Extremism radicalises young people
The highly lethal Islamic State (IS) depends heavily on technology to expand itself. It employs a team of tech-savvy handlers and recruiters who contact, brainwash and recruit youth in various countries without moving out of their room. The recruits are no more required to travel to another country to learn how to handle weapons. They are provided online training on how to prepare IEDs or use other weapons without requiring physical contact with the instructor. They also receive online help in plotting attacks, procuring weapons, and organising bank heists to raise funds.
The IS views Pakistan as a large reservoir of computer geeks and talented youth. What helps the IS in recruitment is the fairly widespread extremist thinking which flourishes not only in seminaries but also in mainstream educational institutions.
The extremist thinking is partly imbibed from backward notions, outdated customs and traditions prevailing in society. Also from intolerance practiced by religious leaders and political parties. The virus spread all over the country under Zia who promulgated laws that militated against gender equality and targeted religious minorities. Also through cruel punishments sometime administered publicly. The Zia era narrative of the Muslim community being under attack from people professing other religions and the conspiracies hatched by the west also played a role in spreading religious and sectarian hatred. Zia also pursued state policies through jihadi groups who were predecessors of the present day terrorist networks.
The COAS has rightly noted that educated youth are the prime target of the IS. Further that there is a need to wrest the youth from the influence of terrorist organisations. For this there is a need for a comprehensive, nationwide, and fairly long term campaign to put an end to the extremist thinking in society. The state has to play an effective role in propagating tolerance and inculcating democratic values through school text books, print and electronic media and necessary legislation. What is more the use of terrorist groups for the implementation of state policies must end.
