Pakistan’s Counterterrorism Strategy: A Critical Analysis of Non-Military Measures (2014-2020)

Since 9/11, Pakistan has been employing all means available to fight extremism and terrorism. The Pakistan security forces have launched several military offensives in the tribal belt and across the country. The government has also utilized the softer and non-kinetic approaches, such as National Action Plan 2014, to fight terrorism. By utilizing the official and unofficial sources, this study aims to connect the non-military options and their effectiveness in dealing with violent extremism and terrorism in Pakistan. This paper provides a comprehensive overview and assessment of Pakistan nonmilitary approaches in its counterterrorism policy. It finds that although Pakistan's counterterrorism policy has made some considerable gains in reducing the number and intensity of terrorist activities across the country, however, its fight against extremism and terrorism is far from over. It argues that Pakistan requires a comprehensive counterterrorism policy to gain victory in its fight against the menace of extremism and terrorism