The anatomy of extremism in Pakistan

Ethnic rivalries, sectarianism and extremism have created an explosive situation in Karachi.

A year into its tenure, the government under the control of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is struggling to develop its response to the rise of extremism. Unlike the administration it succeeded, the new administration that came to office seemed committed to dealing with the scourge of extremism. It had identified it as one the three ‘Es’ that were to receive its immediate attention. The other two were energy and the economy. However, its actions since assuming power give the impression that it is lost; the terrorists have understood this and have gone ahead and escalated their assault on the institutions of the state.

In order to develop a comprehensive approach towards extremism, it is important to understand the motivating factors behind it. The rise of this phenomenon in Pakistan is taking several different forms, each one of which has a different history. The first of the identifiable forms is related to the activities of the Taliban operating from both sides of the Pakistan-Afghan border. Although the Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan have different organisational structures and are following different agendas in the countries in which they are operating, there is some coordination between the two groups. The two countries need to work together to curb the rising power of these groups.

The second contributing factor is sectarianism. Orthodox and conservative groups, influenced heavily by Saudi Arabia, are especially intolerant of all points of views different from those they follow. Minorities have been targeted, including the Ahmadiyya community as well as Christians. Furthermore, even Muslims have not been spared with Shias bearing the brunt of extremist attacks.

The third form of extremism is different from the first two: its focus is spatial rather than ideological. It has grown roots in Karachi and is the consequence of the way that the city has grown and developed. A number of factors have come together to make Karachi one of the world’s most violent places. First there were ethnic rivalries particularly those involving the muhajirs. The muhajir community has been fighting hard to create economic and political space for itself. To this ethnic brew was added another one: the Pashtuns. Numbering perhaps as many as five million, this group arrived in several waves. First to come were the construction workers who went to the city to build Pakistan’s first capital and lay the ground for the country’s rapid industrialisation. The second Pashtun wave came during the 10-year war with the Soviet Union’s occupation forces. This was followed by another wave as the conflict with the Pakistani state displaced hundreds of thousands of people from the northern parts of Pakistan.

Over time, Karachi, a mega city of an estimated 20 million people, has become the favoured space for the practice of these three forms of extremism. Ethnic rivalries, sectarianism and extremism have created an explosive situation in the city. The state has not developed the institutions that can mediate between these groups. The use of violence has become the preferred form of political expression.

It is important to note that these three sources of extremism affect Pakistan’s relations with the world in different ways. Of immediate consequence is the developing situation in Afghanistan and its likely impact on Pakistan. Extremism in one country feeds that in the other.

Similarly, sectarianism will most likely draw Pakistan into the developing Sunni-Shiite conflict in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia and Iran, two important state players in this region, have positioned themselves at the opposite ends of this conflict. Pakistan is attempting to maintain a balance of sorts between these two conflicting interests. Continuing troubles in Karachi will further diminish the global role this well-positioned city could have played. And, targeting girls and women and attempting to keep them backward will earn the country opprobrium from the development community. There is, therefore, the need to understand extremism and its consequences from several different angles. Focusing on one will not serve the purpose.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16^th, 2014.

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