Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad (; ) is a codename of a combined military operation by the Pakistani military in support of local law enforcement agencies to disarm and eliminate the terrorist sleeper cells across all states of Pakistan, started on 22 February 2017. The operation is aimed to eliminate the threat of terrorism, and consolidating the gains of Operation Zarb-e-Azb which was launched in 2014 as a joint military offensive. It is further aimed at ensuring the security of Pakistan's borders. The operation is ongoing active participation from Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Police and other Warfare and Civil Armed Forces managed under the Government of Pakistan. More than 375,000 operations have been carried out against terrorists so far. This Operation has been mostly acknowledged after Operation Zarb e Azb.
Pakistan had faced the worst brunt of terrorism due to its proximity to the all-time unstable Afghanistan and radicalization injected into the region since the Afghan-Russo war of 1979. Offering our land to host global Jihadism in the 80s changed the social fabric, resulting in a massive onslaught of terrorism that Pakistan had gone through since then. The pinnacle of infusion of venom by the multi-headed serpent of radicalization and terrorism was the era of 2006-2014. Pakistan Army fought terrorism gallantry and became the only army in the world that defeated terrorism without external help through several military operations, the biggest such operation was "Operation Zarb-e-Azb" which was started in June 2014. This operation successfully eliminated terrorist hideouts, nurseries, and breeding grounds in urban as well as far-flung areas. However, Pakistan could not be left without placing a mechanism that could ensure continuity and sustainability in anti-terrorism efforts to consolidate the gains we had achieved through Operation Zarb-e-Azb. At that time the change of command in the Pakistan Army was crucial and after the retirement of the then COAS Gen Raheel Sharif, everybody who had been covering operations against terrorism understood that the long-lasting success of Operation Zarb-e-Azb was depending upon an Army leadership that could manage the rehabilitation of internally displaced people in our erstwhile Federally Administrative Tribal Areas (FATA areas), Swat Valley and all other Afghan bordering areas.
The operation entailed the conduct of Broad Spectrum Security (Counter Terrorism) operations by Rangers in Punjab, continuation of ongoing operations across the country and focus on more effective border security management. Countrywide disarmament and explosive control were also given as additional objectives of the operation. The National Action Plan was pursued as the hallmark of this operation.
Etymologies
Radd-ul-Fasaad () literally means "elimination of strife". Radd means "rejection". Fasaad is synonymous to the Arabic word Fitna which means "civil strife".
Background
In the month of February 2017, the terrorist group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar launched Operation Ghazi with several suicide attacks across Pakistan. According to media, Jammat-ul-Ahrar claimed the responsibility of these terror attacks, this operation reduced after the death of Abdul Rashid Ghazi, who was shot dead by Pakistan army in Lal Masjid during Operation Sunrise. After this, many other terrorist groups started terrorist attacks often across all over Pakistan, quickly Pakistan announced the launch of Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad. On the 4th Anniversary of the Operation, a Database was launched on 22 February 2021, covering all news of terrorism, operations, killings during this Operation.
Operation Sunrise
Army Operation
Terrorists retaliation
In July 2007, a series of suicide bombings took place across Pakistan in the aftermath of the Lal Masjid siege which resulted in an end to the 10-month truce held by the Waziristan Accord. At least 154 people were killed and more than 230 others were injured in the suicide attacks.
Pakistan Retaliation
In reaction to these attacks Pakistan started the war against all the militant groups across Pakistan which turned into Insurgency in Balochistan, Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sectarian Violence.
Operation Ghazi
Operation Ghazi was the codename of the terrorist operation launched by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar with several other terrorist groups to get revenge on death of Abdul Rashid Ghazi by launching mass terrorist attacks across Pakistan. Although, Pakistan managed to defeat Jamaat-ul-Ahrar in Operation Ghazi but many other terrorist groups were already spread across all states and launched many mass terror attacks.