Virulent extremism

The suicide bombing which killed at least 80 people in the famous shrine of the Sufi Saint Shabaz Kalandar is but the latest in a string of terror attacks that have wreaked havoc in that Islamic Republic in the recent years. This is one more example of the rise of religious extremism and intolerance (which takes a brutally violent form more often than not) in that country. It is important to note that the suicide bomber attacked at the time of ‘Dhamaal’, when devotees remember the saint through music and dancing.
Some Muslims sects, particularly Wahabists, consider it to be an anti-Islamic practice. The notorious IS has claimed responsibility. There is no doubt that religion can be interpreted in many ways. What is religious according to one faction may be considered heretical by others. However any civilized person will agree that killing innocent people and using indiscriminate force to impose one’s bigoted views on others is not sanctioned by any religion let alone a religion like Islam, where peace is given emphasis so strongly.
It is quite well known that the Pakistani state has, ever since the Afghan civil war in the 1980s, been in cahoots with several infamous terror organization in establish their doctrine in the region. Unfortunately when you sign a pact with the devil you invariably end up harming yourself. The Pakistani state’s failure to confront the terror threat in a robust and consistent manner has created the space for terrorists to regroup and recover from whatever blows have been inflicted upon the various groups. Terrorism is resourceful, it is adaptive and flexible, intelligent and utterly committed to its goals and has no qualms about butchering indiscriminately to achieve them.
Unfortunately in Pakistan while there are sections of the media and wider society that condemn utterly these dreadful crimes there are others that do not, and the absence of clerical voices criticizing terrorists is notable.
Religious fanatics are the new fascists. They believe in the physical elimination of their political opponents. Although they may appear to be anti-imperialist, they are not a progressive force. Instead they are an extreme right-wing force that wants to turn back the clock of the history.
The saying that one country’s terrorist is a neighbour’s freedom fighter no longer applies. Pakistan and indeed all South Asian countries must recognize that terrorism is a common menace and combine forces to exterminate this scourge from the region.

 

 

Virulent extremism

The suicide bombing which killed at least 80 people in the famous shrine of the Sufi Saint Shabaz Kalandar is but the latest in a string of terror attacks that have wreaked havoc in that Islamic Republic in the recent years. This is one more example of the rise of religious extremism and intolerance (which takes a brutally violent form more often than not) in that country. It is important to note that the suicide bomber attacked at the time of Dhamaal, when devotees remember the saint through music and dancing. Some Muslims sects, particularly Wahabists, consider it to be an anti-Islamic practice. The notorious IS has claimed responsibility. There is no doubt that religion can be interpreted in many ways. What is religious according to one faction may be considered heretical by others. However any civilized person will agree that killing innocent people and using indiscriminate force to impose ones bigoted views on others is not sanctioned by any religion let alone a religion like Islam, where peace is given emphasis so strongly. It is quite well known that the Pakistani state has, ever since the Afghan civil war in the 1980s, been in cahoots with several infamous terror organization in establish their doctrine in the region. Unfortunately when you sign a pact with the devil you invariably end up harming yourself. The Pakistani states failure to confront the terror threat in a robust and consistent manner has created the space for terrorists to regroup and recover from whatever blows have been inflicted upon the various groups. Terrorism is resourceful, it is adaptive and flexible, intelligent and utterly committed to its goals and has no qualms about butchering indiscriminately to achieve them. Unfortunately in Pakistan while there are sections of the media and wider society that condemn utterly these dreadful crimes there are others that do not, and the absence of clerical voices criticizing terrorists is notable. Religious fanatics are the new fascists. They believe in the physical elimination of their political opponents. Although they may appear to be anti-imperialist, they are not a progressive force. Instead they are an extreme right-wing force that wants to turn back the clock of the history. The saying that one countrys terrorist is a neighbours freedom fighter no longer applies. Pakistan and indeed all South Asian countries must recognize that terrorism is a common menace and combine forces to exterminate this scourge from the region.