The arrest of Faisal Shahzad, a Pakistani-born naturalized U.S. citizen, in connection with the May 1, 2010 failed Times Square bombing has once again shed light on the Islamization of Pakistani society over the past three decades and its impact on the radicalization of Pakistani youth.
Commenting on the transformation of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region into a sanctuary for terrorists, Malik Naveed Khan, who heads the police force in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (formerly North West Frontier Province), recently said: "Jihadi elements are coming here from all over the world because they can cross the border and can enter Afghanistan... The mountains along the Afghan border are the best shelter for them."[1]
However, it is the socialization of Pakistani youth into the ideas of jihad and militancy over the past few decades that has become a worrying issue for Pakistani commentators, with no quick end in sight to overcome extremist teachings and role of religious and militant organizations.
Three renowned Pakistani commentators have traced the origins of the radicalization of Pakistani youth. In an article titled "Youth and Militancy," renowned political analyst Dr. Hasan-Askari Rizvi observes that this radicalization of youth emanates from the Islamic orthodoxy that has become rooted in the Pakistani state system.[2] Pervez Hoodbhoy, a prominent commentator on Pakistani culture and state who teaches nuclear physics at Islamabad's Quaid-e-Azam University, recently wrote an article titled "Faisal Shahzad's Anti-Americanism," analyzing the anti-Americanism that is sweeping Pakistani society. [3] In another article, titled "Paths of Terrorism Lead But To Pakistan," renowned Pakistani columnist and philanthropist Ardeshir Cowasjee called for introspection in Pakistani society as to why so many youth are radicalized, noting that terrorism in Pakistan can no longer be attributed to ignorance and poverty. [4]
Following are excerpts from the three articles:
Dr. Hasan-Askari Rizvi in "Youth and Militancy"
It is Easy to Get Radical Ideological Inspiration in Pakistan because Islamic Orthodoxy and Militancy Have Seeped Deep into Pakistan's State System"
"The young person accused of the unsuccessful NYC incident may have been inspired by the militant discourse on world affairs, and he may have got some bomb-making training in Pakistan, but he does not appear to be an extension of the TTP or other militant groups. The details of the unsuccessful effort show that the young person's knowledge of explosives was rudimentary, and one does not have to go to Pakistan's tribal areas to get such training. The young Pakistani-American may have interacted with some militant group for ideological reaffirmation. There are a host of militant groups: the TTP, other militant groups in the tribal areas, and the Punjab-based militant and sectarian groups.
"These militant groups are not the only source of Islamic radicalism in Pakistan. Islamic political parties and a large section of the Islamic clergy based in mainland Pakistan preach radical Islamic perspectives of Pakistan and the rest of the world. Friday sermons in a large number of mosques, especially those whose prayer leaders are affiliated with Islamic parties or militant groups, preach how the West is out to undermine the Muslims and the Islamic world. It is easy to get radical ideological inspiration in Pakistan because Islamic orthodoxy and militancy have seeped deep into Pakistan's state system and society.
"However, acquiring a radical Islamic perspective does not necessarily mean that a person will certainly engage in acts of violence and terrorism. A small number of radicalized youth engage in violent activity either because of the long and persistent experience with militant groups or through self-introspection based on a radical and militant mindset. This is done either as a manifestation of alienation or as a religious obligation acquired through interaction with militant leaders."
"Pakistan is Experiencing the 'Youth Bulge'; More than Half of Pakistan's Population is Under the Age of 30, and Its Socialization is Heavily Loaded with Islamic Orthodoxy and Militancy"
"Pakistan is experiencing the 'youth bulge.' More than half of Pakistan's population is under the age of 30, and its socialization is heavily loaded with Islamic orthodoxy and militancy. Since the early 1980s, the state has pursued an agenda through education and the mass media to Islamize the state and society. Pakistan's military and the intelligence agencies continued to patronize a religious hard line and militancy as an instrument of domestic and foreign policy toward Afghanistan and Indian-administered Kashmir.
"By September 2001, at least one and a half generations had been socialized into religious orthodoxy and militancy as a desirable mindset and a frame for action. These people have reached the middle level positions in government, the military, and other services. They may not directly get involved in bomb planting, but they have sympathy for Islamic radicals who engage in violence in the name of Islam. In this way, the political discourse of Islamic radicalism and the political right has become integral to the mindset of countless people who tend to view national and international affairs in purely religious terms.
