Pakistan and the West: Navigating Terrorism and Counterterrorism in the Post 9/11 International Order

Abstract

The present study analyses Pakistan's strategic position in the US-led ‘War on Terror’ following the 9/11 attacks, focusing on the implications of its geopolitical position. Owing to Pakistan’s connected boundary with Afghanistan and its geopolitical and geostrategic location in South Asia, Pakistan was positioned as a frontline country in the US-led War on Terror. The then-President, General Pervez Musharraf, decided to collaborate with the United States in response to shift the global dynamics, demanding military bases, intelligence sharing, and logistical support. The US and the West formally acknowledged Pakistan as a ‘major non-NATO ally’ and provided financial as well as military assistance. This research critically examines Pakistan's policy-shifting dynamics in the swiftly transforming geopolitics since 2001 and addresses the country's dual role in domestic security and counterterrorism. It draws attention to the tense ties with the West after the ‘Operation Neptune Spear’ and the inadvertent tilt towards China and Russia. This piece of paper sums up the after-effects of American drone strikes in Pakistan's tribal regions, resulting in significant civilian casualties, sparking public outrage and security concerns. Pakistan had an unparalleled surge in terrorism at home, which led to the implementation of massive military campaigns like operations Rah-e-Nijat, Zarb-e-Azb, and Radd-ul-Fasaad to quell the insurgencies. These actions weakened insurgent networks and led to social and economic upheavals in the country. The research article concludes that how Pakistan's early geopolitical significance was consolidated by its alliance with the West. However, the concurrent events of countering the Afghanistan dilemma and the unceasing US reliability culminated in a complicated legacy of impediments that still haunt Pakistan’s internal and external affairs.