Violence Returns to the Forefront of Pakistan’s National Crisis
The resurgence of violence and recurring security breakdowns across Pakistan have once again brought the country’s fragile internal stability under global scrutiny. From targeted killings in urban centers to insurgent attacks in border regions, the range and frequency of security incidents point toward deeper, systemic issues. Although external threats remain significant, it is the socio-political dynamics within the state that continue to undermine peace and public order. Hence, Pakistan’s rising insecurity is not merely a law-and-order failure, it is the cumulative outcome of decades of fractured state-society relations.
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An Uneasy Security Landscape: From Terrorism to Internal Discord
Over the last two decades, Pakistan has faced a spectrum of security challenges, ranging from global terrorism to internal insurgencies. While operations like Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad brought relative peace by dismantling terrorist networks in FATA and KP, violence has resurfaced in new forms, manifesting through political violence, sectarian attacks, street crimes, and regional militancy. According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), 2024 alone witnessed over 850 fatalities in terrorist attacks, a significant rise from previous years. Furthermore, urban centers like Karachi and Quetta, as well as restive areas like North Waziristan and Baluchistan, remain volatile. However, beyond the tactical failures in intelligence or policing, lies a far more structural set of socio-political triggers that require attention.
Societal Fragmentation and Political Dysfunction Undermining Cohesion
The core issue exacerbating Pakistan’s security predicament is the absence of cohesive national identity and trust in political institutions. The country’s social fabric is deeply segmented along ethnic, sectarian, and regional lines. Simultaneously, its political ecosystem has become increasingly adversarial, dysfunctional, and exclusionary. For example, with repeated democratic disruptions, selective accountability, and institutional imbalance, public confidence in civilian governance has deteriorated. These conditions have created a vacuum often exploited by extremist actors, separatist groups, and criminal syndicates. Thus, the convergence of institutional fragility with socio-political divisions has turned Pakistan’s security crisis into a chronic condition rather than an episodic challenge.
Political Polarization Weakens National Cohesion and State Response
In recent years, political discourse in Pakistan has become increasingly toxic and confrontational. For instance, major parties, particularly Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), engage in perpetual blame games, discrediting democratic norms and state institutions. Moreover, the fallout from PTI’s ouster in 2022 and subsequent protests further eroded political legitimacy and polarized society. This division weakens consensus on critical security issues, hampers policy continuity, and fosters a culture where political actors prioritize short-term gains over long-term stability. In such a fragmented landscape, extremist narratives gain traction as people lose faith in the democratic process.
Weak Governance and Ineffective Policing Fuel Lawlessness
Pakistan’s governance apparatus suffers from bureaucratic inefficiency, outdated criminal justice systems, and politicized law enforcement. According to a report by the International Crisis Group (ICG), inconsistent governance and non-meritocratic public service delivery have created a permissive environment for organized crime and militant infiltration. In addition, the police forces in most provinces remain under-resourced, poorly trained, and susceptible to political interference. For example, in cities like Karachi and Lahore, criminal mafias thrive due to the absence of consistent rule of law, while in peripheral regions, tribal disputes often escalate into full-blown armed confrontations. Hence, the lack of coordination between federal and provincial security agencies further exacerbates the situation.
Socio-Economic Inequality and Youth Unemployment Breed Discontent
Moving to socio-economic inequality and youth unemployment, it has been revealed that over 64% of the country's population, coming under the age of 30, faces a critical demographic challenge. Millions of young people remain undereducated, unemployed, and disconnected from mainstream economic activity. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, youth unemployment stood at 11.5% in 2023, with much higher informal underemployment. In such a context, extremist groups and criminal gangs offer an alternative sense of purpose, income, and identity. The absence of inclusive growth and meaningful youth engagement not only intensifies public frustration but also contributes to the recruitment base for radical elements. Thus, this socio-economic deprivation becomes a ticking time bomb for internal stability.
Ethnic and Sectarian Marginalization Fuels Insurgencies and Grievances
Furthermore, Pakistan’s multi-ethnic makeup, if not managed inclusively, can lead to alienation and violence. For instance, in provinces like Baluchistan and Sindh, nationalist sentiments continue to grow due to perceived economic exploitation, political exclusion, and cultural suppression. Moreover, the re-emergence of Baloch insurgency, targeting infrastructure projects and security personnel, reflects these long-standing grievances. Similarly, sectarian violence, particularly targeting Hazara Shias and other religious minorities, has re-emerged in Quetta, Parachinar, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Thus, the state’s failure to ensure equitable development, representation, and protection for all communities deepens alienation and legitimizes separatist and extremist narratives in the eyes of the marginalized.
Religious Radicalization and the Politicization of Faith Complicate Internal Security
Over the years, Pakistan’s educational system, mosque networks, and media outlets have allowed religious radicalization to grow. The proliferation of unregulated Madaris and the rise of sectarian militias such as Sipa-e-Sahaba and Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) have altered the religious and political landscape. TLP’s repeated ability to mobilize violent protests and dictate terms to the state reflects the growing power of radical religious groups. In addition, these developments not only challenge state authority but also normalize violence as a tool for religious and political expression. Consequently, without reforming curricula, regulating religious institutions, and promoting pluralism, this radical undercurrent will continue to pose a systemic security threat.
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A Security Crisis Rooted in Systemic Fault Lines
A thorough analysis of Pakistan’s security situation reveals that rising violence is not merely a byproduct of terrorism or foreign interference but is rooted in deep-seated socio-political dysfunctions. Political polarization, weak state institutions, ethnic marginalization, and radicalization form an interlinked chain that erodes internal stability. Hence, efforts to counter militancy without addressing these underlying drivers will remain superficial and unsustainable. Consequently, for long-term peace, Pakistan must build an inclusive political system, strengthen governance, invest in youth, and promote social cohesion through equity and justice.
Reforms, Not Repression, Will Secure the Nation’s Future
In conclusion, Pakistan’s escalating violence and security challenges stem largely from its unresolved socio-political contradictions. The weakening of democratic norms, ineffective governance, growing social disparities, and the politicization of religion have collectively undermined internal peace. To reverse this trend, Pakistan must go beyond temporary security operations and focus on institutional reform, inclusive development, and political maturity. Only by addressing the roots of discontent, rather than its symptoms, can the state hope to establish lasting peace and sustainable security.
