Terrorists have frequently turned against their erstwhile sponsors
Failing to learn from their experience in Afghanistan, the US and Britain opted to support extremist groups to effect regime change in Syria. The Erdogan government in Turkey which wanted to be counted as a regional power also extended logistical and military support to extremist groups fighting Bashar al-Assad regime. The Saudi rulers meanwhile financed and armed the extremist sectarian outfits to overthrow the government. All these countries are paying heavily for their misadventures. As David Cameron put it, five Brits a week travel now to fight for the IS. Cameron is worried about ‘intolerant ideas’ creating a climate in Britain in which extremists flourish. The IS has made inroads in Saudi Arabia where 431 were arrested last week. The suicide attack by IS in a Turkish city killing 30 is being interpreted as the spillover of the Syrian war in Turkey.
This has lessons for Pakistan. First, feeding snakes in the hope that they will bite the adversary’s children only and spare one’s own, is an unrealistic policy. As Pakistan’s own experience shows, terrorists have frequently turned against their erstwhile sponsors. It is highly important to take action against terrorists without discrimination. Second, no campaign against terrorism can succeed if it is not accompanied by an equally vigorous drive to root out extremism which provides a breeding ground for terrorism. While the military action in North Waziristan and Khyber has been fairly effective, little is being done to root out extremism from the urban centres.
As Cameron has pointed out the induction to terrorism starts with a process of radicalisation. This can happen while studying in a seminary funded by sympathisers of terrorist networks or through books included in the mainstream curriculum. What is required is a regulation of the madaris and a thorough review and liberalisation of mainstream curriculum. Extremism which has been provided state patronage since 1977 is widespread in society. It can be rooted out only through a full-fledged campaign to inculcate a tolerant outlook in society.