The Pakistani Spectator

As soon as you think that the position of Pakistan is getting better, the Tehrik-e-Taliban (TTP) strike back from where one cannot imagine. The incident that recently took place stunned many as well as the super power as it was about to experience another 9/11 on its soil. Faisal Shahzad, a 30 yr old man who was once living the American Dream, suddenly snaps and tries to destroy the country which gave him and his family all the luxuries of life. His attempt to attack the locals and tourists in New York City will haunt future generations of Pakistanis in the metropolis. Not only that but it will also change a lot for the Pakistanis in other parts of the world.

The TTP realize the significance of strengthening relations between United States and Pakistan. It is evident this means a ‘goodbye’ for them. This is the reason that they will try almost everything to destroy this relation and stop it from being stronger. TTP in the case of Faisal Shahzad were successful in pitching terrorism and they soon got him on board. Just a few months of brainwashing was adequate to make the naturalized citizen walk this crazy path towards nowhere. Luckily, his plot was not well executed and hundreds of lives were saved on that day by the New York City forces. So what does a country do after they have a terrorist in custody?

The real big task is ahead of us now. The Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton has clearly mentioned in her latest speech that Pakistan will have to reduce the lip service. It will have to step up the military strength on the TTP and destroy all training camps and safe havens so that no more Faisals exported.

More interesting to me was the reaction of the handful Taliban apologists, who hushed after the USA officials found evidence of Faisal tracking back to Pakistani Taliban. This is a time where we must support our allies in the war on terror so that we can get rid of terrorism from our country at once. Otherwise the militants will keep growing this radical Islam ideology and isolating us from the rest of the world.

While I talk about the ‘radical Islam ideology’ it is important to take a brief insight on the religion approach. I might sound severe to a few who would not agree to come out of the nutshell they have defined for themselves. Islam is a religion that came in an era when there was abundant hostility. No respect for women, disregard for children and lack of liberty. At this time Islam was introduced as a piece of good fortune to the human kind and it strictly prohibited from killing one another. Teachings of Islam prohibited even from a single kill. It emphasized about women rights in a society and love for children the very first time in that era and the teachings remain the same till today. Killing of civilians is termed as a big sin in Islam.

However, the religion is secure but the teachings have been played with. The perverted religious leaders who lack greatly in worldly knowledge have twisted the religion in a manner which is only useful to them. These leaders have extracted verses from the Scripture and maneuvered them in such a style that it automatically gives life to the extremist elements inactive within a human being.  While playing in the hands of enemy, these leaders have magical powers to produce many ‘Faisals’ at a single time. The only difference is that every other time the end product is aimed to be more deadly. Will the best way to stop this be to use these men against these leaders?

After mentioning these few points what is one suppose to do? Can the situation can get any better and can we also have the same powers as these leaders possess, so that we can show people the right path? Or will we just sit and watch these men take over Pakistan as a militant playground?

The questions are a few and simple but they are complicated to answer. As much as I have read and studied deep into the extremism ideologies and incidents, I believe that there is a good solution to all this. The solution is to eradicate radicalism from the root. One must be wondering this solution has been heard of many times before, than where is the x-factor which will make it more effective? Consider.

We mould their men into a moderate mindset and then use against them. The end goal is to seize birth of more militants. We realize that the militants in Pakistan and the extremists are a very less percentage of the total population. Majority of the people in the country do not reflect the principles of these people. The first step that we need to take is to recover these men who have been infected by these religious leaders. From here onwards we will go step by step to eradicate the radicalism in the country. The militants who have been brainwashed or in other words the ‘Faisals’ we have in custody are a major advantage for us. We must capitalize on this them to the best of our abilities. These men must be analyzed in detail and then rehabilitated.

Rehabilitation or ‘transformation’ as one would like to call, is one aspect that I emphasis on again and again. A rehabilitation center exists north of Malakand agency designed for children who are rescued by the security forces and are helped to become normal again in this center. A replica is required for elder men as well to create a chain effect of positivity in their generation.

Let’s try to look at this step in a different perspective. Let us assume a radical is arrested who was willing to bomb hundreds of people and is taken under custody. While drilling him for more information, we can also help him to come back to the right path at the same time. Just imagine the influence he will have on others once he comes back to a moderate state of mind.  Bringing a radical individual back to a moderate state of mind will be like winning over the next generation of militants. The influence that this man will have on others will be much more because he was once, one of them.

The second step of this strategy has already been taking place but has not been very effective lately. The previous arrests and the leads generating from it have been a failure for the country. The arrests that have been done over the years must be capitalized on in a positive way. Torture and abduction of these men I believe will only create revenge in their heart. A much positive and humane approach will be that we do not become like them and try to induce moderate elements in their mind. These men will then help us win other radicals over.

To sum up, rehabilitation of the arrested Taliban must be brought under the limelight at an International level. The effect of this will once be seen when a militant will walk out in our media and weigh the before and after life. I can bet that this will shackle the terrorist organizations and their own men will be idiot pawns to turn the tables on them.