It is widely reported that the Pakistan Army is reaching the last phase in its fight against the militants inside the country. According to a news article below: “The army says it has killed more than 2,700 militants since the launch of the offensive — dubbed Zarb-e-Azb — last June, and destroyed more than 800 of their hideouts.”
Operation Zarb-e-Azb: Army gearing up for final push in Shawal Valley - The Express Tribune
One of the key details to note is that these terrorist organizations have been successful in casting their evil ideology over the minds of many. We’ve seen these terrorist organizations manipulate men, women and even children into becoming suicide bombers.
Please share your opinion in regards to what must be done to prevent the terrorist organizations from spreading their influence and evil ideology.
Ali Khan
Digital Engagement Team, USCENTCOM
In my view, three steps need to be taken and not necessarily in this order.
1.
Sectarian MilitantTakedown: Ruthlessly dismantle the sectarian political/terrorist network including the likes of ASWJ, Lashkar e Jhangvi (LeJ) and other affiliated groups in a country-wide crackdown with a particular focus on Punjab and Sind.
2.
Madrassa Reform and " Weed Out": Shut down radical madrassas that support terrorist groups, and register and monitor the funding channel/ curriculum for the remaining schools.
Which brings us to the final and most important step. Without which, the first two measures cannot be successfully implemented.
3.
Block Foreign Terror Funding: This primarily refers to foreign funding of sectarian political/terrorist groups and their support network of radical madrassas.
We know that the Saudis are responsible for a large chunk of funding for radical madrassas, as well as a host of local militant groups including the notorious Lashkar Jhangvi (LeJ)/ASWJ/ TTP combine responsible for a host of attacks over the last many years including the audacious assault on the GHQ in 2009.
Thankfully, our establishment seems to have finally learnt an important lesson
: Don't rely on pseudo-religious Salafi-inspired thugs to further geo-political agendas. The Al Saud need the Wahabi/Salafi establishment for political legitimacy.We don't have that problem.
Speaking of pseudo-religious Salafi marauders, ISIS is Saudi's "gift" to the muslim world and beyond. A network that now poses the biggest threat of the 21st century to the muslim and western world. Lets ask the obvious question.Where was the US when Saudis were busy creating and funding the ISIS/Daesh monster? Sitting by the sidelines and hoping for Assad's demise? Your own General Dempsey admitted as much the Saudi role in funding ISIS during a Senate hearing. Has the US not learnt anything from its mistakes?
The Al Saud have historically consistently relied on their Wahabi/Salafi foot soldiers/allies to achieve geo-political aims, reflected in their 200 year old alliance with the followers of Abdel Wahab. The Karbala massacre in 1801, the Ikhwan raping and pillaging entire communities across Hijaz in the early 1900s, the latest creation in the form of ISIS wreaking havoc across Iraq and Syria, are only a few examples of this enduring unholy alliance nurtured in the sands of Nejd. Until the wahabi/salafi ideology and funding infrastructure in Saudi is dismantled, murderous proxies like ISIS and LeJ will continue to be spawned. As always, the proxies have increasingly spun out of control and ISIS is simply the latest manifestation of chickens coming home to roost.
The US military is fighting ISIS and other Salafi-funded militant groups around the world including Somalia, Yemen, Libya, Iraq and Syria. Would'nt your job be a lot easier if the Saudis were made to see the light and renounce this deviant wahabi ideology, and stop funding ISIS, TTP, LeJ, Boko Haram, Al Shabab and other proxies around the world? Of course given the Al Saud's symbiotic and long-standing bond with their Wahabi brethren, it is not clear if they will course correct voluntarily.
Don't just fight the symptoms, treat the disease. Time to focus on the root of the problem. Our establishment understands that now. Does yours?