ESL Blogs

Terrorism is often seen as an act of violence by some sick minds to spread fear and buckle down establishment for the cause terrorist are fighting. But I think its a very narrow definition of terrorism. Terrorism is not just an act, its an ideologies and the so called "terrorist" are sincerely devoted to that (wrong) ideology.

I remember the Peshawar incidents in Pakistan where terrorist before killing the innocent children in school asked them to read the 'Kalma' - "ya illa, ilil-la....". If we see that act from terrorist point of view then they are fighting the holy war 'Jihad' and they justify them self quite convincingly that their act of violence is need of hour. Yesterday, a suicide bomber killed 15 people near to church in Lahore. There must be a reason that the bomber killed himself as well. Did he had any regret for that suicide? No, absolutely not. He must be happy for that 'shahadat' (from his perspective) and the coming 'Jannat' paradise. And there are many misguided people ready for such sacrifices in Pakistan and other terror suffering countries.

The typical case of IS recent vandalism of Mosul's ancient museum can be explained. They were trying to make their Allah happy by demolishing Idols. Strange! but justified by their interpretation of Quran.

If we understand the phenomenon more closely than we are going to find that these people who are into these acts and propagation of these ideologies are not foreigners. They are the very indigenous people nurtured by same establishment at times for short term gains. And at that times these 'sick minds' were doing the same act of terror in other countries. And the establishment of Pakistan euphemistically called them Jihadis (not terrorist), because they were not killing their sons but neighbors son!

Hillary Clinton (the most probably the next President of US), has summed it up very nicely in his book as "You cant keep snakes in your backyard and expect them only to bite your neighbors". The Haqqani network, the LeT, the Hafeez Sayed and Laqwi are not only the people driven by this terrorism ideologies but they also run institutions that recruit and propagate this distorted notion of Islam and Jihad.

The problem with ideology is a bigger problem. When we believe in something, with time we trust in it, a prolonged trust creates a faith in that belief, faith (can be blind as well) is often practiced by rituals and the act of terror in Pakistan (and all over the world) are just the final "rituals" of that belief. Until and unless the centers and institution are eradicated from the foundation, you cant expect something (and all operations like Zarb-e-Azb) will prove futile eventually.

But the irony of ideology is that, it takes a long time to develop (as explained above), and it takes a long time to be removed from the society as well. It cant be changed overnight. For that there should be a political consensus, government will and public support. People's perception has to be changed by mobilization and spreading awareness. In Pakistan there is a political consensus on suppressing the act of terror and terrorists. But they are yet to understand the basic culprits behind these acts. The factories that are promoting the ideology of violence.

At one side ISI is supporting the leader (Terrorist like Hafeez Sayed) of his ideology and at other side Pakistani army is fighting a war against the followers of this ideology (TTP). Its a paradox but truth! It needs courage to accept that their is something fundamentally wrong with the system. It needs a determination to challenge the policies of the government (or military rule, because people do not mind being ruled in martial laws as well). And it need time to understand the complex phenomenon of belief, faith, ideology and practices/rituals.

The bigger question here is not the success of Wazirstan or SWAT or Baluchistan or Gilgit/Baltistan, but the bigger question is, 'Is Pakistan's establishment and people ready to go against the ideology that was spread in 80's and practices of terrorism that were supported by Zia-Ul-Haq based on that idology?' I see a dismal picture for that. Because a whole generation was taught with this ideology of in schools and colleges. And as the roots of this thinking (misinterpretation) are so deep (a whole generation) that it will not go form Pakistan eventually. They will remain in the mode of "self denial", will keep fighting against those terrorists which are against them (not those who are against neighbors), the institutions of ideology will continue to grow and flourish and such Lahore, Peshawar, Karachi attacks will also keep on happening.