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ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON —Pakistan's military is increasingly issuing warnings about what it calls "digital terrorism," a poorly defined term that some rights activists fear can be applied to anyone who posts criticism of the military online.
Pakistani General Asim Munir, chief of army staff, recently warned that digital terrorism was being used to spread "anarchy and false information" against the armed forces. On Pakistan's 77th Independence Day at the Pakistan Military Academy in Abbottabad earlier in August, the top general said, digital terrorism aims to divide state institutions and citizens.
The general did not try to differentiate between political opponents of the military who believe it should play a smaller role in the country's civilian government, versus insurgent separatist groups in places like Balochistan that have battled the army for years. Nor did he identify any individuals, groups or parties as leaders of what he called a "digital terrorism campaign."
Pakistan has seen a surge of online political activism since former Prime Minister Imran Khan's fall from power in 2022. Many online campaigns have argued against the military's presumed involvement in politics and its role in framing foreign policy.
In a news conference earlier this month, army spokesman Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that not enough steps were being taken against what he called digital terrorism and warned that legal action would be taken against those involved.
Reaction from rights activists
Haroon Baloch, a Pakistani digital rights activist and researcher, said digital terrorism is a term that isn't clearly defined and is used vaguely by the army.
"The government is using this term as a tool to control online speech and silence those who criticize the government, instead of dealing with real terrorist threats," Baloch said in an interview with VOA.
But Haq Nawaz Khan, a Peshawar-based journalist who covers issues on Pakistan and Afghanistan, says that while both digital and real-world terrorism pose threats, focusing on digital issues could distract troops from fighting terrorism on the ground. The actual terror groups need immediate attention, he says.
Salma Gul, a history student at the University of Peshawar, told VOA that digital terrorism "is not a word in Pakistan's legal framework. It is an unfamiliar term coined by the army to attack those who raise their voices. In my opinion, I could not speak the truth now. This clearly restricts my freedom of speech."
She believes institutions should not be defamed, but they can be openly criticized.
Others say that online criticism of the military has become too extreme, with online posts mocking the country's army leadership.
"The Pakistani army chief's picture has been shared on social media with inappropriate words, which gives the government a reason to restrict social media usage in the country," said Anis Qureshi, an expert on Pakistani digital rights.
Prelude to a firewall?
Internet users in Pakistan have reported slow broadband speeds for the past several weeks. The problem has affected millions of users, disrupted businesses and drawn nationwide complaints.
Technology experts say a recently installed internet firewall could give the government more power to block access to social media, websites and messenger platforms. Many have likened it to China's famous internet firewall that gives Beijing near total power to censor and restrict communications.
Pakistani authorities have denied allegations that a national firewall has been slowing down internet speeds. Last week, Pakistan's minister for information technology told local media that the government is not responsible for the internet slowdown.
Terror attacks continue
As the military has publicly focused more on combating online criticism in recent weeks, it has faced increased militant attacks on security forces and government installations.
On Monday, militants' attacks on police stations, railway networks and highways in the restive provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan killed more than 70 people, including 14 security personnel.
In the tribal areas and districts with high militant activity, Pakistani law enforcement agencies and the military have intensified counterterrorism operations. The surge in terrorism increased after the U.S. withdrawal from neighboring Afghanistan in 2021 and the Taliban's takeover in Kabul.