At present the one gravest problem the world faces is terrorism. It has become a headache for federation and a nightmare for public. Though, it is a global issue, but Afghanistan and Pakistan have beared the brunt of it. Afghanistan and international communities’ waged war against insurgents sparked the fire of terrorism. We are facing war like situation against the terrorists. This daunting situation is caused due to several factors. A handful of people who have their vicious interests to fulfill have not only taken countless innocent lives. Terrorist acts like suicide bombings have become a norm of the day. On account of these attacks, Afghanistan is suffering from ineffaceable loss ranging from civilian to economic. Terrorists have not spared any place. Bazaars, mosques, educational institutes, offices, hotels, roadside no place are safe anymore.

With every advancing day the world becomes more insecure to live in, due to heightened terrorism and extremism. It is witnessed that greater emphasis is laid over dismantling terrorists whilst ignoring the rich breeding ground serving the foundation to terrorism. The governments have devised counterterrorism policies that have rendered dysfunctional entailing ways of tackling terrorists, not terrorism.

It is generally noticed the extremists’ literatures taught in religious seminaries, are serving the root cause of extremism resulting in terrorism. The seminaries operating unchecked across the length of Afghanistan and Pakistan are fertile grounds for spreading extremism. Given the words extremism and terrorism are coined with violence and bloodshed, hence are always associated with the Taliban and Al-Qaida. The blatant attacks launched every alternate day against innocent civilians, journalist’s foreign diplomats and public officials are executed by these groups, the loud vociferous claims testify.

Both Afghanistan and Pakistan are passing through a deteriorated state of insecurity. Every aspect of socioeconomic and political endeavor is worst affected by irreversibly growing militancy and insurgency. Still a great degree of soft standardization is shown by some faction in the two countries for such elements.

It is said that Pak-Afghan border has turned into safe havens for terrorists where they undertake militant practices and plot attacks on different governmental installations and public places, hence create law and order problems. The porous border has turned the bone of discontent between Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is said that Al-Qaida affiliates are gathering in border region and carry out consecutive attacks at important sites.
Formerly the US’s State Department in its annual report pertaining countries affected by terrorism unearthed several strategic drawbacks. The report claimed that al Qaeda’s core group in Afghanistan and Pakistan has been “seriously degraded”, but the group’s global leadership continues to operate from a safe haven in the region. The report claims Al-Qaida enjoys good ties with Haqani network (HQN) and Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and effectively communicates with organizations outside Asia which might turn ominous. Afghanistan is continuing to experience aggressive and coordinated attacks by the Afghan Taliban, HQN, and other insurgents and terrorist groups, the report reads.

Nevertheless the report accredits a certain degree of trust on the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) which now provides security across all of Afghanistan as the transition to full Afghan leadership on security continues in anticipation of the 2014 drawdown of US and Coalition Forces (CF).

Undoubtedly, the report underlined the core of problems, but didn’t highlight the causes of problems. It is highly required from both international community and terrorism hit Afghanistan and Pakistan, imbibe the breeding dynamics and motivational factors inducing terrorism and extremism than mere combating terrorism.

Deteriorating security condition, escalating insurgency, militancy, Talibanization and worsening state of law and order are the immediate common issues; Afghanistan and Pakistan are passing through these days. The troubled relationship Pakistan experiences with Afghanistan on its eastern border, though are related with decade long distaste between them, yet serve none interests. The neighbors must learn it that “friends can be changed not neighbors”.

The consecutive successful terror plots undertaken by insurgents and militants depict the degree of strength they have acquired over the length of time. Pakistan is presently passing through the mirage of problems. One of them is irreversible growth of insurgency, terrorism and Talibanization. In both the states majority if not all terror plots is claimed by Taliban whilst proposing table talk, too.

One of the bold steps needed to be taken towards normalized relation, includes dismantling the safe havens of terrorists –anybody found extending moral, political or economical support to a terrorist or a group must be taken into custody and tried for terrorist acts. Bringing the latest technology into use all the clandestine means the terrorist draw financial backing must be uncovered and curtailed. The terrorists willingly joining peace process and giving up their former malicious activities should be given vocational training and economic incentives.

Confidentially stating, adoption of diplomatic means and force are the two permissive means that let Afghanistan and Pakistan ultimately counter terrorism. The diplomatic means can be put into action given the terrorists mould them in accordance to the constitution of the country and turn a law abiding citizens. Provided the terrorists abandon terrorism and bloodshed and transform their militant power into political strength exercised within the jurisdiction of constitutional provisions, should be ensured legal safeguards. The rotten image democracy, in Muslim countries created in their minds has darkened the gloomy picture and increased the trust deficit – it might not persuade them withdraw their old practiced activities and join a peaceful democratic struggle instead. The government and the political parities having surrendered to their condition to talks might owe a solution demanding a heavy price of constitutional aversion, is not practically acceptable. Consequently, there seems a little chance the table talk succeeds, provided the divergent agenda the government and Taliban owe hardly coincide each other.

The other only option left with parallel progression of diplomatic channel is the relentless use of force. The first step to move ahead involves a loud unanimous condemnation of terrorism and terrorist activities by citing Quranic verses supporting this purpose.