The Problem with Extremists in Pakistan
By Sal Suboor
San Diego, CA
The US approach to tackle the extremist problem in Pakistan involves dropping of bombs to kill the extremists. The problem with this plan is that it works with faceless germs and bacteria, but not with people.
In the tribal area both the extremists and the non-extremist, moderate people live together. When you bomb the extremists you also kill the moderate folks. That creates a new crop of extremists, known formerly as "the regular people".
The Pakistanis have two approaches to face up to this problem. The first one is, "Do what the Americans tell you to do, or they will come and do it for you". That approach has the same result as the American bombing formula, since it involves bombing our own territory under pressure from the US.
The second approach that the Pakistanis employ from time to time is that of conducting negotiations with the extremists. Negotiations are the right approach, however, the negotiations, as they are being conducted today, are not effective.
First of all, in order to negotiate one must understand the people with whom one is negotiating. They want to create the same "Islamic Utopia" in Pakistan that they were able to build in Afghanistan before 9/11. They want to implement shariah. Pakistanis hear the word often and ponder: how could someone talking about shariah do us harm? Here, one must ask: what shariah are you talking about? The shariah you and I understand is different from what they hope to impose. For their shariah includes practices like blowing up businesses, destroying schools, setting hotels on fire, and yes, suicide bombings, and beheading of innocent civilians.
Secondly, our negotiations with the Taliban should be on our terms, not theirs. We should define what they must do to implement a peace agreement. Since we do not seem to have the upper hand, the option of negotiations doesn't seem to be working. We negotiate, they get the break they need, and they regroup and fortify their positions, and press on. What must we do?
First of all, Pakistani's must ask themselves: Is this the Pakistan they want for their children? Is this the Pakistan they want for their future? Do we want to live in a country where you cannot enjoy music and the arts? Where TV sets are banned and where there are no shops where you could get a haircut. Where women cannot work and can be inducted into slavery just because they are women? Is this the Islam we have in mind? Is this what we call "the religion of peace"? A religion that is imposed, not embraced? A faith that is followed under the threat of violence, not out of love of God and his Prophet (peace be upon him)?
Islam is the religion of peace and tolerance. Islam was introduced to the world as a force for good and a framework for building a society based on the pursuit of justice, tolerance, kindness and generosity.
We need to go on a media blitz and start educating our masses about how ridiculous and absurd these ideas are. There is nothing Islamic about them.
