Radicalism is not necessarily a religious phenomenon. It can happen in any ideological or secular leaning. It is secular. In fact, when Israel was created there was a group which was doing the same thing, i.e. creating terrorism, placing bombs, threatening the British and other forces to accept their demand. They practiced terrorism which culminated … Read more
“The radical groups and radicalization are undermining the norms and values of tolerance, co-existence, peace and pluralism in Pakistani society.” Hussain Naqi, National Coordinator for HRCP Core Groups, said this while giving his expert opinion in the PIPS media workshop on “Radicalization in Pakistan” on November 25, 2008, in Lahore. Mr. Naqi explained the tolerant … Read more
Starting from scratch on January 10, 2006, Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) has covered a lot of distance in the year 2006. In fact, if one looks over the shoulder, one realizes that, how so much could be achieved in such a short time. The institute, after overcoming its teething problems very quickly, has … Read more
The people we call radicals are alienated from rest of the society and don’t follow normative social and moral values. They are very vulnerable to be used by others. At the same time they have no motive of their own. They have never played any role for societal rights or any broader social change. These … Read more
“The principle of educating people of their human rights is to make them understand that they are not just ordinary entities or creations but rather, they are beings with human rights and human dignity,” said Jhune B. Pacis, who addressed a Workshop on Human Rights organized by PIPS in collaboration with Sungi Development Foundation, on … Read more
“Fingerprints of two persons don’t match. Irises of two persons don’t match. Similarly, psyches of different people do not match. Every individual has his/her own different psyche. If this is the case how can we have ‘one’ psychological definition of radicalization,” commented Dr. Javed Iqbal, who talked on ‘Defining the Radicalization in Pakistani context’ on … Read more
A group of 26 students from the departments of Defense and Strategic Studies and International Relations in Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad visited the Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) on October 21, 2008. They were briefed about the PIPS research initiatives in conflict and peace areas, PIPS Database, PIPS Archives and PIPS team. Ms Shabana … Read more
“The decisions and actions taken by the government, and the statements issued by President Zardari and the Prime Minister, show that the government favors a win-win situation for all of the stake-holders – Pakistan, India, and the Kashmiri people. The most probable outcome of the ongoing efforts on the front of seeking some solution to … Read more
The way Pakistani media has glorified the radicals and militants has not only emboldened the radical groups and organizations but has also caused an increase in the trend and level of radicalization in Pakistani society. The media must not lose sight from the fact that if the radical forces win in the country, their first … Read more
Seven years have passed after the incident of 9/11. international players, led by the US, have been issuing statements as well as making misdirected attempts to address the phenomenon of radicalization in Pakistan and other parts of the world, but, the reality is that the situation ha worsened further. In the beginning, the Pakistani state … Read more