Re: Solid Suggestions...to eliminate radicalization
Not sure about radicalization but for getting rid of terrorism, I thing we need to concentrate on three things: capability, incentive, and opportunity. I think I read something about incentive and opportunity a few days ago so may be my idea is inspired from that. Basically they are striking at us because they are capable of doing so, because they are motivated to do so and because we provide them easy opportunities to do so. Get rid of either of these, and it will stop.
Capability: The terrorists are striking us because they are capable of doing so. Reduce their capability by identifying and destroying their money and ammunition trails, and training centers. When they won't be capable, they won't strike at us. Introduce and implement laws so that each and every transaction of money can be tracked and introduce and implement laws to make the availability of bomb making material impossible or at least difficult. Get rid of 'ilaaqa e ghair'. Offer a referendum to tribal areas. Either make it a separate province or a part of KPK. Get the government machinery there: police, judiciary, universities, industries etc.
Incentive: They strike us because they are motivated by the jihadist narrative. Counter it with a better, more sensible narrative. The other incentive could be that a common man in Pakistan does not feel a part of the system. He feels useless. Give him some self-respect. Introduce local government so that at least a common man feels that he has a say in the affairs of his street/village. Make him feel important. I remember, when we were kids, we'd curse the politicians. We'd say the solution to all the problems of Pakistan is making all the politicians stand in line and shooting them. They represented the system and that is the only way we thought we could change the system. We hated it and those who represented it. I studied in an Army Public School and our teachers used to tell us of the heroism of the jihadis. We were taught that one muslims is equal to 100 Hindus and that Hindus are tang-nazar and that the Kuffaar are our enemies. We were raised thinking the world is an arena of Muslim vs Kuffar battle. Let's stop poisoning the brains of our kids and teach them of diversity and acceptance of other religions and human beings. A common Pakistani man is raised with the motivation of 'islam ka dunya pe ghalba'. It's no surprise that we see soo many young terrorists.
Opportunity: They strike us because we give them easy opportunities to do so. We need to beef up the security of our key installations, highways etc. We need to be more vigilant. Modernize and equip the police. Improve patrolling of Pak-Afghan border. Give the police modern communication, forensics, and weapons. Raise their strength. Even if they are capable of hitting us and are motivated but if we don't give them the opportunity, they won't be able to strike us.
Just my few cents.
A very sensible post. The focus on terror is exactly the need of the hour.
Insofar as changing the narrative is concern, we need to do more. We need to foster a sense of civic responsibility, identity and duty. And we need to demand the same of our leaders. When the terrorism problem is gone, the inherent corruption, state within a state, and so on will remain. It's exactly this nonsense that has led Pakistanis to be so lax about the sanctity of the state. It's this mentality that is letting all and sundry run roughshod over it. This speaks, I think, to the attitude of cursing politicians. We see examples all over us over what power vacuums do. It's horrible...beyond a nightmare. We need to work with the system as it is. The idea of Pakistan is beautiful on paper. We don't need grand visions and revolutions of any sort to fix it. Sadly, we need the state to apply it's power to clean up a horrible mess, and we need the citizens to watch over this.
