Essay about Terrorism in Pakistan

Terrorism, by definition, attempts to change the psychological and sociological state of its targets. terrorists are often people who haven’t found their place in society; they are excluded from it and don’t have the chance to change their situation. This case explores the overall view of terrorism in Pakistan and around the world, its effects, and more importantly its root causes analyzed sociologically and psychologically. It also addresses many of the conceptual and definitional issues associated with terrorism. Counter strategies are also proposed using analysis of a public survey (more than 50 samples).

Background

the roots of terrorism in Pakistan can be traced back to 1979 when the Soviet Union occupied Afghanistan.[16] Terrorism in Pakistan originated after Pakistan supported the Afghan mujahideen during the Soviet–Afghan War and the subsequent civil war that erupted in Afghanistan. The mujahideen fighters were trained by Pakistan's military, American CIA, and other Western intelligence agencies who continued operations in the area after the war officially ended.

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Since 9/11, 2001, a wave of radical Talibanization causing disruption and restlessness erupted violently in South Asia; the most affected countries being Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, and Syria. Pakistan’s Support of American aggression and facilitation of American operations against them made the Taliban turn to Pakistan.

They started setting up camps in Pakistan, especially in the areas near the Afghan border (mostly northern areas and Baluchistan). What started as a freedom fight against the Soviets had now transitioned into a more destructive campaign to implement “Islamic Law”, which has been going on to this date.

In 2012, the Pakistani leadership sat down to sort out solutions for dealing with the menace of terrorism, and in 2013, political parties unanimously reached a resolution on Monday 9, September 2013, at the All Parties Conference (APC), stating that negotiation with the militants should be pursued as their first option to counter-terrorism.

With the terrorist attacks continuing in late 2013 the political leadership in Pakistan initiated a military operation against terrorists named Operation Zarb-e-Azb; a joint military offensive against various militant groups, including the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Jundallah, al-Qaeda, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and the Haqqani network.[18][citation needed] The operation was launched by the Pakistan Armed Forces on 15 June 2014 in North Waziristan (part of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas along the Afghan border) as a renewed effort against militancy in the wake of the 8 June attack on Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, for which the TTP and the IMU claimed responsibility.

Operation Zarb-e-Azb has been described as a turning point in Pakistan's war on terrorism. The operation was successful and Pakistan experienced a sharp decline in terrorism since the launch of the operation.[20] According to the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta), Pakistan experienced the largest number of terrorist attacks in 2010. Since 2014, terrorist attacks in Pakistan have significantly declined. Pakistani officials state that terrorism in Pakistan will decline more once the fencing of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border is complete.

The current wave of terrorism peaked in 2009. Since then it has declined as a result of selective military operations conducted by the Pakistan Army. According to the South Asian Terrorism Portal Index (SATP), terrorism in Pakistan has declined by 89% in 2017 since its peak years in 2009.

Pakistani newspaper, Dawn News, reports that Pakistan's economic losses due to the war on terrorism declined by 62% from 2014 to 2018. The Pakistani economy suffered $23.77 billion in 2010-11 due to expenses related to the war on terrorism. This amount declined to $12 billion in 2011-12. In 2016-17, Pakistan's economy suffered $5.47 billion and $2.07 billion in 2017-18. Pakistani government estimates that Pakistan has suffered total losses of $126.79 billion since the 9/11 attacks.

Problem Statement

What are the main Societal aspects that lead to terrorism and how do these organizations operate and multiply hostiles i.e terrorists

Objectives

The importance of the Research lies within the topic. A more emphasized view on terrorism and its causes and effects. The research will try and provide a detailed overview of the

• “The making of a terrorist”
• “The sociological aspects associated with terrorism and its root causes”
• “The Method to identify the problem in the process”
• “Review and Propose counter strategies to deal with Terrorism”.

Preliminary Literature Review

Terrorism is often construed as a well-thought-out, extreme form of violence to perceived injustices. The after-effects of terrorism are usually reported without understanding the underlying psychological and social determinants of the terrorist act.

