Terrorism AOS 3

Responses to the TTP

Operation Zarb-e-Azb - Hardline (mostly unilateral) Initially, this operation didn't exist; the Pakistani Government tried to first begin with peaceful negotiations - however, this had failed after the Taliban executed 23 Pakistani soldiers on February 17th Launched 15 June, 2014 - Reignited and pushed due after the 2014 Jinnah International Airport Attacks in Karachi A "comprehensive operation" effort by the Pakistani Armed Forces against multiple terrorist organisations, including the Taliban, in North Waziristan (many terrorist groups were known to be based here/have this as their stronghold). This included up to 30,000 Pakistani soldiers Defence Minister Khawaja Asif: "The operation will continue until it reaches its logical conclusion. Any group that challenges Pakistan's constitution, attacks civilians, soldiers, and government installations and uses Pakistani territory to plan terrorist attacks will be targeted". This also included some US military drone strikes - however, these were largely on the directives of the Pakistani Government Effectiveness the overall security situation improved and terrorist attacks in Pakistan dropped to a six-year low since 2008 By December 2015, the Pakistani military reported that more than 3,400 terrorists were killed and 837 hideouts/bases of operation were dismantled 488 soldiers of the Pakistani Government were killed and 1914 injured However, the operation had left 929,859 people internally displaced (However, the Pakistani Government allocated funds towards those displaced) However, in 2017 - after the conclusion of this operation, a new operation Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad was launched after terrorist attacks ignited again. After the 2014 Peshawar School massacre, Then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the government announced the lifting of the death penalty for terror-related cases (unilateral) "The Prime Minister has approved abolishment of moratorium on the execution of death penalty in terrorism-related cases." (Prime Minister's office) This move was ignited mainly of perceptions that terrorists are never brought to justice in Pakistan On 6th January 2015, both houses of the Parliament of Pakistan unanimously passed the 21st Amendment to the Constitution which established/gave power to military courts to hold speedy trials for those responsible for terrorist attacks, waging war against Pakistan, and acts threatening the security of Pakistan. These adamants were valid for two years (concluded 7th January 2017). (unilateral) On the 29th of July, 2011 - The United Nations Sanctions Committee added The Taliban to its sanctions list in which the group is now subject to asset freezes, travel bans, arms embargo in pursuant to resolutions 1267 and 1989. Many other states have responded to this through domestically listing the Taliban as a terrorist organisation. One such state is Canada which has designated it as a terror organisation and in doing so triggers sanctions, including a freeze on assets, and makes it a crime to knowingly participate in or contribute to, directly or indirectly, any TTP activity to enhance the ability of the group to facilitate or carry out a terrorist activity. In 2021, reports surfaced after a terrorist attack by the Taliban suggesting that the group has grown stronger. "The relatively successful reemergence of TTP indicates that Pakistan counterterrorism policy has not been a success as the group is quickly developing into a major threat again." (The Diplomat) "The fact that TTP is able recruit & train suicide bombers and successfully deploy them is alarming" - Abdul Basit, an expert on counterterrorism and security in Pakistan "The attack on Serena Hotel, far outside TTP's usual operating area, is an extremely worrying sign that the group has regained its old strength." (The Diplomat) "The TTP's latest attack in Quetta means that the group has returned to Pakistan's cities." (The Diplomat)

