Sectarianism/Terrorism crux

There are two categories of militants from Pakistan in Syria: those belonging to Sunni
sectarian groups like Lashkar-i-Jhangvi (LJ) and others from militant outfits including the
Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The presence of Pakistani fighters in Syria first made
headlines last year after the detection of poliovirus which was traced back to Pakistan.
BY ZA H I D H USS A I N

There`s a long history of Pakistani holy warriors fighting foreign wars from Afghanistan
to Kashmir, Chechnya, Bosnia, even getting involved in Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed
region in Azerbaijan. But the avenue for external jihad shrank after 9/11, with Pakistan
pulling back from its policy of using militancy as a tool of regional policy.
BY ZA H I D H USS A I N

The involvement of Pakistani jihadis in Syria will have serious repercussions and fuel
sectarian violence. The widening of the sectarian conflict in the Middle East and its
spillover effect inside Pakistan raises fears of radical Shia recruitment to join the war on
the Syrian government`s side. That may also lead to an escalation in the proxy war in
Pakistan.
BY ZA H I D H USS A I N

Pamphlets urging Muslims to join the fight for establishment of a khilafat are
being circulated and stickers featuring IS messages have regularly been
spotted
in
north-western
Pakistan.
A breakaway group of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) calling itself
Jamaatul Ahrar has expressed support for IS, which has established its brutal
rule in large areas of war-ravaged territories in the Middle East. It will not be
surprising if other radical militant and Sunni sectarian groups jump on this
bandwagon soon. Apparently, hundreds of Pakistani volunteers form a
significant part of the international jihad brigade currently fighting along IS in
Syria
and
Iraq.
Afghanistan and Kashmir are the other regions where IS is reportedly seeking
to
boost
its
influence.
Needless to say, both Pakistan and Afghanistan are shown as part of the
Islamic caliphate envisaged in the Islamic State`s map. The group`s
propaganda pamphlets in Dari and Pashto have reportedly appeared in
eastern Afghanistan and in Afghanrefugee camps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
BY ZA H I D H USS A I N

Close ideological links between the Pakistani militant movement and IS exist
was further substantlated by the recent demand for the release of Aafia
Siddiqui in exchange for the release of Western hostages in the custody of IS.
Recently, the group beheaded two American journalists, James Foley and
Steven Sotloff, af ter the demand for her release was rejected.
Unsurprisingly, IS has overshadowed Al Qaeda whose increasingly

fragmented and tired leadership is hardly a match for the well-oiled fighting
machinery of the new global jihadi outfit.
Zahid hussain
North Waziristan should never have become the epicentre of terrorism. He
has done well to meet President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul and demand the
extradition of TTP`s Mullah Fazlullah, now ensconced on the Afghan side. But
what of Mullah Omar? The Pakistani Taliban and the Afghan Taliban are two
sides of the same coin. I wonder if President Ghani asked General Sharif to
help extradite Mullah Omar for facing justice before the Afghan people.
P E R V E Z H O O D B H OY

Surprisingly, there is no serious effort to challenge the terrorist on the

ideological front. The political leadership must counter the jihadist narra-tive
by treating it as the greatest internal threat. It should revise educational
curricula, encourage open debate, revisit the madressah system and audit its
funding sources, find the sagacity to reclaim control of foreign policy, employ
proactive diplomacy to settle outstanding issues with India and Afghanistan.
T A L A T FA R O O Q

Today, Pakistan`s democracy is dysfunctional, its economy stagnant, its

society
divided
between
the
few
rich
and
the
mass
poor.
Justice, jobs and security are unavailable for a growing population of
uneducated and alienated youth. Meanwhile, Pakistan`s leaders, caught in
petty power plays, have no vision or plan for national development. Pakistan
the world`s sixth most populous country was not invited to any of the three
summits held in Asia earlier this month (November 2014), illustrating its
decline and marginalisation.
M U N I R AK R AM
Sartaj Aziz and armys contrasting views about good and bad Taliban.

North Waziristan has aptly been described as a `witches` brew` with all kinds
of local and foreign militant groups making the agency their training ground.
One of the largest groups operating from the agency consisted of the
militants belonging to the East Turkestan Islamic Movement which has been
blamed for carrying out terrorist attacks in China`s Xinjiang province.
According to one intelligence official, at least 200 members of the group were
based in the agency before the operation.
Zahid Hussain
The high ratio of officers killed in the operation gives some idea about the
way this battle is being fought.
The production of seminary graduates in a greater number than the countrys capacity to
offer them proper assignments will create enormous problems. Nobody can say where a

large horde of jobless seminary graduates will be landed by their ambition, inclination
and frustration.
I A Rehman
Two joint committees (ulema, federal and provincial governments representatives) will
be set up, one to decide upon registration formalities and the other to propose
curriculum reform. Reference has been made to an understanding on deleting from the
madressah courses material that contributes to militancy or causes hatred among
different communities.
I A Rehman