Understanding the terrorism dynamics and preparedness in the metropolitans of Pakistan

Abstract

Urban terrorism has become a significant concern in cities worldwide, as they are centers of economic and socio-political activity. A bibliometric review was conducted, including historical background, author keywords, country and institution, citation, and co-citation analyses. The number of studies on urban terrorism significantly increased after the 9/11 attacks in the United States, which accounted for the highest number of publications. Most of the studies were conducted in the fields of government law, international relations, and urban studies. Keyword analysis showed that counterterrorism, security, and disasters were more closely linked to terrorism than political violence, insurgency, and emergency management on an urban scale. Thematic analysis identified six main themes related to urban spaces and terrorism: tourism, governance, resilience, public health, economy, security, and counterterrorism. This study also aims to assess terrorist risk perception in five Pakistani metropolitan areas: Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Multan. The factors influencing risk perception also differed among the communities, illustrating geographical heterogeneity. Karachi and Peshawar have experienced direct terrorist attacks in the past and tend to exhibit elevated levels of terrorism risk perception. Continuous ethnic tensions made terrorism a more imminent risk. The public's view of terrorism in the media shapes individuals' opinion of the threat in regions like Multan which has a substantial amount of risk despite having a lower number of violent incidents as compared to other cities in the study. Furthermore, it explores the vulnerability in the same cities for Capacity-building initiatives. Multan has the highest number of respondents who haven’t faced any terrorist activity and have first aid training and awareness/drill attended. Lahore has more than any city with people who are covered with insurance. On the other hand, Peshawar has the most understanding of emergency protocols and a high inclination for special arrangements in case of a terrorist attack. Lahore and Multan show higher trust in communication between the government and the public. A majority of the people in Karachi live near some govt/security installation and medical/ health care facility, while respondents in Multan show they are in the vicinity of an education or religious center. The results of this study may assist in comprehending the perception of terrorist risk and its factors, to formulate effective methods for risk communication and mitigation. Furthermore, this research might contribute to the comprehension of multidimensional terrorist risk and its regional patterns. Capacity building in terms of security and on the grassroots level will help elevate trust in government and facilitate good governance.