Boku Haram Causes

"Boku Haram- Operational from 2002 from Nigeria Causes of Boku Haram Wealth Distribution One of the major Causes for Boku Haram's popularity is the unequal wealth distribution within Nigeria, There is a serious problem with the exclusion of the majority Muslim North-east region has been excluded from the economic boom within the southern Oil-producing regions like Lagos, leading to resentment and anger over this inequality, a cause for Boku Haram to use to fuel membership and support . According to economic PhD and professor Dr Dapel, As of 2011, the Poverty rate was 73% in Northern States and 53% in Southern states. In 2018 the governor of Borno state said "In Nigeria, poverty wears a northern cap, if you are looking for a poor man, get somebody wearing a northern cap." According to a 2011 article by African Arguments "The north-east of Nigeria has been largely excluded from developmental gains that have, to some extent, occurred in other regions of the country," This articles goes on to say "Boko Haram's central demand - the imposition of Sharia law in Northern states - suggests a rejection of the values of westernising Nigerian society that has produced obscene largesse for a few" A 2015 paper by Africa spectrum stated "the sect's blossoming was also aided by the prevailing economic dislocation in Nigerian society" Anti-colonialism and Poorly Drawn state lines Poorly drawn borders and anti-colonial sentiments arising from the tragedies relating to colonialism have led to increased support of Boku Haram as they frame themselves as fighting against the imperialist forces. A 2014 report in the Tony Blair Insitute for Global change done by Dr Barkindo said "North-eastern Nigeria for example, which is historically linked to the Kanem-Borno Empire but divided between the British and French, has seen the emergence of Boko Haram," "Boko Haram manipulated the historical narrative of the Kanem-Borno Empire in its fight against the Nigerian state." "ideological propaganda for recruitment and structural and strategic organisation has hinged on the principle of rejecting western civilization - characterized by the modern Nigerian government - building a society based on Islamic values and structured around the immediate establishment of an Islamic state"

TTP List of attacks

16th December, 2014 Peshawar school massacre Six gunmen affiliated with the Taliban (Pakistan) conducted an attack on Army Public School in Peshawar 149 people were killed including 132 students with 121 injured 4th deadliest school shooting in the world Taliban claimed responsibility in retaliation for Operation Zarb-e-Azb - a Pakistani-led military offensive against many terrorist group beginning on 15 June 2014. TTP spokesman said ""we targeted the school because the Army targets our families. We want them to feel our pain." "It's a revenge attack for the Army offensive (in Operation Zarb-e-Azb)" The school enrols children primarily belonging to families of the Pakistani Army. 2014 Jinnah International Airport attack On June 8th, 2014 - 10 militants attacked the Airport in Karachi killing 26 people and wounding 18 others Attackers also tried to hijack a plane (but were unsuccessful) Taliban claimed responsibility in retaliation for retaliation for the death of its former chief Hakimullah Mehsud - who was killed in a drone strike in November 2013 Stated that the aim for the attack was to send ""a message to the Pakistan government that we are still alive to react over the killings of innocent people in bomb attacks on their villages". Serena Hotel Car Bombing-21st April 2021 At least 5 people have died and 11 injured Initial reports suggested that the target was China's ambassador to Pakistan who was staying at that hotel "provides accommodation for government officials and visiting dignitaries." (BBC News)

Boku Haram List of attacks

2011 Abuja United Nations Bombing On the 29th August 2011 a suicide attack was done at the Nigerian Capital Abuja and Killed 21 and wounded 60 According to a 2011 BBC article "A spokesman for the Islamist group Boko Haram told the BBC in a phone call that it had carried out the attack." Nigeria's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Viola Onwuliri Said ""This is not an attack on Nigeria but on the global community," "We condemn this terrible act utterly," UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a news conference 2014 Chibok Schoolgirls Kidnapping On the 25th of April 2014, 276 Schoolgirls were kidnapped by Boku Haram Terrorists. According to a 2017 BBC article "On 14 April 2014, Boko Haram militants attacked a government secondary boarding school in Chibok, Borno state, where girls from surrounding areas had gone to take exams" "Boko Haram was targeting them because of their opposition to Western education, which the militants believe corrupts the values of Muslims." the militants had said: "You're only coming to school for prostitution. Boko [Western education] is haram [forbidden] so what are you doing in school?" 2014 Maiduguri Suicide bombings On January 14 2014 Boku haram claimed responsibility for a car bomb explosion that killed 17 people in front of the state television office. According to a 2014 BBC "Boko Haram has been conducting a four-year campaign of violence to push for Islamic rule in northern Nigeria"