"An Islamic and politically rightist mindset dominates the youth and post-youth generation in Pakistan. This mindset views Muslims and the Islamic world as victims of international conspiracies by the U.S. and other Western countries. They also think that Pakistan's military action against the Taliban and other militants is unjustified and serves U.S. interests. They strongly believe that there is a persistent international effort led by the U.S. and India to undermine and destroy Pakistan and that Pakistan's adversaries are not the Taliban. Islamists argue that the suicide attacks in Pakistan are undertaken either by the agents of foreign powers in the garb of the Taliban or, at times, the Taliban retaliate against Pakistan's alignment with the U.S., or its military actions in the tribal areas."
"A Large Number of Pakistani Youth are Attracted to Islamic Radicalism and Do Not Feel Obligated to the Imperatives of Collective Good or Societal Responsibility Except in an Islamic Context"
"This [rightist] mindset has caused two most serious problems with the psyche of the youth. One, the concept of the nation-state and the notion of citizenship has been greatly undermined for them. Most are alienated from the state and do not feel obligated to respect its primacy and obligations as citizens. Their affiliation ladder starts from a person being a Muslim with religious obligations. It moves on to Islamic movements (non-state organizations) that uphold the primacy of Islam and moves on to an Islamic 'ummah' – universal Islamic community or brotherhood. It is a transnational religion-based identity. The state is relevant to the extent it helps to achieve the goals of a radicalized Muslim vis-à-vis others who do not share their Islamic-orthodox worldview.
"Second, the notion of collective good or societal responsibility is replaced with the obligation of a Muslim toward God and the Muslim community as represented by Islamic movements. The notion of a person or a group undertaking some steps for the welfare of the ordinary community or the nation-state is not important. Similarly, a radical Muslim may use violence without paying any attention to the cost of his action to other human beings, including other Muslims, or to Pakistan as a nation-state.
"A large number of Pakistani youth are attracted to Islamic radicalism and do not feel obligated to the imperatives of collective good or societal responsibility except in an Islamic context, because the majority of them have nothing else to look forward to in their life. The state of Pakistan pays little attention to their welfare, and is unable to ensure a secure future for them.
"All those going abroad do not find it easy to obtain a secure and stable life. This also applies to a good number of male children of Pakistani parents in adopted countries. These youngsters have a tendency to develop alienation from the adopted country and become vulnerable to hardline religious appeals. They adopt an Islamic way of life and mindset that shapes their disposition toward the adopted country and the international system. These trends have become more pronounced since September 2001. A small minority among them may opt for violence against the state and society, which are perceived as nasty, unsympathetic and anti-Muslim. Their visits to Pakistan are for reaffirmation and reinforcement of the rediscovered Islamic identity."
Pervez Hoodbhoy in "Faisal Shahzad's Anti-Americanism"
"Murderous Intent Follows with the Conviction That the U.S. is Responsible for All Ills, Both in Pakistan and the World of Islam; Faisal Shahzad... Acquired That Murderous Intent"
"As anti-U.S. lava spews from the fiery volcanoes of Pakistan's private television channels and newspapers, a collective psychosis grips the country's youth. Murderous intent follows with the conviction that the U.S. is responsible for all ills, both in Pakistan and the world of Islam.
"Faisal Shahzad, with his designer sunglasses and an MBA degree from the University of Bridgeport, acquired that murderous intent. Living his formative years in Pakistan, he typifies the young Pakistani who grew up in the shadow of [former military dictator] Ziaul Haq's hate-based education curriculum [during the 1980s]. The son of a retired air vice-marshal, life was easy, as was getting U.S. citizenship subsequently. But at some point the toxic schooling and media tutoring must have kicked in.
"There was guilt as he saw pictures of Gaza's dead children and related them to U.S. support for Israel. Internet browsing or, perhaps, the local mosque steered him toward the idea of an Islamic caliphate. This solution to the world's problems would require, of course, the U.S. to be destroyed. Hence Shahzad's self-confessed trip to Waziristan."
"Although Pakistan and the U.S. are Formal Allies, in the Public Perception the U.S. has Ousted India as Pakistan's No. 1 Enemy"
"Ideas considered extreme a decade ago are now mainstream. A private survey carried out by a European embassy based in Islamabad found that only four percent of Pakistanis polled speak well of America; 96 per cent are against.
"Although Pakistan and the U.S. are formal allies, in the public perception the U.S. has ousted India as Pakistan's No. 1 enemy. Remarkably, anti-U.S. sentiment rises in proportion to aid received. Say a good word about the U.S., and you are labelled as its agent. From what TV anchors had to say about it, Kerry-Lugar's $7.5 billion might have been money that the U.S. wants to steal from Pakistan rather than give to it.
