Strengthening Pakistan’s Counter-Terrorism Framework: Lessons from Punjab

Abstract

Pakistan’s battle against terrorism is undermined by uneven capabilities across its Counter-Terrorism Departments (CTDs) and an ill-prepared police force. Punjab’s CTD shines as a success story, while other provinces falter, and regular police lack critical counter-terrorism (CT) training. Drawing on government reports, academic research, and recent security data, this article proposes two urgent reforms: standardizing all CTDs to Punjab’s model and embedding CT training in police promotion courses. These steps are vital to confront Pakistan’s escalating terrorist threat.