The act of carrying out terrorist activity does not come from a single moment of inspiration but rather from a complex process of cognitive accommodation and assimilation over accumulating steps. It is wrongly reductionist to label the terrorists as mad or psychopaths.

Shortly after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, bin Laden, who viewed the invasion as an act of aggression against Islam, began traveling to meet Afghan resistance leaders and raise funds for the resistance. By 1984 his activities were centered mainly in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where he collaborated with Azzam to recruit and organize Arab volunteers to fight the Soviet occupation. Bin Laden’s financial resources, along with his reputation for piety and bravery in combat, enhanced his stature as a militant leader. A computer database he created in 1988 listing the names of volunteers for the Afghan War led to the formation that year of a new militant network named al-Qaeda (Arabic: “the Base”), although the group remained without clear objectives or an operational agenda for several years.

Since ‘9/11’ Pakistan has been at the epicenter of both terrorism and the war against it. This special paper helps to explain the psychosocial perspective of terrorism in Pakistan that leads to violent radicalization. It identifies the terrorist acts in the background of Pakistan's history.

Social impacts have also been caused by this war. In a society where terror exists cannot be healthy. Social disorganization has occurred due to terrorism. Social relations, economic transactions, free moments, getting an education, offering prayers, etc. have suffered. Pakistan’s participation in the anti-terrorism campaign has led to massive unemployment, homelessness, poverty, and other social problems and ills. In addition, frequent incidents of terrorism and displacement of the local population have severely affected the social fabric.

There is a variety of complex issues through which an individual becomes a terrorist such as personal religious convictions, widespread poverty, and harsh and authoritarian treatment of a government. Several roads lead to terrorism.

Terrorism from Afghanistan plays a major role in the recruitment of terrorism in Pakistan. Pakistan tribal regions and many madrassas across the country give rise to many terrorist groups. Many terrorist groups have been able to operate because of the government’s will.

Then again Pakistan also has been renowned by numerous countries like India, Asian countries, and alternative nations, collaborating and handling in a great deal of terrorist activities. Pakistan's social groups on its borders have been places of safety or refuge for terrorists by US and Western media. West Pakistan with the prospective exception of the Islamic Republic by Iran is thought to be the agile sponsor of terrorist teams.

Mike Mullen said publicly that Pakistan had a longstanding relationship with Haqqani militant group. The U.S. appears to be prodding Pakistan to finally sort out militants in its border region.

Pakistan intelligence agency ISI is also found to be aiding these organizations in eradicating perceived enemies including India, Russia, China, Israel, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Several detainees at the Guantanamo Bay facility told US interrogators that they were aided by the ISI for attacks in the disputed Kashmir Region. ISI also trains some terrorist organizations to attack neighboring countries like India and Afghanistan. ISI also trains some militant groups.

Methodology

The first step is to draft a research proposal. Then drafting a general overview of terrorism: Its effects and root causes and how it transitions into an organization. Analyzing the topic from a sociological perspective. Then shining light on effective counter strategies to combat the menace using a public survey and analyzing public opinion and suggestions.

References

1. https://www.britannica.com/event/USS-Cole-attack
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6020923/
3. https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/26351549.pdf?ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_SYC-4802%2Ftest2
4. http://www.cssforum.com.pk/css-compulsory-subjects/essay/essays/54746-essay-terrorism-pakistan-its-causes-impacts-remedies.html
5. https://tolonews.com/opinion/why-should-pakistan-be-added-list-terrorist-states
6. https://tolonews.com/opinion/why-should-pakistan-be-added-list-terrorist-states
7. Ivan Greenberg “FBI and Making of a Terrorist Threat” (Historical Reflections)
8. https://doi.org/10.1080/1057610X.2013.747075
9. https://biomedicalodyssey.blogs.hopkinsmedicine.org/2016/10/the-making-of-a-terrorist/
10. https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2018/07/24/terrorism-corruption-and-chinese-investment-the-stakes-in-pakistans.html