The recent takeover of Afghanistan by Afghan Taliban will certainly affect Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other extremists in Pakistan. The TTP is fully operational across Pak-Afghan border and along with Daesh, they are carrying out terrorist activities in Pakistan.
Pakistan has been going through
unfortunate phases in its history because of many factors. I had been warning
about the growing extremism in Pakistan as it has roots in Jihad during the war
between the then Soviet Union and Afghanistan. Here is an extract of my speech
as then minister of interior and it is valid even today and fits both on
Pakistan and Afghanistan.
“Pakistan had brought down the
frequency of suicide bombings and extremism in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region
which started "when we decided to take part in Jihad" during the war
between the erstwhile Soviet Union and Afghanistan. Thousands of Jihadist
landed in Pakistan to fight the Soviet Union and were left with nothing to do
after the war. It saw the evolution of Taliban and extremism spreading. There
were 300 madaris in the region when the war ended. The number reached to 23,000
when the PPP government came to power in Pakistan.
All madaris were not involved in
terrorism, but there was an effort to brainwash those studying in them.
Religion and poverty were exploited. Children were recruited for Rs
15,000-20,000 and were indoctrinated to act as suicide bombers. Thanks to our
forces, who have been able to handle them well and the frequency of suicide
bombers reduced in Pakistan. I had also stated that organisations like
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan had splinter groups. Pakistan faced one of the worst
times of its history with the rise of extremism, particularly in the Muslim
majority countries, and was being spread by those with some "vested
motives". We need a de-radicalisation programme. I am a very strong
advocate of interfaith harmony as if there is a confrontation on basis of
religion, there will be clash of civilisations. The phase one of radicalisation
started when we allowed proxy wars from our county and the race of madaris was
launched by various religious schools of thought among which some were
supported by Libya and some by Saudi Arabia and the other by Iran.
The extremism emerged from some of
the madaris. Both Taliban's strong factions are educated from a madrassa in
Akora Khattak where the students are taught a certain syllabus.
I as interior minister had made all the factions agreed on one syllabus and it was placed before the highest body of the National Action Plan. But, this agreement is not yet implemented despite having full agreements and consensus by all the political parties and schools of thought. This shows our non-serious national attitudes towards reducing radicalization.
The agreement was signed by me as
the interior minister, Mufti Munib-ur-Rahman, General Secretary Ittehad
Tanzeemal Madaris, Qari Muhammad Hanif Jalandhri, General Secretary
Widaq-ul-Madaris-al-Arabia, Pakistan, Dr Yasin Zafat, Deputy General Secretary
Wifaq-ul-Madris Al-Salfia, Pakistan, Maulana Abdul Malik, President
Rabita-tul-Madaris-ul-Islamia, Pakistan and Maulana Niyaz Hussain Naqvi. Sanior
Vice President Wafaq-ul-Madris Al-Shia, Pakistan.
I wish if this was converted into
legislation and we would have some regulatory control to make our education
system help us enhance the inter-factions religious harmony in our country.
National interests are now a second
priority and we are a country in the Muslim world where religion and
administration go parallel and the result is very much clear now. Afghanistan
takeover by the Taliban will encourage some religious factions to have a closed
ideology with the Afghan Taliban and Pakistani Taliban (TTP). The infection of
radicalisation from Daesh and Taliban is bound to travel, spread and infect a
part of the young generation especially from madaris. The worst effects will be
on ex-FATA and Balochistan where India and the western powers have already
created pockets to destabilise Pakistan. Radicalisation is going on and it
could prove highly detrimental for the country.
There will be an attempt to enhance the demand for Sharia laws. The government must keep a counter-strategy to deal with the situation.
Are we going to have an
international and local-level interfaith harmony to end hate within the
religions? Author note: The views expressed are solely mine and do not
necessarily represent the views of my party.
The article was published in The News on September 14, 2021, link to the original article is... https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/892178-radicalisation-vs-international-extremism
and Daily Jang Urdu.. https://e.jang.com.pk/09-14-2021/pindi/pic.asp?picname=03_01.png
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