Causes of Terrorism in Pakistan

Terrorism is not a new phenomenon. Its roots can be traced back to the beginning of recorded history. Terrorism, a scourge and a menace that has shaken the very basis of modern world, is essentially an outcome of a lot of things. It’s like a punishment to a nation for no sins of its own, but of its leaders and decision-makers. Terrorism is a hydra’ a many-headed evil’ that has devastated almost every sphere of Pakistani society. Nevertheless, where it tends to be a challenge, it is an opportunity, as well, to achieve national cohesion while curbing this menace.

 

In Pakistan, unfortunately, the cancer of terrorism, metastasized into every nook and cranny of the country, has rocked the very foundation of Pakistan. Though, there are numerous causes of terrorism, some multidimensional of them are discussed below:

Various scholars and analysts hold some madaris (seminaries) responsible for spreading terrorism. It is an indubitable fact that these madaris have remained an integral part of our education system since long and their services to the nation cannot be denied, yet a handful of radical clerics turned these religious institutions into ‘jihadi madaris’ with an aim to counter the Red Revolution of Communism. These very people and madaris are responsible for unabated terrorism in Pakistan. These ‘jehadi madaris’ have become our Frankenstein’s monster; we had let them thrive, one way or the other, and now they persistently haunt us and we are ruing the blunders committed by those at the helm of affairs of country. It is as clear as crystal that these madaris and their patrons were heavily funded by the US in Russo-Afghan War that culminated into the dismemberment of the once mighty USSR. Recently former United States National Security Advisor, Zbigniew Brzezinski, admitted in an interview:

‘We have influenced the students in these madaris and we provided the financial assistance to them.’

Secondly, the anti-Islam policy adopted by the West is also equally responsible for the unending terrorism in Pakistan. The Europeans and the Americans consider themselves superior to other nations and deem themselves as the most civilized people on earth. Compelled by this in-built chauvinistic attitude, they tend to impose their own ideas on all other nations of the world, especially Muslims which results in wide spread of anti-US sentiments. In addition, the America’s wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have also been instrumental in the rise of a never-ending wave of terrorism. Former US president George W. Bush had termed these wars as ‘the start of new crusades’. So, the terrorists retaliate through suicide bombing and various other tactics as they have no other weapon or tool to vent their anger. Samuel P. Huntington has rightly said:

‘Terrorism is the weapon of weak against the stronger.’

Third major cause, rather a catalyst, of terrorism in Pakistan is poverty. If the people are prosperous and they do get the basic amenities at their doorstep, then they will be inclined towards good and healthy activities. But, in our case, people are deprived of their rights, so in retaliation, they resort to wrongs to get their rights. A recent report suggests that 25% Pakistanis live below the poverty line. This makes this downtrodden segment vulnerable to terrorist outfits which, in turn, use them as human bombs to get the state kneel down. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said:

‘Extreme poverty can lead people to ‘kufr’

It’s a universal fact that education is the most important tool for the development, prosperity and stability of a country. But, regrettably, only 56% Pakistanis can be termed as ‘literate’. Illiterate youths become an easy prey to the terrorist organizations and thus new blood enters this world of heinous crimes against humanity.

The wrong interpretation of Islamic teachings by some bigots is also adding fuel to the fire. Many so-called religious scholars, or more rightly the mullahs, try to mould the Islamic precepts in their favour. In this way, they not only distort Islam, the religion of peace, but they also inculcate extremist doctrines into the simpleton people of our society. But, Islam never permits taking the lives of innocents. The Quran says:

‘whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land – it is as if he had slain mankind entirely’                         (Al Nisa: 32)
Besides the abovementioned causes, the drone attacks by the US are also fuelling the flames of terrorism. Those who survive such an attack or the relatives of victims, in a bid to take revenge, resort to activities which amount to terrorist. For instance, a 14-year-old would be suicide bomber was arrested in Peshawar recently. He revealed that he wanted to avenge his father’s death in a drone attack.

On the other hand, the lacunae in the antiterrorism policies and faulty prosecution also help terrorists go on with their nefarious designs. Many terrorists have gone scot free because of lack of evidence against them. Moreover, the Antiterrorism Act has clauses for the punishment in absentia. If an accused is absconding, the only procedure that can be initiated is to declare him only an offender just evading the law; under the section of 512 of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
In statecraft, it is believed that the public opinion is the most necessary tool to achieve the biggest targets. Unluckily, many people in our society have soft corner for the terrorists. They deem the notorious demands of the terrorists as true and fair.

Furthermore, the element of foreign hand can also not be ruled out. We have antagonistic relations with India and Afghanistan. Both countries perpetrate the terrorism inside Pakistan. Our good relations with these neighbourly nations would help eradicate this menace.

Publication and dissemination of hate material through mass media is also a major cause of terrorism in Pakistan. The terrorists use social media and FM radios as their devices to spread their message and ideology. By using the mass media, the culprits sow the seeds of sectarianism and terrorism. Moreover, there is availability of hate materials in bazaars such as CDs, DVDs, etc.

From the above discussion, it can be safely deduced that terrorism in Pakistan is the culmination of follies committed by our policymaker. Its roots go deep into the soil of Kashmir and Afghanistan issues. To stem the tide of militancy and terrorism, the security establishment, government, civil society, media and academia must work in tandem at all levels. Eliminating terrorism and terrorists from Pakistan is the cry of the day. If we do not act now, then the things would go out of control and the dream of Iqbal and that of Quaid to make Pakistan an Islamic welfare state would remain elusive.

By:Muhammad Arif Khan