I write this with as much pain and grief over the horrific incident at Peshawar as much pragmatism to envisage the possible ways of tackling terrorism, worldwide. Such kind of dastardly, cowardly, most inhuman attacks on innocent children in their schools is what we are seeing the jihadists/terrorists have come down to, befalling upon mankind, in their most barbaric demeanor. Not to forget the gall of Taliban to justify it as if there’s no reason no humanity left in the world.
Why terrorism is synonymous with Jihad?
Terrorism has many colors and facets and is prevalent in many a countries, even outside the ‘Muslim Sphere’. But Jihad which originally meant ‘spiritual struggle’ and ‘struggle within’ has been rather abrasively taken over as a global fight against ‘Enemies of Islam’, and therefore, the only weapon in the hands of the cowards is terrorism. And since the fight to reclaim the word is far from noteworthy, Muslims have practically surrendered the word, if not the fight.
What are we fighting against?
In simplest terms, we are fighting an ideology. The most devious and unconscionable kind. This is not particularly an ‘ism’ which has lived for certain number of years and has a certain backing. The roots of this ideology are found, or vaguely interpreted, in centuries old texts of religion.
Here, again, let me emphasize that fighting terrorists alone is not half the fight. How many can you kill at the end of the day? It takes a few verses, wrong interpretations, few inflammatory speeches, ingraining victimhood, decades of indoctrination, etc., to easily radicalize a whole generation of people. How effective is your war on terrorism then?
I’m not going for or against any religious texts. In the present times, where faith is probably resurfacing as a sensitive issue, you may neither eulogize nor castigate them, but you’d only do yourself a world of good to objectify them. Be that as it may, the biggest problem in Islam seems to be the inherent belief that those who don’t believe in Islam are either infidels or inferior. This has dangerous implications, may seem non-sequitur to the rational mind, but is venom to the radicalized mind. Let alone that Islam is the youngest of all the major religions.
Why emphasize Islamist terrorism?
There are terrorists, ideologues of militancy, dictators, fascists, LW extremists, RW extremists, all kinds and in many a countries, but none so brainwashed and almost none of them find justification of their actions in God. They rather deny and decry God and pioneer an ideology au contraire. Only in Islamists (not necessarily Islam) do we find all-encompassing belief that this is what is pre-ordained and such acts are the Will of God. You can see how ridiculously compelling that gets!
Who are we fighting against?
The tricky part here is there’s a definite derision and revulsion to outfits like ISIS, Taliban – LeT, JeM, TTP and other forms, Boko Haram, Hamas, Al Qaeda, etc. among the masses. At the same time, there’s a bunch of apologists and other ‘pacifiers’ who’d rather not get to the bottom of it, so as to not ‘hurt the sentiments’. They’re willing to label those who question as ‘Islamophobes’, at the drop of hat. We are very much fighting against the terrorists, as much as the mindset, as much as the obstinacy of the apologists, as much as those who aid and abet terrorism.
Again, terrorism cannot exist in isolation. It needs backing, sponsors, etc. It is the States which either fund or shelter terrorists which are the biggest threat to not just their own people but to humanity.
Which are the areas afflicted by terrorism?
Practically speaking, we’re running out of countries which are immune to terrorism. The most affected being the South Asian and Middle Eastern countries, where it has its origins. In Iraq and Syria, we can see two countries can be taken hostage for almost half a year now. In Pakistan, we can see the single-most afflicted country of terrorist attacks, and yet, would not stop harboring terrorists and even make inane arguments of good and bad Taliban. In India, we have the country which has suffered for 3 decades and most averse to terrorism and yet helpless at times. From US to Britain to Australia to even a neutral country like Canada has been under siege. This is the extent of the malaise. All because terrorists have no particular identity. They just choose to surface in the most cowardly fashion. The rich irony is that Muslims have been the most affected by terrorists and yet the sympathizers are found mostly in the same community.
How do we fight terrorism?
Now this path is not going to be simple, and maybe off the beaten path. But the fact is there is no turning back the clock or changing what has been. If we look forward, we must take forward what we need, what we must, and purge a whole lot of others. This is because even if tomorrow a US-led coalition wages an ‘actual’ war against terrorism and wipes out terror groups by precision warfare, bombings, etc., there’ll be another generation born on victimhood; angry and vengeful. Yet another terror group may crop up, which is getting easier by the day, ironically, with the use of technology.
