Dealing militants militarily is, of course, indispensable in the present circumstances, but it amounts to suppressing the fever and not treating the infection, or the cancer, causing the fever. The Bangladesh Today, Dhaka Pakistan Army and Air Force are struggling in Swat and Bajour, the restive North Western areas of the country, to destroy the hideouts of militants. In Sawat, a suicidal vehicle has been targeted successfully. In Bajour the daylong air strikes killed many terrorists. The big question, however, is: if Army succeeds in ending the present turmoil, will the problem be sorted out forever? Dealing militants militarily is, of course, indispensable in the present circumstances, but it amounts to suppressing the fever and not treating the infection, or the cancer, causing the fever. There are three main factors behind unending replenishment of manpower to militants. Firstly, policies of successive Pakistani governments vis-à-vis mushroom growth of madrasas (Islamic seminaries)...

Those of us who are attributing the rise of talibanisation in Pakistan to the American presence in the backyard are oversimplifying the matter. The oversimplification becomes cause of concern when even the anti -Talibanisation elements yield to this view. Talibanization can be defined as the brand of Islam propounded by certain people ,or groups of people ,completely intolerant to those who do not agree with their views.. There is no harm in propounding, even preaching, a version of one's choice. The problem arises when the stick hits the nose. When dissidents are coerced to subscribe and practice to that affect, and are eliminated in the case of refusal, the intolerance takes the form of shenanigan. It is ,therefore, Intolerance, which is the crux of the matter.. One has to understand the mindset of madrasa students and teachers to comprehend the properties, dimensions and implications of this intolerance in context of the underlying structure of the society in Pakistan.. There...

Those who are attributing rise of talibanisation in Pakistan to American presence in Pakistan’s backyard are oversimplifying the matter. The over simplification becomes cause of concern when even the anti –Talibanisation elements yield to this view. Talibanization can be defined as the brand of Islam propounded by certain people ,or groups of people ,completely intolerant to those who do not agree with their views. There is no harm in propounding, even preaching, a version of one's choice. The problem arises when the stick hits the nose. When dissidents are coerced to subscribe and practice to that affect, and are eliminated in the case of refusal, the intolerance takes the form of shenanigan. It is ,therefore, Intolerance, which is the crux of the matter. One has to understand the mindset of madrasa students and teachers to comprehend the properties, dimensions and implications of this intolerance in context of the underlying structure of the society in Pakistan. There is no iron ...