WAR ON TERROR

Pakistan's War on Terror
The "War on Terrorism" (also known as the War on Terror, or Terror Wars) is a campaign initiated by the USA and joined by other countries around the world specially Pakistan, which includes various military, political, legal, religious, and personal actions taken to "curb the spread of terrorism," following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. The War on Terrorism was authorized by the United States Congress under the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists passed on September 18, 2001.




Due to the perceived disingenuous nature of the phrase, many non-U.S. media have taken to referring to it as the "so-called War on Terror". It also has been referred to as the "Global War on Terrorism (GWOT)", the "Global Struggle Against Violent Extremism (GSAVE)" and the "Long War" by U.S. authorities. Both the phrase “War on Terrorism” and the policies it denotes have been a source of ongoing controversy, as critics argue they have been used to justify unilateral preemptive war, perpetual war, human rights abuses, and other violations of international law. The Washington Post recently reported that the term may have been a "bumper sticker statement" used to rally public support for the war among the American public.


Terrorist organizations carried out attacks on the U.S. and its allies throughout the later part of the 20th century, prompting occasional military responses. Following the 1998 embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, United States President Bill Clinton launched Operation Infinite Reach, a bombing campaign in Sudan and Afghanistan against targets associated with al-Qaeda. In October of 2000 the USS Cole bombing occurred, followed by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The latter attacks created an immediate demand throughout the United States for a response.

The first aspects of the campaign came in the freezing of assets terrorist organizations and associated groups. The United Nations Security Council also adopted United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373 which obliges all States to criminalize assistance for terrorist activities, deny financial support and safe haven to terrorists and share information about groups planning terrorist attacks. NATO began Operation Active Endeavour on October 4th, which stepped up security checks in the Mediterranean. After the Taliban rejected an ultimatum to turn over the al-Qaeda operatives in Afghanistan, the United States and NATO allies began airstrikes against Taliban and al-Qaeda targets on October 7, 2001. The Afghan Northern Alliance and allied militia, aided by elements of the United States Special forces, began a ground offensive that succeeded in capturing most of Afghanistan by early 2002. While operations continued in Afghanistan, the campaign was expanded into the Philippines, where United States Special Forces assisted the Philippine army against elements of al-Qaeda, Jemaah Islamiyah, and Abu Sayyaf. It was expanded further into the Horn of Africa, where NATO allies began training Ethiopian and Djiboutian armed forces in anti-terrorism and counter-insurgency methods.