Anti-Taliban offensive diffuses Pakistan security risk

Subject

Counter-insurgency campaign.

Significance

Pakistan's military is achieving some success in degrading the capabilities of the Pakistani Taliban (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, TTP) nine months on from launching a counter-insurgency operation in the North Waziristan Agency and surrounding regions of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). However, achievement of overall security targets is years away.

Impacts

• Lack of new development projects in insurgency-marred regions risks radicalisation of local youth and deepening the refugee challenge.
• Urban areas such as Karachi are prime targets for retaliatory TTP attacks.
• Prospects for Afghan peace talks have improved due to greater Pakistani cooperation, but a deal is a long way off.