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Pakistani youth & danger of radicalism
Pakistani youth in danger of radicalisation: study
| Washington, Nov 18: Pakistan's potential for youth radicalisation is high, given a poor education
system stratified along socio-economic lines and disparate economic
opportunities across society, according to a study published by the Brookings
Institution. Authored by Pakistani scholar and journalist Moeed Yusuf,
the study, titled 'The Prospects of Youth Radicalisation in Pakistan:
Implications for US Policy', finds warning signals that increase the likelihood
for young members of society being lured towards extremist causes. |
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The prospects
of this are increased because of the presence of an extremist infrastructure,
the impeccable organisational discipline and widespread social networks of
Pakistan's Islamic political and militant outfits, a failure of the moderate
forces to deliver credible results, and myopic US policies further enhance
Islamist influence. While there is a noticeable desire among Pakistani youth to
attain education and find respectable livelihoods could act as an agent for
positive change in ideal circumstances, a proactive and multifaceted policy
approach is required to generate desirable outcomes. Given Pakistan's strategic
importance and its potential to disrupt South Asian peace, the international
community has a high stake in ensuring a positive turnaround.
Aid: Yusuf
writes that key policy interventions required in the immediate future, while
maintaining a broader objective, must specifically target the younger
generation. Youth specific interventions by the US should include: enhancing the
quality of Pakistan's public education rather than retaining a disproportionate
focus on the madrassah system; making socio-economic aid conditional upon
Pakistan's ability to spread benefits to the masses instead of tying it solely
to terrorism; revising US visa and immigration policies for young Pakistanis in
order to provide them with a constructive outlet, perhaps through a formal
protocol that allows disproportional access to young Pakistani citizens
belonging to lower socio-economic classes; and consciously attempting to expose
young Pakistanis to US culture by reopening information and cultural centres
throughout Pakistan.
Yusuf suggests that broader measures by the US that
bear relevance to young Pakistanis should include playing a constructive role in
nudging India and Pakistan towards normalisation, without which Pakistan will be
tempted to maintain a link with extremists, which in turn will allow the
militant enclave to continue operating and recruiting young men from Pakistani
society. In essence, the state's support to extremism will have to cease before
the spectre of youth violence can be laid to rest. US officials need to be
sensitive to the conservative nature of Pakistani society and their diplomatic
jargon needs to be tailored accordingly. The language of western liberalism must
not be used to communicate with Pakistanis, Yusuf argues. For example, by
conflating the notions of conservatism and extremism - which carry entirely
different connotations for Pakistanis - and dismissing both, the US
inadvertently supports 'secular' ideals in a country where an overwhelming
majority abhors them. This leads to further resentment against the US, which is
in turn exploited by extremists to win recruits. Also necessary for the US is
exhibiting patience with regard to Pakistan's Afghan policy and understanding
that any efforts to produce short-term results risk a social implosion within
Pakistan.
Yusuf points out that recent developments in Pakistan-US
relations do not bode well for a permanent multifaceted partnership. The stern
US diplomatic signals in response to peace overtures by the newly elected
democratic government in Pakistan and now unilateral cross-border strikes from
Afghanistan are creating a bilateral rift. Both sides need to be careful not to
allow concerns on the War on Terror front to hijack their broader relationship.
Indeed, the real worry from Pakistan is not immediate; instead, it is the
gradual move of the youth towards radicalisation over the long run that needs to
be checked. Should attention be limited to the 'here and now' and were the US to
hold its larger interest hostage to Pakistan's role in the counter-insurgency
effort, the ultimate outcome may well be counterproductive not only for the two
principal stakeholders, but even for the world at large. Pakistan's slide
towards radicalisation is not a foregone conclusion, he writes. In fact, a
positive change in the current environment could produce a scenario highly
amenable to progress.
Yusuf writes that proactive and well-placed policy
responses are required to undermine the present risks posed by poor educational
quality, the stratified nature of the education system, and disparate economic
opportunities, and further exacerbated by constricted migration options, a
negative role of the state, and misplaced US policies. The US is most suitably
placed to support positive developments in Pakistan. Ensuring Pakistan's move in
this direction is no longer an option; it is a necessity. With 160 million
people, a geographical location that will remain pivotal to US anti-terrorism
interests for the foreseeable future, a significant, albeit thus far
underutilised, role of Pakistan as an opening to both Iran and the Sunni bloc -
the need for such a partner has increased multifold given Washington's
plummeting popularity among Pakistanis. Daily Times
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Use of suparis by school children goes unchecked
Lahore: The trend of using suparies (betel nut) and gutka (kind of tobacco)
among school going children is gaining sharp momentum buzzing an alarming bell
among the school administration and parents. The health authorities are yet to
wake up from its deep slumber to take an appropriate action to check it playing
havoc with the lives of children. The CDGL has neither bothered to launch any
drive to stop the spread of different kinds of suparies and gutka nor taken an
initiative to impose ban on it as done by Karachi authorities. It is irony that
there is no law to put a ban on the purchase and manufacturing of both
intoxicants.
These gutka-and suparies, easily available in the market, are
spoiling the health of teenager students. Children use them as sweet without
knowing its adverse effects on their health. The manufacturers and shopkeepers
are making roaring business at the cost of children's health. The minor addicts
are often found complaining about dizziness, inactiveness, stomach-pain, cough,
chest infection and other health problems. During the survey conducted by the
scribe, teachers have shown great concern over the use of suparies and gutka
among the students. They reported that affected students showed lack of interest
in studies, school games and extra-curricular activities. "They are also found
evading the homework. Often they are observed absent-minded during the lecture
in the classroom," they added.
Parents are also worried about children. When
they were talked about the issue to seek their comments, they said, "We are
helpless in this regard as suparies and gutka are rampant with impunity. We
could prevent the children from buying such intoxicants to some extent. But
unless government ban them, children would keep becoming their addict," they
maintained.
Survey revealed, "One of the major causes of the spread of
substandard food and health hazard products may be attributed to non-existence
of Food and Drug Laws (FDA) in Pakistan, which have served as deterrents towards
malpractice in this specific field."
Former DO (Food) Ch Muneer Ahmed said
that it was unfortunate that infected chhalia imported from abroad, which was
unfit for human consumption after being coloured was being sold without any
hindrance in the market. "The popularity of these products is manifested from
the fact that 122 diffirent brands are available in the market and their glossy
and luring advertisements are working as a catalyst towards their sale," he
said.
He was of the view that use of chhalia and gutka was found to be the
major source of spread of liver, throat and mouth cancers, therefore, demanding
of the government to place an immediate ban on sale of all kinds of chhalia. He
said that most of the chhalia imported were infected by fungus and diffirent
colours and chemical were used give them a glossy outlook making them attractive
for childern.
Sheikh Zaid Hospital senior doctor (emergency) Dr Arshad said
that cases regarding infections of intestine, throat, stomach, and uterus were
rising due to use of supraries and gutka in the hospitals. He said that some
children were brought in the hospital who had stuck a small piece of chhaliya in
their throats. The Nation
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Education News| Updated: 09 Jan, 2009 |
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