Daily Times

Pakistan is currently experiencing a demographic dividend — i.e. a point in its existence where two thirds of the country’s population is under the age of 30. This unique scenario presents us with both bright and bleak prospects: bright if we are able to effectively utilise this tremendous human resource in a productive manner similar to countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and South Korea. These countries saw the opportunity and were able to transform their youth bulge into a productive workforce. However, if left untapped, this youth bulge is likely to face exacerbated unemployment, prolonged dependency on parents, diminished self-esteem and higher levels of frustration. A number of studies indicate that while this kind of frustration does not directly power violence, it does increase the likelihood of unemployed young people in countries experiencing a youth bulge to seek social and economic advancement by ‘alternative, extra-legal means’. Social scientists believe that when young people have a lack of options and not much to keep them occupied, the opportunity cost of joining an armed movement becomes low.

This observation is both pertinent and alarming vis-à-vis Pakistan. As a nation, we are not merely experiencing a youth bulge but our inability to effectively plan for this group has left a huge void that is increasingly being tapped by nefarious, extremist elements. If allowed to remain unchecked any further, this youth bulge will soon become a driving force for social unrest and chaos. It is therefore absolutely imperative that mega projects such as the prime minister’s youth programme be scaled up further to utilise the immense potential that young Pakistanis possess rather than allowing it to further fuel conflict and unrest in the country.

At the same time, it is also important to acknowledge our young people as equals. Taking a leaf out of Iqbal’s ideology, we must move past our conventional stance of always keeping the youth at the receiving end and make efforts to include them in the decision making process. One interesting and rather important area of engagement can then be the counter-terrorism efforts being made by the state.

As far as the state’s anti-terrorism endeavours go, the most striking missing link in the war against terror remains the active engagement of the general populace. The state, the media, intelligentsia and of course the Taliban are considered worthy of offering their opinion on the conflict, while the masses (the majority of whom are young people) — who are the direct and indirect affectees — have been conveniently sidelined.

Truth be told, whether the Taliban torch schools or blow up bridges or the army reclaims lost territory and establishes its writ, at the end of the day it is the people who are at the losing end, for in both circumstances they die as collateral damage, their livelihood is ruined and their children are deprived of education. On the other hand, the ‘foot soldier’ himself comes from the ranks of the common man. Typically, this faceless terrorist is a young man in his late teens or early 20s coming from a background of social deprivation and poverty.

Accordingly, the terrorist and the terrorised both stem from the masses and thus no counter-terrorism strategy can be comprehensive or effective without incorporating the opinions of average Pakistanis. Here, the inclusion of young people cannot be emphasised enough as they do not merely form the majority of the country’s population but are also targets and now increasingly the fodder that allows the enemy to multiply.

The Pakistani youth can prove to be a formidable force against terrorism if they are taken as key stakeholders. The citizens in general too on their part need to be more assertive in channelising their demands; when they can take to the streets for the restoration of the judiciary or protest against electricity outbreaks, it is about time that they also make their perspective heard with regards to terrorism.

The proactive engagement of citizens united for peace will also help in defusing the propaganda being spread by Taliban apologists as they often term the silence of the masses as a token of their support. The silent majority can no longer afford to remain a silent spectator to a war that has been ongoing for over a decade and is now holding the future of our country hostage.

The writer is the country manager of Pakistan Youth Change Advocates (PYCA), a civil society organisation working to promote peace and development through youth participation. He can be reached at ammar.zaf@gmail.com