Gap analysis of Pakistan’s non-kinetic responses to violent extremism

Abstract

Pakistan’s counter-terrorism (CT) strategy represents a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic means. Besides the use of military, intelligence and police force, the state has also employed de-radicalization, rehabilitation and counter-narrative campaigns to counter-extremism in its violent and non-violent manifestations. However, a significant decline in accumulative number of terrorist incidents from 2014 onward led the authorities to slash efforts and resources on soft CT front. Using “Three Levels of Analysis” by Moghadam, which dissects the root causes of extremism and terrorism at the levels of individuals, organizations and the environment, this paper seeks to provide a brief overview of the soft measures adopted by Pakistan at these three levels. Subsequently, through the application of the RAND’s de-radicalization framework (individual-level), organizational transformation (organizational-level) and Aristotle’s Communication model presented in Rhetoric (environmental level), the paper compares and contrasts these non-kinetic interventions with established practices and cases of soft CT in other parts of the world. It argues that quantitative decline in the incidents of terrorism from 2014 onwards must not lead to counter-terror triumphalism. Post-drawdown (American withdrawal from Afghanistan) spike in the incidents of terrorism in Pakistan attests to importance of sustained CVE efforts to deal with the new character of extremism and terrorism in the country.

Keywords

• Countering violent extremism (CVE)
• counter-terrorism (CT)
• de-radicalisation
• rehabilitation
• counter-narrative