Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad

Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad is a codename of a combined efforts by the Pakistani military in support of local law enforcement agencies to deweaponized and eliminate the hidden terrorist sleeper cells across the country on 22 February 2017. The operation is aimed at eliminating 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 will see active participation from Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Police and other Civil Armed Forces managed under the Ministry of Interior.

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 de-weaponisation 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 discord". 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. Under the general consensus by some "top notch" defense "analysts", army personnel and general public. According to media, Jammat-ul-Ahrar claimed the responsibility of these terror attacks and said this is the revenge of Abdul Rashid Ghazi's death who was shot dead by Pakistan army in Lal Masjid during Operation Sunrise. Soon Pakistan army's ISPR announced the launch of Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad.

February 2017 terror attacks

 * 1 February – Three security personnel and six civilians were injured on Tuesday when a roadside blast targeted a Frontier Corps convoy in Charsadda.
 * 6 February – At least two policemen were injured in a militant attack at Thana Mandan police station in Bannu


 * 7 February – Four people including two security men were injured in an explosion on Tuesday near a Levies check post in Chaman, a border town adjacent to Afghanistan.


 * 10 February – Five students were injured in a roadside bomb blast in Arang area of Bajaur Agency.


 * 10 February – At least one child was killed and four others injured when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) went off at Arang area.


 * 12 February – Samaa TV Journalist Taimoor Khan killed in an incident. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed the responsibility.


 * 12 February – Five security personnel were injured in a roadside bomb blast in Bajaur Agency's Mamond tehsil


 * 12 February – 3 FC Personnel killed in South Waziristan IED Explosion.


 * 13 February – A blast outside the provincial assembly in Lahore killed at least 14 people and injured more than 87 others.


 * 13 February – Two killed in Quetta IED blast.


 * 15 February – At least two people killed and seven others injured in a suicide blast in Peshawar's Hyatabad area.


 * 15 February – 5 People including 3 Levies personnel killed and Eight others were injured in a suicide attack in Mohmand Agency.


 * 15 February – Intelligence agency man shot dead in Nowshera firing.


 * 16 February – Three soldiers martyred, two injured in an IED explosion in Awaran.


 * 16 February – At least 88 people were killed and over 350 others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up in the Shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sehwan, 125 kilometers north of Jamshoro.


 * 16 February – Attack on police vehicle kills Five three were also injured.
 * 17 February Three Frontier Corps personnel were injured after militants from Afghanistan attacked a Pakistani border check post in Khyber Agency. The ISPR reported that some militants were killed during the exchange.


 * 19 February A cracker blast reported in Hyderabad's Naya pul leaving 15 passerby wounded.


 * 20 February Five hurt in Nadra firing incident in Quetta.


 * 21 February Three suicide bombers targeted a sessions court in Tangi, Charsadda District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing 6 people and injuring more than 20 others.


 * 21 February At least two people died while another was injured in a landmine blast in Dera Bughti.

February
On 23 February 2017, at least 45 suspects were arrested in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Joint operations were conducted in Westridge, Dhoke Hassu and Bakery Chowk area of Cantt. The Frontier Corps (FC) and intelligence agencies foiled a major terror plot near Loralai, Balochistan. The security forces recovered 23 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) during the joint targeted operation.

On 26 February 2017, the apex committee of Punjab decided to expedite ongoing operation against terrorists across the province. The ISPR said that at least four terrorists were killed and more than 600 suspects detained in over 200 raids conducted by the Rangers across Punjab. The raids were conducted in various parts of Punjab, including Karor, Layyah and Rawalpindi.

March
On 17 March 2017, at least three Pakistani soldiers and eight Taliban militants were killed when insurgents launched cross-border attacks on military training facilities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

April
On 14 April 2017, at least nine suspected Pakistani Taliban fighters and three soldiers were killed during a paramilitary raid in the Basti Dadwani area of Dera Ghazi Khan.

On 20 April 2017, eight suspected TTP militants were killed by CTD in an intelligence based operation (IBO) in Sheikhupura.

On 20 April 2017, five terrorists were killed and 11 apprehended during search and intelligence-based operations (IBO) carried out in different parts of the country during the last 24 hours.