Since 9/11, Pakistan has been employing all means available to fight extremism and terrorism. The Pakistan security
forces have launched several military offensives in the tribal belt and across the country. The government has also utilized
the softer and non-kinetic approaches, such as National Action Plan 2014, to fight terrorism. By utilizing the official and
unofficial sources, this study aims to connect the non-military options and their effectiveness in dealing with violent
extremism and terrorism in Pakistan. This paper provides a comprehensive overview and assessment of Pakistan non-
military approaches in its counterterrorism policy. It finds that although Pakistan’s counterterrorism policy has made
some considerable gains in reducing the number and intensity of terrorist activities across the country, however, its fight
against extremism and terrorism is far from over. It argues that Pakistan requires a comprehensive counterterrorism
policy to gain victory in its fight against the menace of extremism and terrorism.