Only and only when the whole of Islam world unites with the Rest of the World in exposing such an ideology and its ideologues as well as boycotting them forever, without exceptions, they’ll be left lurching. For this, we can’t even start with only moderate Muslims. All the Muslims, all of them those who’ve had enough have to come out of it, seek help, trust there’s better than that.
Now, even this can’t be done without doing the unthinkable. Revise Qur’an. If you don’t, there shall always be justification for some or other action, in the name of it, however perverse it may seem. Just come out of it. A holy book cannot be your be all and end all in life. If it is, then fair enough, live with terrorism for the rest of human existence on this planet. This is simply because you cannot follow a text which regards humanity in the prism of believers and non-believers. Even the Old Testament has been tossed, not that many Christians are devout followers of the New.
“Terror has no religion”, as the popular aphorism goes.
But terrorists do, and damn right they’re gonna twist it to their ends. To defeat the terrorists, we have to uproot their beliefs! Faith is a major driving force and it has been the basis of humankind for generations together. Why make that the basis for the end of humankind?
This is a bigger war which can only be won in the coming generations if the initiation is done now. A bit of a radical approach, to ultimately defeat pernicious radicalism. Hit the fundamentals hard to degrade and root out the fundamentalists.
As for the ongoing war on terrorism, it has been rather protracted, lacked purpose and even been accused of being self-serving at times. But if it is agreed multilaterally then a whole lot of measures need to be taken.
Primarily:
- Pulling together of ALL nations of the world (G-all). At least we’ll see all those uninterested and unwilling. Of course, not all have to go for direct warfare, but we’d ascertain if they’re in support or not.
- A transnational phenomenon can only be defeated by a transnational force.
- US have been the initiator of ‘Global War on Terrorism’. It has to yet again take an active role in pulling the global forces together, and if possible, rechristen the concept of NATO just for this new kind of warfare.
- India has to be in the forefront and cannot shy away from a global fight against terror. India having been one of the biggest victims of perpetual cross-border terrorism must see it’s in their own long-term national interest.
- All the Arab and Middle East countries have to either get rid of this scourge of terrorism or live with it forever. It is their chance for another Arab Spring, only this time a collective effort of the governments.
- Terrorists cannot exist in isolation. There has to be State support and funding, otherwise they just cannot sustain. Time to rein in rogue nations, rogue governments, arms dealers across the globe, drug traffickers, money launderers, etc. This may seem cumbersome. But to defeat a problem of that magnitude, all the available resources and intelligence has to be pulled in and optimally utilized.
- Again, a transnational phenomenon requires a transnational Intel-sharing platform. Time for RAW, CIA, Mossad, MI-6, KGB and others to come together to share active information and data analytics. Time to rein in the rogue ISI to either cooperate or face consequences. Their intelligence may lead to the ratting out of Af-Pak Taliban in its entirety.
As for the non-combative measures:
- De-legitimizing the justification of war for ‘just’ cause. This has been suggested by Kofi Annan.
- World needs a broader strategy for Middle East. There has to be a constructive, cooperative, cohesive effort at promoting stability and regional growth, as suggested by Joseph Nye.
- Create an environment where terrorism is neither possible nor desirable, as suggested by Richard Haas.
- Respect territorial integrity and sovereign equality of all states. In this case, the West has to introspect while dealing with the Middle East.
- Resolution of disputes in the region peacefully and keeping in consideration the concerns and apprehensions of all the involved stakeholders.
- Promoting social inclusion in the region and a culture of peace.
- Empowering member states of the affected regions.
Well, the academic debate is rather futile in its long-drawn processes. As long as commitment, purpose and intent is not shown on the ground we can keep having multilaterals, keep the issue burning, and see more casualties as we move along. This is not gonna stop so easy. This is a hydra-headed monster, which can come back in any of its forms. The world has to treat this as the prime focus of geopolitics and the eradication of terrorism should be the centre-stage of the vital national interests.
We could only hope and pray for a better tomorrow. As we speak, the Kurds and Yazidis of Iraq, the children of Pakistan are not having a day easier in the sun! It is the responsibility of mankind to give them all a brighter and safer future. We owe it to them…
astronomick 