"Pakistan is not the only country where America is unpopular. In pursuit of its self-interest, the U.S. has waged illegal wars, bribed, bullied and overthrown governments, supported tyrants and undermined movements for progressive change. Paradoxically, America is disliked more in Pakistan than in countries which have borne the direct brunt of its attacks – Cuba, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. Why?
"Drone strikes are a common but false explanation. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi implicitly justifies the Times Square bombing as retaliation, but this does not bear up. Drone attacks have killed some innocents but they have devastated militant operations in Waziristan while causing far less collateral damage than Pakistan Army operations."
"[The] Cities of Hanoi and Haiphong [During Vietnam War] Were Carpet-Bombed by B-52 Bombers... Yet Vietnam Never Developed Visceral Feelings Like Those in Pakistan"
"On the other hand, the cities of Hanoi and Haiphong were carpet-bombed by B-52 bombers, and Vietnam's jungles were defoliated with Agent Orange. Yet Vietnam never developed visceral feelings like those in Pakistan.
"Finding truer reasons requires deeper digging. In part, Pakistan displays a client state's resentment for its paymaster. U.S.-Pakistan relations are transactional today, but the master-client relationship is older. Indeed, Pakistan chose this path because confronting India over Kashmir demanded big defense budgets. In the 1960s, Pakistan entered into the [anti-Communism] SEATO and CENTO military pacts, and was proud to be called 'America's most allied ally.' The Pakistan Army became the most powerful, well-equipped and well-organized institution in the country. This also put Pakistan on the foreign dole.
"The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, even as it brought in profits, deepened the dependence. Paid by the U.S. to create the anti-Soviet jihadist apparatus, Pakistan is now being paid again to fight that war's blowback. Pakistan then entered George W. Bush's war on terror to enhance America's security – a fact that further hurt its self-esteem. It is a separate matter that Pakistan fights that very war for its own survival and must call upon its own army to protect the population from throat-slitting fanatics.
"Passing the buck is equally fundamental to Pakistan's anti-Americanism. It is in human nature to blame others for one's own failures. Pakistan has long teetered between being a failed state and a failing state. The rich won't pay taxes? Sparse electricity? Contaminated drinking water? Kashmir unsolved? Blame it on the Americans. This phenomenon exists elsewhere too..."
"Tragically for Pakistan, Anti-Americanism Plays Squarely into the Hands of Islamic Militants; They Vigorously Promote the Notion of an Islam-West War"
"They will keep fighting this war even if America were to miraculously evaporate. Created by poverty, a war culture and the macabre manipulations of Pakistan's intelligence services, they seek a total transformation of society. This means eliminating music, art, entertainment and all manifestations of modernity. Side goals include chasing away the few surviving native Christians, Sikhs and Hindus.
"At a time when the country needs clarity of thought to successfully fight extremism, simple bipolar explanations are inadequate. The moralistic question 'Is America good or bad?' is futile.
"There is little doubt that the U.S. has committed acts of aggression, as in Iraq, and maintains the world's largest military machine. We know that it will make a deal with the Taliban if perceived to be in its self-interest – even if that means abandoning the Afghans to bloodthirsty fanatics. Yet, it would be wrong to scorn the humanitarian impulse behind U.S. assistance in times of desperation. Shall we write off massive U.S. assistance to Pakistan at the time of the earthquake of 2005? Or to tsunami-affected countries in 2004?
"In truth, the U.S. is no more selfish or altruistic than any other country. And it treats its Muslim citizens infinitely better than we treat non-Muslims in Pakistan.
"Instead of pronouncing moral judgments on everything and anything, we Pakistanis need to reaffirm what is truly important for our people: peace, economic justice, good governance, rule of law, accountability of rulers, women's rights and rationality in human affairs. Washington must be resisted, but only when it seeks to drag Pakistan away from these goals. More frenzied anti-Americanism will produce more Faisal Shahzads."
Ardeshir Cowasjee in "Paths of Terrorism Lead But To Pakistan"
"Many of Our Neo-Terrorists are Schooled and Brainwashed Beings, with a Grudge, or Several Grudges, Imbued with Bravado, Intent on Disrupting What is Left of Civilized Life"
"The adoption of terrorism tactics can no longer be merely attributed to ignorance, poverty, deprivation or hardship. Many of our neo-terrorists are schooled and brainwashed beings, with a grudge, or several grudges, imbued with bravado, intent on disrupting what is left of civilized life, with nary a care as to how many complete strangers they either blow to smithereens or maim, or how much they destroy.
