DYNAMICS OF TERRORISM IN PAKISTAN: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Abstract
Due to Pakistan's geo-political imperative and its commitment to safeguarding its regional influence based on religious ideology, the nation has become a fertile environment for extremists’ ideologies to flourish. The state-supported Jihad narrative has been a significant factor leading Pakistan to compromise its internal and external affairs. These causes of terrorism in Pakistan are multifaceted, with links to poverty, injustice, low literacy rates, and poor rule of law. Particularly rural areas are most vulnerable, with fragile development indicators and a dominant orthodox narratives established by the state during the war against Russia in Afghanistan. Anti-terrorism strategies were not effectively implemented until the late 1990s, allowing extremist narratives to gain momentum amidst rising poverty, economic instability, and the cross-border movement of militants settling near the Durand Line.
Key Words: Terrorism, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Economic Security, Fundamentalism