Analysing the Post-2021 Resurgence of Terrorism and Pakistan’s Kinetic and Non-Kinetic Measures against Terror

Abstract

This article examines the resurgence of terrorism in Pakistan after 2021—the withdrawal of US-led Western troops from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s capture of Kabul. It also digs into Pakistan’s post-9/11 counter-terrorism measures—both kinetic and non-kinetic—which it took to counter terrorism and violent extremism in the country. The post-2021 resurgence of terrorism poses one of the most daunting challenges to the security of Pakistan. Pakistan had a reasonable sense of optimism that the withdrawal of foreign troops and the return of Taliban would bring an end to terrorist violence in the country. That optimism turned into despair, as Pakistan was ranked second on the Global Terror Index (2024-2025)—with 2023 as “the deadliest year” in terms of overall casualties and 2024 as “the bloodiest year” in terms of casualties of security personnel. It shows that terrorism has increased—both in terms of scope and intensity—in Pakistan after 2021 It also indicates that Pakistan’s post-9/11 strategy against terrorism—both kinetic and non-kinetic efforts—fell short of the expected outcome: elimination of terrorism from the land. Pakistan carried out over a dozen major military operations and tens of thousands of intelligence-based operations (IBOs) against terrorists in the last two decades. Besides, Pakistan has also tried peaceful means—from the Shakai Agreement (2004) to the Swat Agreement in 2008—and dialogues for peace—from 2013 to 2025—but it has yet to see any respite from terrorist violence. This article sheds light on the post-2021 resurgence of terrorism, Pakistan’s post-9/11 counter-terrorism (CT) measures, and the key challenges that it has been encountering in its CT efforts since 9/11. This article is mainly based on secondary sources.