SIKANDAR NOORANI
The word terrorism does not sound unfamiliar to ears due to its frequent use in discussions revolving around regional or global security at various forums. Ironically, constant terrorism labeling of Islamic world by Western quarters amid 9/11 attacks has left very less space for the Muslim representatives for objective debate to plead their case. Active existence of banned or designated terrorist organizations like Al-Qaida, Daesh, ISKP, Al-Shabab and TTP radiates an undesirable impression of deeply creeping extremism in various parts of the Muslim world. Prima facie, it seems hard to counter the prevailing impression of growing radicalization in Muslim countries.
Sane minds rather true believers of Islam, which in fact are in majority, feel discomfort with such generalized and persistent demonization of their faith. Facts are different and largely vice versa to the existing negative optics about radicalization of Muslim societies vis a vis growing ingress of terrorist groups in these societies. It would not be a wrong statement that the Muslim world has been actually the victim of terrorism. Extremist groups believing in brutal violent methodology have been causing multidimensional damages to the right very societies and communities for the well-being of whom they falsely dedicate their blood-soaked struggle.
Iran, Syria, Libya Yemen, Afghanistan and to a great extent Pakistan have confronted the horrific demons of terrorism with varying degree of intensity. Pakistan is the only country among the victim states which successfully countered the menace of terrorism. Lead role and historic sacrifices of armed forces enabled Pakistan in beating back the terrorists of various brands. Unlike Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq and Libya; armed forces of Pakistan effectively stopped the wider debacle and restored the writ of state wherever it was challenged by the shadowy terrorist groups. Despite hard earned successes; the war against terrorism is not yet over for Pakistan. Evolving nature of threat and complicated geo-political environment demands regular rehashing of counter terrorism strategy.
This important exercise is not possible without analytical insight about the exploitative ways of terrorist organizations. Zeroing in is must to explore the answers of some fundamental questions. How does the terrorist organizations function? How these organizations manage to recruit the foot soldiers in bulk and lure in the youth for the most heinous nature of terrorist acts? Capability of surviving the odds of tough wars in rugged terrains against the regular standing armies speaks volumes about the preparedness level of terrorist groups. This factor alone is enough to understand the secretive foreign support to the banned outfits like Al-Qaeda, Daesh and TTP. Capacity of conducting terrorist attacks beyond the borders of respective homeland simply proves the extra-ordinary potential of terrorist outfits to endanger the regional peace. Support of global or regional players to such terrorist groups can be ascertained obviously out of devastating impact of terrorist attacks on the target societies.
Exploitation of long-standing miseries of collective nature is a common strategy among notoriously renowned terrorist groups. Sensitive issues of political nature having emotional religious impact are always on top of the playbook of terrorist groups. Strategy of igniting the religious fire out of pinching and deeply hurting issues swiftly enables the terrorist organizations in charming the sentimental immature youth. Long standing issues of Kashmir and Palestine are very relevant examples of this era. Plight of the Muslims in illegally Indian occupied Jammu Kashmir and the Palestine is a major source of anguish in the Muslim world. Prolonged inability of global players in solving these genuine issues has given birth to retaliatory sentiments in the Muslim societies. Regular hammering of emotional wake-up calls to the Muslims from religious quarters has been keeping the emotions at fire. Recent brutal Israeli bombing on Gaza is a case in point. Reportedly, terrorist outfits are actively exploiting the precarious situation for the brainwashing and recruitment purposes. Shadowy extremists master minds rely on glorification of misinterpreted twisted version of the Jihad to keep its foot soldiers glued with the terrorist groups.
Violent strategy has not yet delivered any good to the Muslim world as a whole. Self – styled out of context interpretations of theological concepts by firebrand demagogues eventually tarnished the image of the Muslims and portrayed the Islam as a violent code of life. Oppressed Muslims under Indian and Israeli occupation are striving for the freedom, fundamental human rights and due authority on their homeland. It is ironic that anyone out of the so-called Jihadi groups has never come up with a cogent strategy to ease out the miseries of the victims.
Their misconceived terrorism has always served the purpose of oppressors, weakened the case of the oppressors and pushed the Muslim world on back foot. Destabilized, poorly governed and polarized states always suit to the terrorist outfits. Most of the terrorist attacks of the TTP were directed against the armed forces and LEAs with the purpose of triggering the wide scale disorder. Banned terrorist groups like TTP, ISKP and Al-Qaeda negate the constitutional frame work of Pakistan. According to the constitution, Pakistan is an Islamic republic having Quran and Sunnah as the supreme law. Authentic religious scholars have unanimously decreed that any terrorist group picking up arms against the State of Pakistan would be considered as part of ‘Khawarij’.