"Pakistan of course has its daily dose of terrorism, in one form or another. Schools are blown up with regularity in the newly named K-P [formerly North West Frontier Province, but now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa] province, bodies of men executed by the local Taliban are found, men have their hands chopped off, women are 'dishonored,' and our main cities are under siege, bunkered and concreted, awaiting the suicide bomber from up north or from down south in Punjab where they are said to be heavily congregated; for one, Ajmal Kasab [the militant sentenced to death in India for the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks].
"Unless one of those strange and much despised creatures known as VIPs or often VVIPs are targeted, suicide and other bombings no longer earn headlines in the media. They are now taken as a matter of course..."
"[Faisal Shahzad] is But One of a String of Notable Pakistanis Who have Garnered Academic Degrees and are not Materially Down and Out in Any Way"
"[A]part from terrorism connections within Pakistan, we have those outside Pakistan, the paths of which lead straight into our heartland. The latest New York Times Square failed car bomber is but one of a string of notable Pakistanis who have garnered academic degrees and are not materially down and out in any way. What is it about Pakistan that it manages to produce so many young men who are violence prone, caring neither for their own or other people's lives? We seriously need to ask ourselves this question.
"It was asked and partially answered in The Wall Street Journal of May 3 by Sadanand Dhume under the heading 'Why Pakistan Produces Jihadists.' He firstly asks: 'Why do Pakistan and the Pakistani diaspora churn out such a high proportion of the world's terrorists?' He cites Mir Aimal Kasi, the CIA shooter; Ramzi Yousef, the 1993 World Trade Centre bomber; Khalid Sheikh Mohammed of 9/11 fame; Omar Saeed Sheikh, Daniel Pearl's kidnapper; and three of the four July 2005 London train bombers as being 'made in Pakistan.' He goes on to list a few 'whose passage to jihadism passes through' Pakistan –Osama bin Laden himself, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, Mohamed Atta, Richard Reid and his shoe, and John Walker Lindh of the so-called American Taliban. These are not lists to be proud of.
"Something is radically wrong, and heaven alone knows how long it will take to even start to put it right. With the governments and leadership we have suffered and still suffer it is not likely that in the foreseeable future our production line will decrease, let alone cease.
"Dhume puts much of it down to the distant past, to the formation of the country when he claims it 'was touched by the messianic zeal of pan-Islamism,' with men such as Muhammad Asad (an early ambassador to the UN), Said Ramadan who collaborated with Abul Ala Maududi and with the 1949 establishment by Pakistan of the world's first transnational Islamic organisation, the World Muslim Congress.
"All this possibly may have set the trend – with massive help from former Pakistani leader] Liaquat Ali Khan's 1949 Objectives Resolution – but it was not until Ziaul Haq, army general and devout worshipper at the altar of his own dangerous brand of Islam, that bigotry and the inevitable violence that must accompany it truly set in. Even the mighty army was tainted, to a certain extent brainwashed by the joys of jihad."
"The Full Conversion of the Pakistani Mind Toward Militancy was Stamped by the Support Given... to the Mujahideen in Afghanistan and Then By the Adoption of the Taliban by Benazir Bhutto"
"The seal on the full conversion of the Pakistani mind toward militancy was stamped by the support given by Zia to the Mujahideen in Afghanistan and then by the adoption of the Taliban by Benazir Bhutto's second government.
"No one, not even the most nationalistic Pakistani, can deny that the country is used as a training ground for terrorists or jihadists or whatever. It is open knowledge that both the ignorant poor and deprived and the university-educated youth, and even adult men, can come to Pakistan and learn how to make bombs to blow up themselves, if they so wish, and as many others that they can either take with them or leave dead and maimed while they flee.
"Can some bright psychologist work out why Faisal Shahzad, a college graduate, son of a Pakistani air force officer, married with two children, was prompted to do what he did on May Day?
"[Human rights campaigner] I.A. Rehman has written an excellent column, finely tuned and finely balanced, published in this newspaper on May 6, on the subject of anarchy in Pakistan.[5] It sets out many of the acts of government in recent days which come under the heading of anarchy.
"It should be widely disseminated so that people realize just what their lives are all about under this present dispensation which is at as much a loss with itself as it is with the governance of this unruly country. It is a sad commentary on the seemingly deliberate acts of commission and omission which so relentlessly beset us.
"Strangely, the sole anarchic activity he has missed out on is the terrorism and jihad factor. Perhaps he, like so many, is hardened to the fact that it exists, that it has become a way of life and that it seemingly cannot be dealt with by the civilian government we have lurking on the ground, or will not be dealt with, for reasons we can but guess at, by the army that is the de facto ruler of this country for which the world at large has no love lost."
