Review of Literature on Extremism in Pakistan

The anti-liberal narratives have not only been dwarfing the status of minorities as citizens but also made Pakistan, in a position where Islamism has eliminated political liberalism, a norm which is a combination of social, political and ideological plurality (Siddiqa 2011a). Whereas non-state entities like Lashkar-e-Taiba [LeT] and other militant outfits ‘are presented not only as normal in Pakistan but also part of indigenous growth’, political liberalism has not been allowed to grow due to Islamism drive (Siddiqa 2011a).  Radicalisation in Pakistan manifests itself all across society, whether political parties, religious organisations, sects and society at large. Ayesha Siddiqa in a piece in The Express Tribune wrote in 2011 that the issue in Pakistan is not merely militancy but radicalism at large. “While militancy translates into violence against pockets of people, radicalism destroys a society internally” The liberals have not come forward as zealously to propagate their narratives as the extremist zealots breed and reproduce their rendering. The consequence is the Pakistan society sitting as a whole at the edge of the ‘jihadi Frankstein’ The Business Standard quotes an important data from Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies Report 2023, whereby, an increase in violence in Pakistan was up by 17% over the previous year 2022 (Business Standard January 4, 2024). Following review of literature shall be helpful for scholars who intend to study extremism and violence in Pakistan particularly post 9/11 incidence.

Keywords:
Review Literature, Extremism, Pakistan