One step ahead
The use of social networking sites by the Taliban and al Qaeda is in many ways a dangerous development.
The Taliban appear to have changed their perspective from the times when all technology was considered an evil creation of the West. Instead of breaking down television sets or declaring the internet as ‘immoral’, the group has come to use social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter with a remarkable degree of sophistication.
Their Facebook sites promote jihad in several different languages accessible to people both in Pakistan and Afghanistan, in a manner that is educative as well as emotive. The sites are well maintained and have obviously involved specialists. Experts who have been watching developments believe help may have been obtained from al Qaeda, which is well known for its technological abilities and the use of these to spread its message around the world. The Taliban, who once appeared to live almost entirely in medieval times, seem to have followed suit. Their spokesman says this is a result of their own planning and thinking. As a result, the spokesmen seem to be readily accessible to the media and regularly send out text messages to put forward their point of view.
The use of internet sites obviously helps get the Taliban message of Jihad and militancy to a wider range of people, including the educated young elite, in the country. This is in many ways a dangerous development. The real risk we face is not just from the militant outfits with their bombs and suicide jackets but also from their increasing ability to affect the mindsets of a growing number of people everywhere in the country. This ability needs to be countered. How can this be achieved? In the first place, in this age of the computer, the authorities battling the Taliban and other groups like it may need to replicate their use of technology and to borrow a page from the book they are using. This can be done by using the state or even privately-owned media more effectively, as well as by using websites and other means to challenge the use of violence. Efforts must begin immediately to deliver a different message to the masses.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2nd, 2011.
Their Facebook sites promote jihad in several different languages accessible to people both in Pakistan and Afghanistan, in a manner that is educative as well as emotive. The sites are well maintained and have obviously involved specialists. Experts who have been watching developments believe help may have been obtained from al Qaeda, which is well known for its technological abilities and the use of these to spread its message around the world. The Taliban, who once appeared to live almost entirely in medieval times, seem to have followed suit. Their spokesman says this is a result of their own planning and thinking. As a result, the spokesmen seem to be readily accessible to the media and regularly send out text messages to put forward their point of view.
The use of internet sites obviously helps get the Taliban message of Jihad and militancy to a wider range of people, including the educated young elite, in the country. This is in many ways a dangerous development. The real risk we face is not just from the militant outfits with their bombs and suicide jackets but also from their increasing ability to affect the mindsets of a growing number of people everywhere in the country. This ability needs to be countered. How can this be achieved? In the first place, in this age of the computer, the authorities battling the Taliban and other groups like it may need to replicate their use of technology and to borrow a page from the book they are using. This can be done by using the state or even privately-owned media more effectively, as well as by using websites and other means to challenge the use of violence. Efforts must begin immediately to deliver a different message to the masses.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2nd, 2011.