Daily Times

There are currently 6909 languages in the world. Since the dawn of this century, however, we have unconsciously developed a new language of extremism. Such a unique language is not the product of literary personalities but rather of savages.

In the thesaurus of extremism, there is no space for peace, humanity, love, tolerance, human freedom, difference of opinion, respect for diversity and humanitarianism.

During the Cold War, terminology like ‘peaceful coexistence’ and ‘détente’ earned currency but in today’s world — owing to the widespread popularity of mass and social media — even children are well conversant with the terminology used by savages.

Terrorist organisations are also very particular about selecting flags and slogans. They primarily opt for religious symbolism and use black and white or the colour red which usually symbolises revolutionary nationalist passions.

The language of extremism perpetuates authoritarian passions and inculcates a desire for power. However, to assert their authority, extremists put themselves in a dominant position. To further this aim, they prefer using threatening language.

Extremists consider themselves as the sole representatives of God on earth and hence possess a strong urge to guide the common folk. Those who do not follow their narrative are either ostracised or killed.

To collect donations, they use coercive language. Recruitment strategies are primarily tailored to brainwash the vulnerable youth. To follow such an objective misinterpretation of Jihad is glorified.

Letters sent to the targets of their extortion are written in a manner that presents extortion money as an obligatory donation. Non-compliance is often answered with either low intensity IED blasts or targeted killing.

Their narrative divides the world into two cliques’ ie true believers and evil forces. Their language consists of glittering slogans and emotionally charged symbols. Their ideology rejects modern democracy and the current nation state system while an alternate Islamic order and Caliphate is glorified.

Drones are a technological innovation used to target enemies in modern warfare, but targeting an object in another country raises questions over the term ‘sovereignty’. Such attacks also gave birth to the term ‘collateral damage’. The damage caused by drone strikes also questions assurances such as the right to life and due process of law which are guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Drone attacks also give birth to questions such as, is a death caused by a drone strike an extra-judicial killing? What about right of access to information? Who will define the right of defence for the accused?

Though suicide terrorism has existed for centuries, its frequency and modus operandi have changed since 9/11. After 9/11, suicide bombing turned human bodies into bombs. Though many countries suffer from this terrorism, there is hardly an effort to understand the reasons behind such lethal tactics.

The employment of technology like the use of vehicles further increases the impact of suicide attacks. VBIEDs and the use of ball bearings and nails can kill hundreds in one attack.

A ‘death tailor’ is a person who tailors the suicide vest for the bomber. The ‘handler’ is the person who ensures the execution of the task. ‘talent hunter’ is the person who recruits the right people for the right job. ‘Sleeper cell’ is another frequently used term which refers to a place where would be terrorists wait for the command to execute a terrorist strike.

In the thesaurus of extremism, there is no space for peace, humanity, love, tolerance, human freedom, difference of opinion, respect for diversity and humanitarianism

Such cells primarily exist in weakly governed urban spaces. To save the urban population from the wrath of these savages not only needs well-coordinated intelligence based operations but also requires the strengthening of police and public cooperation.

‘Facilitators’ are the sympathisers who help the perpetrator successfully execute the task. Practically speaking, in case of suicide bombings, a vehicle and a human bomb are lost but the facilitators, financiers and planners of the strike remain alive.

Their motivation to carry out these attacks could be an association with a belief, or simply seeking pleasure, power and profit. But our investigators spend most of their time and energy on testing the DNA of the bomber and on the explosives used, while they do not scrutinise the facilitation, financing and training behind these operations.

The war against terrorism also exposed the flaws of the Criminal Justice System (CJS). Nations who value human life and the rule of law do not waste time in bringing structural adjustments to their CJS. These changes gave birth to institutions like ‘Homeland Security’, NACTA, CTD, RRF, and military courts, but most of Pakistan’s initiatives seem to be mere cosmetic steps which are centred on a fragmented numerical model.

In 2002, the USA consolidated and structured 22 different departments under Homeland Security. Pakistan also tried to form a similar consolidated counter terrorism coordination apparatus ie NACTA but without establishing its provincial presence. Though Pakistan continues to face the major brunt from extremism, we primarily remain focused on creating new units which lack any reconsolidated approach.

The media also needs to focus on peace journalism instead of exaggeration, but this is not possible without harbouring missionary passions.

The writer is a police officer. He tweets @alibabakhel

Published in Daily Times, July 11^th , 2017.