The recent attack on a Church in Islamabad is truly shocking. Every decent human being condoles with the families of those who died in vain and sympathizes with the wounded hoping for their early recovery. These people were innocent and they were in a place of worship offering their prayers. That anybody should have attacked them in such an act and in such a place shakes ones’ faith in humanity. Moreover, it makes one greatly concerned about the future of Pakistan. There have been attacks on mosques recently as well as other cases of terrorism. Are we heading towards a perpetual state of armed conflict in which mostly the innocent are victims? How have things come to such a pass? What can be done about it? These are the things which come to the mind.
I believe there are domestic and external factors for creating terrorists who indulge in such acts of wanton cruelty. Let us take the domestic ones first and then go on to the external ones.
Pakistan was created by leaders educated in the early 20th century liberal tradition so as to give a sense of security as well as political and economic power to the Muslim middle and upper classes. These classes were most articulate in north India where they had been privileged earlier and would lose their privilege in a Hindu-dominated free India. They were also enthusiastic in East Bengal where they had been traditionally suppressed and marginalized despite their greater numbers. As groups are mobilized around symbols of identity, the Muslim League used the symbols of Islam and Urdu for constructing Muslim nationalism. Some religious pressure groups opposed the Muslim League because they did not trust their Anglicized and secularized leadership. Others did support them but on the general understanding that Islam would be a living political and economic way of existence in the new country. The Muslim League talked of Islam but never gave an exact, operational definition of it nor did it clarify exactly what interpretation of Islam would be used, and in which domain, in the new state. Thus the ulema, the interpreters of Islam, felt betrayed when, despite promises and rhetoric, the new state of Pakistan was run along practically secular lines like other modern states.
The problems were two. First, the ruling elite of the state kept exploiting the symbols of Islam and Urdu to strengthen its rule over all federating units including the rebellious East Bengal and the North West Frontier Province. Second, the ruling elite did not actually create a modern state with its literate population and fairly satisfactory living standards. Thus we had a rich, very powerful, rapacious and Anglicized elite cheek by jowl with a medieval, penurious, population which believed in tradition, the intervention of saints and their representatives and, of course, the clergy. And yet, although medieval, our people were no fools. Every time they were asked to vote they voted for people who, in their opinion, would make their daily lives better. Yet the Bhuttos of this land did not really deliver though did make aspirations soar.
Then came General Zia ul Haq who put the lid on ordinary political aspirations and opinions opening up new channels. Among these channels was Sectarianism. Thus the Sunni militant organizations grew in Jhang and spread elsewhere and, in response, the Shia militant organizations also spread all over the land. The state did not suppress them initially nor were efforts made to absorb the energetic young men who joined these organizations into productive and paying labour. Instead, the militant organizations were promoted and soon became a law unto themselves. Meanwhile the state promoted such puritanism in the name of Pakistani culture that the people became extremely intolerant to all displays of pleasure and non-religious celeberations.
In short, on the domestic front the fact that Pakistan’s ruling elite has been hypocritically using the name of Islam has led to a sense of indignation among the religious groups which feel that they are better qualified to interpret what Islam actually is and to implement it. Moreover, the fact that we have such abysmal poverty and ignorance has made it possible for so many bitter, disillusioned young men to join militant groups be they of religious or ethnic parties. Even worse is the fact that, since the rich have become richer and the poor poorer in the last few years, there is much hidden anger against the lifestyle of the rich. In practice it appears that the people protest against the westernized lifestyle whereas the fact is that they are really angry at the flaunting of wealth. As this is express in the religious idiom the general impression is that religious groups are protesting against such western customs as the celebration of the New Year or Valentine Day. The anger against such things comes from deprivation and want and not only religious convictions.
The external factors are even more responsible for creating terrorism. First, I believe, is the Kashmir problem. If India had the foresight to have solved this issue peacefully, perhaps by plebiscite, in 1947-48 the whole of South Asia would have suffered less and prospered more. A perpetual conflict leads to bitterness and militant minds come up with aggressive policies such as the Operation Gibraltar (sending in of fighters) by Pakistan in 1965 and again in Kargil in 1999. Similarly militant minds in India have responded by atrocities against the indigenous movement for freedom in Kashmir and by amassing troops on the borders since December 2001. More relevant for the issues discussed in this article, the intelligence agencies of Pakistan started using the religous militants, who had been conscripted earlier to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan, to fight in Kashmir. Because they were fighting in Kashmir they were not punished for sectarian crime and brandishing weapons in Pakistan. Thus a large force of committed, very militant, very daring combatants became part of Pakistan’s domestic scene.
The other external factors have to do with the policies of Israel and the United States. I must make it clear that I have always had great sympathy for Jews because of their suffering in the pogroms of medieval Europe and especially because of Hitler’s atrocities towards them. However, when Zionists and hardliners in Israel treat the Arabs like dirt denying them rights and responding to stones with bullets then one cannot but condemn the Israeli government. These atrocities are also watched or heard by the Islamic militants in Pakistan who know very little about how much the Jews have suffered. Imagine how angry they become when they see Arab women wailing for their dead teenaged sons. This is the psychological material in the creation of terrorists and unless the situation changes, terrorism cannot be eliminated.
As for the United States, let me make it clear that I refer only to the government and not the ordinary citizens of the country. But let me also add that this disinction is not made by the poor young men, deprived as they have been of a decent education, who make up the armies of religious groups. So, when they find that the American government does not prevent Israel from its atrocities against the Arabs they believe that a crusade is going on and it is America, and all Americans, who are their enemies. After September 11, American government actions have created even more outrage as I had predicted in articles written last year. First, it is almost incredible that a whole country should be attacked to destroy a terrorist network and made so miserable that ordinary people are selling their children. Second, after an unequal war the principal masters of the terrorist network are never found. Third, those who are taken prisoners are treated so inhumanely that every decent person everywhere has condemned it unambiguously. But all this has happened in Afghanistan and, of course, it has created the kind of rage in the religious groups of Pakistan which creates suicide missions. I have always maintained that such actions of the United States are not in its own long term interest as they would create more terrorism. I know my view is anathema for the more aggressive American policy-makers but I present it nevertheless in the interest of peace and security for all.
And now, finally, what is to be done? Steps such as checking cars, especially belonging to the less powerful people in the country, are quite useless. Security measures might bear results if they appear to be applied in a fair and just manner to everybody. Moreover, if the policemen on duty are themselves low paid, tired and irritable the kind of checking they do merely increases the simmering anger among the poor especially when they see staff cars whizz by unchecked. What may be useful, therefore, are long term measures such as increasing schools, job opportunities and creating amenities for the people. When people are prosperous and are not being harassed by their environment they tend to be less angry and these large armies of angry, unemployed youths melt away. Moreover, celebrations by the rich need not be so insensitive to the peoples cultural norms as to hurt and anoy them. Recently there have been excesses at New Year, Valentine and Basant and in a country of have-nots which is facing a warlike situation and whose neighbours (the common people of Afghanistan) are starving these excesses appear insensitive. Moreover, the years of rule by Zia ul Haq have made people less receptive of such behaviour and it would be foolish to ignore their feelings. Moderation and increase in enlightened education might make people more receptive especially if their living standards increase by and by.
But even this will not bring about peace unless Israel and America are persuaded to change their policies. If they do and the American media starts showing the sufferings of the Arabs and the Afghans thus making decent, ordinary Americans influence their government for the better, the chances for peace will increase. I long for a day when mosques, churches, temples, pagodas, schools and transport are all safe---when all human beings everywhere go about in peace and safety! But would such a day dawn in my own lifetime?