All over the world, a new day
begins with hopes and aspirations. Students head for their educational
institutes and people leave for work; they share a common goal; a better
tomorrow. Sadly this is not the case in Pakistan. Bomb blasts in major cities
has become a daily affair. Initially the terrorists targeted military sensitive
areas only but now they have started to target innocent civilians especially
women and children. These terrorist attacks are well planned and take place at
peak hours when the casualties would be a maximum.
The terrorist attacks have crippled the already dwindling Pakistani economy.
Whereas other countries have started to recover from recession, Pakistani
economy has taken a nose dive.
Reason of terrorism in Pakistan:
“You shall not kill any person * for GOD has made life sacred — except in the
course of justice.” (Quran17:33)
In Islam, an amazingly powerful emphasis is laid on developing love for mankind
and on the vital importance of showing mercy and sympathy towards every creature
of Allah Almighty, including human beings and animals. For indeed, love and true
sympathy is the very antidote of terrorism.
Injustice is one of the foremost factors that breed terrorism. When the
grievances of the people are not redressed they resort to violent actions. So
this is the case with Pakistan where timely justice has always been a far cry.
Hence, the delayed justice is working as incentive for victims and dragging them
to the swamp of terrorist organisations.
Illiteracy is the root causes of extremism and terrorism. More than one in five
men aged 15 to 24 unable to read or write, and only one in 20 is in tertiary
education. such a high illiteracy rate has made Pakistan vulnerable to
terrorism. furthermore, technical and vocational education, and adult literacy,
are especially important but unfortunately have been neglected the most in
Baluchistan, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa and the Tribal Areas. Illiteracy and lack of
skills provide fertile ground for those who wish to recruit young men and women
to their cause, especially when significant monetary payments are attached.
Regarding poverty, it is also an incubating cause of terrorism. And it is said
that “a hungry man is an angry man.” Notably, majority of people in Pakistan are
living below poverty line. While especially for the youngsters, unemployment has
made the matter worse. In these adverse circumstances, some people go to the
level of extremism and even commit suicide. These are the people whose services
are hired by the terrorist groups and they become easy prey to terrorism.
Food insecurity is also linked with militancy and violence. When people remain
unable to afford food and cannot meet their basic needs civil strife grows. A
report by the Islamabad-based Sustainable Development Policy Institute The
highest levels of food insecurity, for instance, exist in the Federally
Administered Tribal Areas, according to the report, where 67.7 per cent of the
people are insecure. The next highest level is in Baluchistan, with food
insecurity at 61.2 per cent, and then in Khyber-Pukhtunkhwa, 56.2 per cent. In
Pakistan some extremist forces are exploiting the feelings of lower and lower
middle class food insecure people. They are motivating their unemployed youth to
commit heinous crimes such as suicide attacks against innocent people.
Another reason of terrorism is dissatisfaction. When a person is dissatisfied
with the rulers and thinks that his rights are being humiliated or exiled, his
living of life has not been compensated, he is deprived of rightful inheritance
to office, wrongly imprisoned and property confiscated then he joins some
religious parties.
Solution:
It should also take up the question of reforming the madrassas. The heads of all
the major religious groups should be contacted and engaged to explore short-term
and long-term solutions.
• Our universities and research institutes should take up the intellectual task
of re-interpreting the Islamic injunctions in the light of modern knowledge and
21st century challenges (with emphasis on social justice).
• The government must improve its performance. Bad governance and corruption
have lowered its credibility and clout,
• Parliament must debate Pakistan’s present relationship with the US, with
particular reference to the American war in Afghanistan and operations in
Pakistan.
• Our government should make efforts to develop sector. Without any doubt, these
efforts will play a crucial role not only in providing employment to the
millions of people but will also eliminate poverty in the country.
• Pakistan’s government should particularly emphasise the need of technical
education by promoting it. In this respect, more institutes should be opened in
order to promote technical education.
To conclude, Pakistan is a peace loving nation and playing its important role in
combating terror. Recognition of efforts to fight menace of terrorism and
sacrifices rendered thereof are testimony to the commitment and resolve to bring
peace in the region. Unfortunately sometimes its commitment is doubted by some
of its allies. Mistrust can lead to diversion of efforts, which will not be
beneficial to common objective of peace in the region. Pakistan is a responsible
nation; fully capable of defending its territorial integrity. Pakistan has
singularly committed large forces to combat menace of terrorism more than any
other country. No foreign troops are either present or deployed on Pakistan
soil.