Taliban Aims

Aims To implement and enforce Islamic law per their interpretations To create an "Islamic" society in Pakistan through replacing the current constitution with "Sharia law." Aims to establish a unified front to force US led coalition forces out of Afghanistan. The Pakistan Taliban "aims to overthrow the Government of Pakistan by waging a terrorist campaign against the Pakistani military and state." (US Department of State)

Responses to Boku Haram

Nigerian Response- Unilateral In 2013 Nigeria passed Anti Terrorism Act 2013 According to a 2018 Article by the Global Journal of HUMAN-SOCIAL SCIENCE "The Anti- Terrorism Act sought amongst other things to prohibit all forms of terrorism, all forms of financial transactions aimed at aiding terrorism, provide federal jurisdiction to prosecute acts of terrorism carried out within Nigeria, prohibit conspiracies in Nigeria tocommit terrorism abroad and provide for appropriate penalties for offenders" This act focuses on the financial aspect of terrorism, to which the aricle states "It is commendable to say that where an entity is convicted of an offence under the Terrorism and Prevention Act (as amended), such as entity is liable to the forfeiture of any assets, funds, or property used or intended to be used in the commission of the offence" Suggesting that that article passed is partially effective Nigeria Created a joint task force in 2011 according to a 2021 Coversation article "It comprised the military (Army, Navy and Air Force), the Department of State Security and the Nigerian Police Force. It allowed for coordinated intelligence gathering and sharing among the security formations." The same article goes in to say that "security experts have questioned the kind of intelligence gathered by the Joint Task Force" Moreover a 2015 Amnesty international report stated that "In the course of security operations against Boko Haram in north-east Nigeria, Nigerian military forces have extrajudicially executed more than 1,200 people; they have arbitrarily arrested at least 20,000 people, mostly young men and boys; and have committed countless acts of torture." Suggesting that this task force was innefective In specific, their task force failed because according to 2014 Amnesty international reports "the military had more than four hours' warning of the raid by Boko Haram militants." which was reported by both the BBC and ABC in 2014. Amesty's Africa Director Netsanet Belay said it amounted to a "gross dereliction of Nigeria's duty to protect civilians". This task force failed overall as well seeing as in Feburary 2021 10 people died of Boku Haram RPG attacks. Us response- Bilateral The US had a largely Bilateral response to the crisis, teaming up with the Nigerian government to assist in stopping Boku Haram, as according to a CFR report released ", The US has an interest in ensuring the stability and democratic future of Nigeria, as both ends in themselves and as a means to blunt the advance of Boko Haram" In 2013 the US declared Boku Haram to be a terrorist organisation, though not after a significant amount of debate In 2014, after the Chibok Kidnappings, the US tried to support Nigeria by assisting its military with supplies but according to a 2014 BBC article "The US has previously ruled out heavily arming the Nigerian military because of its alleged poor human rights record." According to the Nigerian ambassador to the US "The US government has up till today refused to grant Nigeria's request to purchase lethal equipment that would have brought down the terrorists within a short time,' and that "We find it difficult to understand how and why, in spite of the US presence in Nigeria with their sophisticated military technology, Boko Haram should be expanding and becoming more deadly,'' In 2014 according to DefenseNews "The Nigerian government has ended a US effort to train a battalion of its troops to fight Boko Haram, an Islamist terrorist group that is responsible for abducting hundreds of schoolgirls earlier this year, according to the State Department." "We regret premature termination of this training, as it was to be the first in a larger planned project that would have trained additional units with the goal of helping the Nigerian Army build capacity to counter Boko Haram," State Department spokesman Rodney Ford said In 2015 according to Reuters "The White House said on Thursday that it would send up to $45 million in defense services, including military training, to support African countries in their efforts to defeat the militant Islamist group Boko Haram."

