Abstract
The origin and foundations of religious extremism in Pakistan are a byzantine mix of national,
regional and international influences resulting in a complex scenario. The extremists have been
multiplied as a result of improved organization, and comparative inaction of government to
counter them. Muslim extremism at the global level has a variety of root causes. The Afghan war
of the 1980s supported and assisted by the West as a proxy war against the Soviet Union, saw the
appearance and promotion of pan-Islamic militancy. Islam as a religion was used to tie together
masses, worldwide Muslim support. Since Pakistan‟s establishment as a distinct state in 1947,
Pakistan has struggled with the connotation of its identity. General Zia, who tumbled the
government of Z. A. Bhutto in 1977, used Islam to validate his rule. Extended military
interferences in politics led to an insecure political system. Ethnic differences and nationalist
movements further deteriorated it. In such surroundings, parties were estimated as the shields of
national identity based on Islamic standards and temperate political forces were considered as an
intimidation to Islamic identity of Pakistan
Saqib Khan, Umbreen Javaid. (2016) Extremism in Contemporary Pakistan: Threats, Causes and Future Policy, South Asian Studies, Volume 31, Issue 2.
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