Home Journal List Pakistan Journal of Islamic Research Volume No. 21 Article Details

History of Religious Extremism and Radicalization in Pakistan

Abstract

The religious extremism has started in the region from the Soviet invasion into Afghanistan in 1979 and it was heat up when Pakistan had supported US-led ally forces in Afghanistan against Al-Qaeda and Taliban after 9/11 terrorist attacks.. The efforts for Islamic revitalization have been started in the beginning of 1700s in Indian Sub-Continent when Sha Walliullah had invited Nadir Shah, the ruler of Afghanistan, to fight against the Marhatta in India. The movement for Islamic revival was heat up when Ulema had appealed the Muslims of Sub-Continent for jihad after the triumph of the East India Company in the war of Plassey in 1857for to defeat Nawab Saraj-ud- Daulah, the ruler of Bengal. The Ulema believed that the British were fixed upon wresting the power from Muslims rulers. The Muslims personalities such as Shah Waliullah, Syed Ismail and Syed Ahmad Barelvi made struggles against Sikhs and East India Company Government in Indian Sub-Continent in the eighteen and nineteenth centuries and they converted their struggles into jihad against Sikhs , Marhatta and East India Company. The hostile attitude of the British towards Muslims ran to the birth and growth of Islamic reformist movement in India against the British. The creator of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah who was a spoke man and ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity from 1907-1929 had recognized that Muslims could not live politically and “flourish economically in a Hindu-dominated India after independence from the British rule. He emphasized the Muslims to make struggles for the division of India for separate a home for securing themselves economically and politically. This research paper examines the dynamic and dimensions of the radicalization and extremism during the whole struggle for independence of Pakistan. It highlights that how Islam was used as tool in Pakistan freedom movement. This paper also highlights that during Zia Regime, the policies and act of the military dictator nourished the radicalization and it was heat up in Zia regime.

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