Challenges to resolutions to TTP

One challenge is the physical environment that allows terrorism to be sustained (i.e. many times, unilateral action by Pakistan is redundant when the state leaves the region). The Pakistan Government don't have the monetary or physical ability to observe the entire state - hence, some areas are usually with little unregulated by the Federal Government. Terrorist Groups - such as the Pakistan Taliban - are able to take advantage of this to base themselves at those locations and remain undetected. Quotes above Another challenge is the refusal for the Pakistani Taliban to engage in peace talks with the Pakistan Government (i.e. failure of crisis diplomacy). Milo Comerford, Senior Analyst, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change " (Taliban) refuse any ... peace deals with the government of Pakistan." After the Pakistani Government attempted to hold peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban in 2014, these talks fell through when the Taliban announced it had executed 23 captured soldiers from the Pakistani Army suggesting that "We (the Taliban) have warned the government time and again through the media to stop the killing of our friends, who were in the custody of security forces, but the government continued killing our people." Washington Post suggests that "the most recent killings could be a serious blow to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's effort to reach a negotiated settlement with Taliban militants." One other challenge is that the Taliban are able to use global media to their advantage in achieving terrorism which the government is unable to effectively regulate. (i.e. negative impacts of globalisation) Quotes above

TTP Organisations and Causes

Organisation- Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan or TTP Began 2002 and continues to this day Causes - Extremist Jihadist, Islamic theory The Taliban's interpretation of religion is more extreme than what is traditionally practised. One such example is the idea within the group that females are not to access education seen through the 2012 assassination attempt of girls' rights activist Malala Yousafzai with the Taliban suggesting that Malala "is the symbol of the infidels and obscenity" "They reject the Pakistani constitution ... it wants Sharia to be imposed in Pakistan." - Raza Rumi, director of policy and programs at the Jinnah Institute, a Pakistani think tank Political Differences/Instability The Pakistani Taliban believe that "its jihad against the Pakistani government is an act of self-defense against (a) ... puppet regime of the United States" (Centre for International Security and Cooperation - Stanford) "It resents the fact that it (Pakistan) has an alliance with the West" - Raza Rumi, director of policy and programs at the Jinnah Institute, a Pakistani think tank "The timely exit of the U.S. forces from Afghanistan is so important not only for Afghanistan but for Pakistan as well" - Raza Rumi, director of policy and programs at the Jinnah Institute, a Pakistani think tank Facilitators 2002 Incursions into Afghanistan Many of the leaders of TTP formed after a 2002 incursion into Tribal lands to capture foreign militants, according to a BBC article "Attempts to persuade them into handing over the foreign militants failed, and with an apparently mishandling by the authorities, the security campaign against suspected al-Qaeda militants turned into an undeclared war between the Pakistani military and the rebel tribesmen" 2006 Military strikes by the US A 2006 Military strike done by the US on a Pakistani Madrasa is also an important reason as to the cause of this Organisation after that strike killed 82 people and the US was indeed identified as the source of the strike, then this senseless civilian attack lead to retaliation and backlash from the already resentful Pakistani Extremists. In fact, according to a DAWN article, the 2006 Dargai Bombing ( a suicide attack that killed 42 Pakistani soldiers in Khyber) was a retaliation to that exact event, saying that "An unidentified caller told a local journalist that `Pakistani Taliban' had carried out the attack to avenge the attack on a seminary at Bajaur."

Crisis diplomacy

Refers to negotiations between actors in the global political arena in response to an immediate crisis. This most commonly concerns conflicts and natural disasters, but also economic and health crises.

