Enlightenment and the Challenge of Extremism in Pakistan

Abstract

The surge of religious extremism in Pakistan is not a new phenomenon and it got an impetus after 9/11. Back to back events like the U.S led war in Afghanistan; frequent drone attacks in the tribal areas of Pakistan; the Red Mosque operation of July 2007 against religious extremist elements; military operation in Swat and North and South Waziristan deepened the level of religious anger, antagonism, intolerance, violence and terrorism. Yet, extremism, whether religious, political or ethnic existed even before 9/11 but its scope and intensity was limited. Religious extremist groups got an impetus during the martial law regime of General Zia-ul-Haq because of the free hand which was given to those who preached their own brand of Islam under the pretext of Shariah and coerced others to adhere to their way of life. Hence, there is a greater degree of contrast between extremism which existed in Pakistan before the Afghan Jehad and after, as militancy and intolerance before 1979 existed but it was in a low profile whereas after 1979 it permeated in the societal structures and even state institutions couldn’t escape from the ramifications and the surge of extremism. The proliferation of inter and intra sectarian violence in the backdrop of Afghan Jihad sharply divided Pakistani society and unleashed a cycle of violence resulting into colossal physical losses.