in Pabbi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.