NOREF - Pakistan and Islamism

Home > Regions > Asia > Pakistan > Pakistan and Islamism

Author

Abdul Hameed Nayyar

Dr. A. H. Nayyar is a prominent Pakistani physicist who retired from Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, after teaching there for over 30 years. Currently he is a Senior Research Fellow at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Islamabad, where he does policy research in the areas of educa...
More

Related publications

Prospects for youth-led movements for political change in Pakistan: Michael Kugelman , 16 January 2012
Pakistan’s Population Prospects: Michael Kugelman , 28 October 2011
Taking Stock: Madrasa Reform in Pakistan: Kaja Borchgrevink , Kristian Berg Harpviken , 6 July 2011
Pakistan’s Madrasas: Moderation or Militancy? The madrasa debate and the reform process: Kaja Borchgrevink , 22 June 2011
Coping with a failing Pakistan: Stephen P. Cohen , 22 February 2011
Pakistan: the rising dangers: Marco Mezzera , 24 January 2011
Pakistan: dealing with peace in the tribal areas?: Laila Bokhari , 22 November 2010

Download full text

Pakistan and Islamism

Abdul Hameed Nayyar , 21 September 2009

Pakistan and Afghanistan are at a critical juncture in their history. Islamic militancy has made rapid advances in these countries, and if unchecked, will gain control of them. Regional stability depends on two important conditions: external forces must vacate the region as soon as possible; yet, at the same time, they must not leave a power vacuum in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Islamabad needs a paradigm shift in its national security thinking. Above all, it needs to send clear signals to the Pakistani people and militants by sanctioning those who wage militancy, both within and outside the state. International pressure could help Islamabad to make this shift and its campaign against Islamic militancy must proceed unabated. No less urgent are governance issues that threaten stability in Baluchistan, where insurgency is an indigenous problem and requires political compromises for an effective response.