Facilitarors of the TTP

Social Media The Pakistan Taliban have created their own website in 2014 in order to take advantage of internet and social media to spread their propaganda - helping them recruit members, let them reach a greater audience and spread "propaganda that incites violence, especially against Pakistan's security forces." (The Diplomat) The Diplomat: "extensive Taliban coverage not only glorifies and emboldens the militants but also creates space for a militant narrative" The Diplomat: "The militants' strategy is clear and two pronged: exploit the media to carve out a space for its own narrative while at the same time intimidate media groups and individuals who dissent from their view." Unregulated areas within Pakistan allow the Taliban to easily operate "Tribal areas have for decades now been a no-go area for the Pakistani state ... its security forces have not been able to establish a consistent presence there." Matthew Henman of IHS Jane's Terrorism and Insurgency Centre.' "The militants invariably get pushed out of their strongholds ... then they come back when the military is gone." Matthew Henman of IHS Jane's Terrorism and Insurgency Centre. Vulnerability The Taliban have been known to launch terrorist attacks primarily in areas and locations where the individuals are vulnerable such as schools or hospitals. This allows them to achieve their goals of terrorism simply due to their victims being unarmed "Girls schools are seen as soft targets to further the militants' ideological agenda." - Milo Comerford - Senior Analyst, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change "The Taliban and other related Islamic militant groups have long targeted government-run schools in Pakistan" (The Diplomat)

Boku Haram Aims

The name of the organistion itself refers to the idea of rejecting western Education According to a 2014 BBC article "Boko Haram, which translates as "Western education is sin"" The other aim is the impostion of Sharia law in the North According to a 2014 BBC article "Boko Haram has been conducting a four-year campaign of violence to push for Islamic rule in northern Nigeria."

Aspects of the TTP

The role of asymmetric warfare Asymmetric warfare refers to a situation in which terrorists adopt unconventional methods of targeting and pushing their agenda's against states that use conventional methods of warfare (i.e. armed forces). 2014 Peshawar school massacre The Pakistani Government doesn't have enough resources to exercise surveillance of the entire state. The Taliban is able to target this. In reference to the Peshawar school massacre, The Diplomat suggested that the "outstanding problem" that remains is "the government's inability to guarantee acceptable levels of civilian security" and the massacre should be a "stark reminder" to ensure that the government is able to coordinate its military capabilities within the state in an ongoing manner in order to "curb future attacks of this nature." Because the Pakistani Government weren't able to successfully coordinate their capabilities within their civilian territories; the Taliban were able to take advantage of this. Another role of asymmetric warfare is through the Taliban's ability to effectively control media outlets (globalisation) to further its aims (decrease the reputation of Pakistan Government and increase their own legitimacy). "Threats have been issued (to journalists) ... prompting the Express Tribune ... to refrain publishing criticisms of the group (i.e. Taliban) ... and promised adequate coverage in return for a halt against attacks." (The Diplomat) "the government has so far failed to allay the media's concerns or provide adequate security." (The Diplomat) "extensive Taliban coverage not only glorifies and emboldens the militants but also creates space for a militant narrative" (The Diplomat) Hence, the inadequacy of the government to ensure that the journalism network is safe from the Taliban gives Taliban a medium to spread its message against the state more easily. Terrorism as an instrument of state policy In August 15/16th, the Afghan Taliban took effective control over Afghanistan after it succeeded in capturing its capital city - Kabul after weeks of offensive. In the 8th of September, the Taliban announced its government suggesting that the organisation has now gathered effective control of the state and is now a (de facto) state actor. Through this - the Taliban released thousands of prisoners from Afghan jails - including senior figures and fighters of the Pakistan Taliban. The Pakistan Taliban has also renewed its "allegiance to the Afghan Taliban leadership," and pledged to "support and strengthen the Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan." Hence, Terror Attacks - such as one carried out by the Pakistan Taliban on 5th September 2021 in Quetta (Pakistan) killing 3 soldiers and wounding 15 - can be suggested as an instrument of state policy by the Afghan Taliban given its close allegiance to Pakistan Taliban and the formation of its government in Afghanistan. "The threat (of terrorist attacks) will remain as long as the TTP is able to sustain sanctuaries across the border in Afghanistan." - Lowy Institute Non-State Terrorism Self-Explanatory (The Taliban regards itself as a organisation against the Pakistani and Western governments so non-state terrorism is the basis of most of their attacks.)