2. Extremism
Importance of Addressing Extremism in South Asia
Historical Context of Extremism in South Asia
Overview & Genesis of Extremist groups in South Asia
Counterterrorism strategies implemented by Pakistan
Law Enforcement Initiatives by Pakistan
Pakistan's International Collaborations and Partnerships to
counter Extremism
Diplomatic Approaches to Address Regional Extremism
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3. Definition / Concept of Extremism:
Extremism involves holding and promoting extreme views or beliefs,
often leading to actions that challenge established norms.
A usually religious movement or point of view characterized by a
return to a fundamental principles, by rigid adherence to those
principles and often by intolerance to others views. It amounts to
taking an extreme view.
Islam is a religion of moderation and does not advocate
extremism.
Extremism can take many forms i.e., religious extremism,
sectarian extremism, ethno-lingual extremism.
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4. Illiteracy / lack of education / knowledge.
Brainwashing i.e., suicide terrorists and hate mongers. In addition
to the enemy intelligence networks, own madaris and religious
leaders played a negative role in nurturing extremism.
Faulty Systems : Political instability and lack of justice.
Lack of Law Enforcement encourages the extremism to grow.
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5. Drones / NATO: Drone warfare in Afghanistan as well as inside Pakistan created
hatred against the state and development of extremist ideology in South Asia.
Similarly, killing of Muslims cold bloodedly in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Afghanistan and
Palestine gave impetus to extremism and hatred.
Lack of Confidence on the state to protect the citizens i.e. killing of innocent
citizens in a collateral damage, incidents like Dr Aafia Siddiqui and Raymond
Davis etc.
Unemployed youth can turn into extremist crowds.
Socio-economic disparities and social injustices.
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6. Geopolitical significance of South Asia and dynamics of extremism
Diversity in cultures, religions and political landscape
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9. Unresolved disputes i.e.,
IIOJ&K and long struggle by
Kashmiris. Consequent
abrogation of Article 370 &
35A.
Role of religious and political
ideologies. Hindu extremism,
Hindutva, Bande Matrem and
hate ideologies….
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10. Ethnic divisions and external forces i.e., Sri Lankan insurgency with
horrendous episode of extremism and terrorism, Talibanization to
serve US interests in the Soviet-Afghan war (drug and kalashinkove
culture), 20 years long war of US in Afghanistan which gave birth to
the extremist ideology and extremist groups i.e., ISIS, Al Qaeda,
host of extremist/terrorist organizations.
Influence of historical grievances.
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11. Socioeconomic factors. (Insurgencies have one thing in common i.e.,
exploitation of marginalized factions against the state by the external
forces. Proxies in Pakistan and situation in Afghanistan).
Political instability. Political instability worsens the law and order situation
in the country which is exploited by the forces inimical.
Influence of global trends i.e., rise of terrorism as a buzzword associating
extremism with Islam.
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12. RSS and Hindu extremism. Though Indian and Western media
propagates against Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and
others due to their hold on the media and vested interests.
The goals, ideology, and activities of RSS, TPP, BLA, BRA etc are
political in nature.
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13. Military Operations Against Extremist Strongholds:
Examples of significant military operations i.e., Zarb e Azab, Raah e
Raast and Raah e Nijaat in tribal areas of Pakistan and Swat.
Successes and challenges. Military operation to follow the Political
Prong but unfortunately there are issues.
Intelligence-Driven Operations:
Role of intelligence agencies.
Coordinated efforts to gather and analyse intelligence.
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14. Legal Frameworks and Legislative Measures:
Anti-terrorism laws and their implementation.
The balance between security and human rights.
NACTA in Pakistan.
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15. Law Enforcement Initiatives by Pakistan
Role and Contributions of Law Enforcement Agencies:
Contributions of police and paramilitary forces.
Challenges faced by law enforcement.
Community Policing and Engagement:
Building trust and cooperation within communities.
Community-led initiatives to counter radicalization.
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16. Sabaoon Deradicalization Programme in Swat: In response to the challenges
posed by radicalization and extremism, Pakistan has implemented various
initiatives to rehabilitate individuals influenced by extremist ideologies. One
notable program in this regard was "Sabaoon." which translates to "morning
light" in Urdu, was a deradicalization and rehabilitation center that has
garnered attention for its innovative and holistic approach.
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17. Holistic Rehabilitation: Sabaoon adopted a comprehensive approach, addressing
not only the ideological aspects but also focusing on psychological, educational, and
vocational aspects of rehabilitation. The goal is to reintegrate individuals into
mainstream society as productive and responsible citizens.
Counselling and Psycho-Social Support: The center provides counselling services
and psycho-social support to individuals undergoing the deradicalization process.
