Hassan Ahmad
The Brussels-based renowned think tank, the International Crisis Group (ICG), has endorsed Pakistan’s concerns regarding the growing menace of cross-border terrorism emanating from Afghanistan. In a recent report, the think tank underscored the bitter reality that Pakistan has been the worst-hit country since the return of the Taliban to power in Kabul. Violence in Pakistan has escalated since 2022, with the past year alone witnessing the loss of over 600 Pakistani citizens, including civilians and law enforcement officials, primarily in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan – the two provinces sharing a border with Afghanistan.
Islamabad accuses the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), along with Baloch separatist terrorist groups allegedly backed by India, of orchestrating these attacks, citing evidence to support its claims. The persistent unwillingness of the Afghan Taliban to act against anti-Pakistan terrorist groups has remained a major bone of contention in bilateral relations between Islamabad and Kabul. Internal stability and political unity are essential to tackling the challenges posed by cross-border terrorism. Present relations between the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and federal governments are far from satisfactory and merit serious re-examination in the context of mounting security threats. The political trajectory of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), particularly its reliance on aggressive social media trolling, has also affected the KP government’s stance on terrorism-related matters and broader national security concerns.
The rampant use of foul language against political opponents and derogatory trends targeting national institutions is fuelling toxicity and chaos. This unwise approach has not only polarised the party’s supporters but has also undermined its credibility and effectiveness in governance. PTI’s over-reliance on catchy slogans and grand promises has fostered a culture of blind followership, where criticism is met with abuse and personal attacks. This has resulted in a significant leadership vacuum, eventually weakening the party’s political foundations.
The newly appointed chief minister of KP appears more inclined towards political protests in other provinces rather than focusing on improving governance in his own. What transpired during his recent visit to Lahore was particularly disappointing for saner quarters. Ironically, both camps – the PML-N and the PTI – acted immaturely and contributed to further political polarisation. A convoy of the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Aain Pakistan (TTAP) reached Lahore with the apparent aim of triggering street protest mobilisation, while the KP chief minister has also travelled to Sindh on a similar mission.
While protest is a constitutional right, critics too have the right to question the timing, motives, and modalities of such political actions. Excessive indulgence by the KP chief minister in protest activities – especially in other provincial capitals – appears inappropriate at a time when his own province is confronting one of the worst waves of cross-border terrorism. The PTI’s stance on terrorism lacks the requisite clarity and objectivity, as reflected in its differences with the federal government and the concerns expressed in the recent press briefing by the DG ISPR.
In this context, recent court-mandated forensic findings related to the events of May 9 serve as a stark reminder that slogans and victimhood narratives cannot indefinitely outrun documented evidence and due process. A political movement that treats accountability as persecution and institutions as adversaries inevitably deepens polarisation at a moment when national unity and stability are indispensable for confronting existential security threats.
The PTI’s social media wing has increasingly become a problematic force that dictates the party’s agenda without proper leadership oversight or assessment. Anonymous online trolls have hijacked the narrative, compelling spokespersons to adopt extreme positions devoid of rational thought. This has damaged the party’s public image and compromised its internal decision-making processes.
The party’s stance on key national issues – including cross-border terrorism and the repatriation of illegal Afghan immigrants – continues to draw criticism. A group of absconding YouTubers based abroad has effectively hijacked PTI’s agenda, reducing it to a band of non-serious influencers detached from core strategic national concerns. The party’s political future now hangs in the balance. It is time for PTI’s leadership to make a clear choice between perpetuating victimhood rhetoric centred on the release of imprisoned leaders and prioritising governance, responsibility, and constructive engagement within Pakistan’s democratic mainstream.
