Terrorism, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the US role in the region

1. Terrorism, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the US role in the region Dr. Syed Hussain Shaheed Soherwordi syedshaheed@hotmail.co.uk

2. In the popular mind, extremism and terrorism are invariably linked to ethnic and religious factors. But the dominant history of Scotland is notable for tolerance and co-existence, despite highly plural societies. However, keeping in view global and local country-wise developments, it would seem vitally important to re-examine a phenomenon that shows little signs of receding, let alone being defeated.

3. Current Threats: Local Extremism THIS PRESENTATION OFFERS A FRESH PERSPECTIVE TO EXPLAIN THE CONTOURS OF EXTREMEISM BRINGING TOGETHER INSIGHTS FROM GLOBAL EXPRESSIONS TO LOCAL IMPRESSIONS.

4. DEFINITION • “Intended to cause death or serious bodily harm to civilians or non-combatants with the purpose of intimidating a population or compelling a government or an international organization to do or abstain from doing any act". • The calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature. The violence may be done through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear. • According to Osama Bin Ladin, ‘If killing those who kill our sons is terrorism, then let history be witness that we are terrorists’.

5. CHARACTERISTICS OF TERRORISM • A terrorist act is politically inspired. • It does involve violence or a threat of violence. • Its purpose is to convey and communicate a political message by attracting attention of the people (media) (terrorists want lots of people watching lots of people dead. More deaths mean big news on BBC, CNN, FOX, and ITV etc).

6. The terrorist act and terrorist’s victim usually have symbolic significance. (OBL, for example, referred to the Twin Towers as ‘icons’ of America’s ‘military and economic power’ (Rubin and Rubin, 2002: 261) • Terrorism is the act of sub-state groups or states. • Victim of violence and the Terrorists’ audience are two different people. Victims must be innocent so that a terrorist act may influence a government’s policy or policies • A deliberate targeting of civilians. This makes terrorism apart from other forms of political violence

7. Role of Madressas- A case Study • After 9/11 termed as ‘terrorist factories’, ‘incubators of violent extremism’, and hate factories • 79 terrorists responsible for 5 of the worst anti-Western terrorist attacks in recent memory— the WTC bombing-1993, the Africa embassy bombings-1998, the 9/11, the Bali nightclub bombings-2002, and the London bombings- July 7, 2005— reveals that only 11 percent of the terrorists had attended madrassas.

8. 48% attended schools in the West • 58% attained scientific or technical degrees. • Engineering and medicine the most popular subjects studied by the terrorists • Strong correlation between technical education and terrorism which is not available in Madressas Hence Madrassas are less closely correlated with producing terrorists than are Western colleges, where students from abroad may feel alienated, oppressed, disagree with policies and may turn toward militant Islam.

9. 7/7 London Bombings • The 7/7 bombings in London- the work of home grown British terrorists with suspected Al Qaeda ties. • Hasib Hussain, Shehzad Tanweer and Muhammad Sidique Khan • Studies business studies, child care and sports science from Leeds University and colleges. Their visits to Pakistan were for very brief tenures of time. Local influences appeared to play a far greater role in the radicalization of these young men than did their brief trips to Pakistani madrassas.

10. GLOBAL Policies Local Extremism • Post September 11- a political and diplomatic issue dealt by military means. (Slobodan Milošević, Radovan Karadžić) • An unnatural solution to the problem- making peace by war. • Wars won in Afghanistan and Iraq but lost peace. A war without public support, condemned and denounced by the people.

11. Unnatural wars resulted in production of extremists and terrorists like militant Islamists, SDL, EDL and Islamophobia in the West. • The war is being brought home, not just fought abroad. • Pakistan, Britain, Afghanistan and Iraq all face a central reality: unlike the US, these governments are dealing with their own populations. • The US double standards- Comprehensive vs. selective definitions of terrorism in Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan reflect America’s flawed policies.

12. Conclusion • After 9 long years, we are still in search of peace. • Wrong policies made weak enemy stronger. • Need for a dialogue amongst civilizations rather than a clash of civilizations • Diplomacy, Democratic principles and our Development- principles of our growth. • We should be equally confident that we can withstand the threat ‘they’ pose.