Trained psychologists and counsellors work closely with participants to address
underlying issues and contribute to their mental well-being.
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18. Educational and Vocational Training: Recognizing the importance of education
and skills development, Sabaoon offered educational programs and vocational
training. Participants were equipped with practical skills, enhancing their
prospects for employment and contributing to a positive future.
Family Engagement: Sabaoon placed significant emphasis on involving the
families of individuals undergoing deradicalization. Family support was
considered crucial for the successful reintegration of individuals into society, and
programs are designed to strengthen familial bonds.
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19. Religious Counseling: Acknowledging the religious dimension of radicalization,
Sabaoon incorporates religious counseling to address distorted interpretations
of religious doctrines. The aim is to promote a more tolerant and moderate
understanding of Islam.
Community Reintegration: Beyond individual rehabilitation, Sabaoon
recognizes the importance of reintegrating participants into their communities.
Community awareness programs are conducted to foster understanding and
acceptance, reducing the stigma associated with individuals who have
undergone deradicalization.
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20. Bilateral and Multilateral Collaborations:
Partnerships with key countries in the fight against extremism.
Involvement in international organizations and forums.
Role in Regional and International Counter-Terrorism Forums:
Participation in forums like SAARC, SCO, and others.
Sharing experiences and best practices.
Sharing Intelligence and Best Practices:
Examples of successful intelligence sharing.
Collaborative efforts to combat cross-border terrorism.
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21. Regional Cooperation and Dialogue:
Multilateral Forums: Encourage active participation in regional
organizations like SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation)
to facilitate open dialogues and collaboration on shared security concerns.
Counter-Terrorism Cooperation: Promote regional initiatives for
intelligence-sharing, joint military exercises, and coordinated efforts to
combat cross-border terrorism.
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22. Confidence-Building Measures:
Track II Diplomacy: Facilitate non-governmental dialogues, academic
exchanges, and cultural programs to build people-to-people connections
and foster understanding among diverse communities.
Cross-Border Initiatives: Encourage confidence-building measures such as
joint economic projects, educational collaborations, and cultural exchanges
to promote mutual trust.
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23. Addressing Root Causes:
Social and Economic Development: Work collaboratively to address socio-
economic disparities and promote inclusive development to counter the
conditions that may contribute to radicalization.
Conflict Resolution: Engage in diplomatic efforts to resolve historical and
territorial disputes that contribute to regional tensions and may be exploited
by extremist groups.
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24. Capacity Building and Training:
Law Enforcement Collaboration: Facilitate collaborative training
programs for law enforcement agencies to enhance their capabilities
in counter-terrorism operations, intelligence sharing, and border
security.
Judicial Cooperation: Strengthen judicial cooperation through
agreements that facilitate the extradition of individuals involved in
extremist activities.
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25. International Mediation and Facilitation:
International Organizations: Seek support and mediation
from international organizations, such as the United Nations, to
facilitate diplomatic processes and conflict resolution.
Third-Party Mediation: Explore the possibility of third-party
mediation from neutral countries or international organizations
to address longstanding disputes and conflicts.
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26. Deradicalization and Rehabilitation Collaboration:
Information Sharing: Establish mechanisms for sharing
information on deradicalization programs and best practices
among South Asian countries.
Collaborative Research: Encourage joint research initiatives
on the drivers of radicalization and the effectiveness of different
deradicalization strategies.
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27. Counter Financing and Counter Propaganda:
Financial Cooperation: Strengthen cooperation to track and curb the
financing of extremist groups through coordinated efforts in
monitoring financial transactions.
Cyber Diplomacy: Collaborate on countering online radicalization
through joint efforts to monitor and counter extremist propaganda
on social media and other online platforms.
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28. Humanitarian Assistance:
Joint Humanitarian Efforts: Collaborate on providing humanitarian
assistance to areas affected by conflict and extremism, addressing the
humanitarian fallout that can contribute to radicalization.
By adopting the adroit diplomatic approaches, South Asian nations can
work together to create a more stable and secure region, mitigating the
factors that contribute to extremism.
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29. Some Quranic verses that illustrate this point:
“We made you to be a community of the middle way, so
that (with the example of your lives) you might bear
witness to the truth before all mankind.” (Qur’an, 2:143)
“There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is
henceforth distinct from error.” (Qur’an, 2:256)
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30. Some Quranic verses that illustrate this point:
“And do not kill yourselves. Surely, God is Most Merciful to you. And
whoever commits that through aggression and injustice, We shall cast
him into Fire, and that is easy for God.” (Qur’an, 4:29-30)
“And do not transgress. Indeed, God does not like transgressors.”
(Qur’an, 2:190)
“And do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be
just; that is nearer to righteousness.” (Qur’an, 5:8)
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