DAWN Editorials - 7th March 2025

[faheemustad]

Terrorism ranking

IT is an unenviable ‘achievement’. According to the Global Terrorism Index 2025, Pakistan stands second in the world — just behind Burkina Faso, and just ahead of Syria — in the ranking of countries affected by militant violence. Moreover, according to the index, the banned TTP, which has been waging a bloody campaign against the state and people of Pakistan, ranks among the world’s top four deadliest terrorist outfits.

Before protestations are made that such rankings harm Pakistan’s fair image in the world, the data presented by the study needs to be calmly digested. The numbers do not paint a reassuring picture. For example, compared to 517 terrorist attacks in 2023, last year 1,099 such incidents occurred, with half of the attacks carried out by the TTP. The index also confirms that KP and Balochistan are the worst affected parts of the country, suffering 96pc of the attacks. While the TTP carried out the largest number of attacks, it was the proscribed BLA that was responsible for 2024’s deadliest terrorist rampage — the suicide bombing of the Quetta railway station.

The worrying scenario highlighted by the index is reminiscent of the predicament Pakistan found itself in nearly two decades ago, when it was confronting another terrorist insurgency spearheaded by the same malign actors.


Unfortunately, the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan has given great impetus to the TTP and other violent groups to take on the Pakistani state. The terrorism index recognises this, while there can be little denying the fact that militants find safe havens in Afghanistan. For example, the military has said that Afghan nationals were involved in the recent attack on Bannu Cantt.

But what is complicating Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts is the fact that relations with the Afghan Taliban remain poor. For example, Pakistani and Afghan forces have been clashing for several days due to a border dispute at Torkham. Difficult as it may be, mending fences with the Afghan Taliban is essential to tackling the threat posed by the TTP.


The Global Terrorism Index report recommends that Pakistan take “a combination of military, political, and socioeconomic measures” to deal with the militant threat. Yet the political tribes are too consumed by infighting to notice that the country is going through a major terrorism crisis, while other powerful institutions seem more concerned about ‘digital terrorism’ and other such ‘threats’.

The dreams of economic revival and national harmony will be shattered if we do not wake up to the severity of the present terrorist threat. An effective CT strategy — with input from the civil and military agencies, lawmakers, and independent experts — is essential, for focusing on both kinetic tactics and long-term goals. Cooperation with foreign partners is also key, as the successful capture of the IS-K militant involved in the Kabul airport bombing has shown.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2025


Fear and favour

IT came as something of a pleasant shock. Pakistan, long sidelined in America’s list of foreign policy priorities, received a surprise commendation in the US parliament on Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump, while addressing the Congress for the first time since taking power, credited Pakistan for arresting the “mastermind” behind the 2021 Kabul airport bombing, which had killed 13 American soldiers and 170 Afghan citizens.

“I want to thank especially the government of Pakistan for helping arrest this monster,” Mr Trump said.

The development triggered much excitement in Pakistan, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif quickly thanking the US president for “appreciating Pakistan’s role and support” and reminding him of Pakistan’s “critical role in counterterrorism efforts aimed at denying safe havens to terrorists”. Thrilled TV pundits and commentators, too, seized on the development, with many taking it as an indicator that the ice between Washington and Islamabad may have finally thawed. Meanwhile, there must have been much disappointment in the opposition camp, which has been waiting eagerly for Mr Trump’s endorsement of their own cause.

It would be wise, however, not to get swept up in the excitement just yet. It is quite likely that Mr Trump was merely scoring a few political points against his predecessor, Joe Biden, whom he blames for botching the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. By taking credit for nabbing a key antagonist from that tumultuous period, he may have wanted to demonstrate strength against Mr Biden’s perceived weakness.

It is also worth remembering that Mr Trump is a very transactional person, always looking to maximise his advantage in any situation. It would, therefore, be quite surprising if the arrest of one terrorist completely overhauled Islamabad’s diplomatic equation with Washington.

In fact, a new Reuters report suggests Pakistanis could face US visa restrictions as soon as next week. The final decision is to be based on a US government review of countries’ security and vetting risks, three informed sources have told the international wire service. Pakistan has been recommended for inclusion in the list, along with Afghanistan, according to Reuters.

The Trump administration’s position on Pakistan will become clearer with time, but what our leaders need to do immediately is to stop giving it more leverage by constantly seeking its approval. Our problems are ours alone to solve — the sooner we recognise that, the better.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2025


Higher power costs

IN recent years, soaring energy prices have drastically impacted Pakistan’s economic growth potential in general, and its industrial productivity and exports in particular by raising production costs and reducing international competitiveness. Now a new report by the International Energy Agency shows that power tariffs for energy-intensive industries in Pakistan averaged 13.5 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2024, surpassing those in other economies, including both regional competitors and major trading partners. The report states that industrial electricity prices in 2024 stood at 6.3 cents per kWh in the US and India, 7.7 cents in China, and 11.5 cents in the EU. In Norway, a key European market, rates were as low as 4.7 cents per kWh. This means that our industrial sector is paying almost double the electricity prices compared to China, India, and the US, and 18pc higher than the EU.

Indeed, the adverse impact of higher electricity costs for energy-intensive industries was largely offset previously by lower labour rates and subsidised export finance, as well as energy subsidies and other incentives for the export industries by the government. Nevertheless, the situation is changing fast now, with energy, export finance, and other subsidies either being eliminated or significantly reduced under IMF pressure. This is adversely impacting the country’s export competitiveness in global markets. Hence, the growing demand for a substantial reduction in energy rates for export-oriented industries. This is something that will not be possible for a cash-starved government to meet, unless it implements deep power sector reforms involving the creation of a competitive energy market, reduction in electricity theft and system losses of around 30pc, the restructuring and sale of distribution companies, and so on. Additionally, the government will have to cut reliance on imported fossil fuel, and effectively harness its enormous, cheaper renewable solar and wind energy resources. So far the movement in this direction has been very slow, notwithstanding the authorities’ claims otherwise.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2025