Pakistan today faces a grave Islamic militant-fuelled insurgency in its tribal areas. Everyday, there are reports of attacks conducted by Pakistani militants of the Taliban (primarily Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan/ TTP), Al-Qaeda, and other Islamic fundamentalist militant groups. Attacks range from the bombings of girls’ schools, markets and assaults on Pakistani Army personnel in Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP), Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), and to some extent, Balochistan. Although various things have fuelled the insurgency, the “Madrasa Implosion” has been a major contributing factor. It is largely because of many Deobandi madrasas in these tribal regions that thousands of their students become zealous jihadists willing to fight for the likes of the Taliban and other Islamist organisations.
Current Situation
Former President and military leader of Pakistan, General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq’s legacy of establishing the Deobandi Madrasas had within the decade of his rule created a generation of Islamist militants which are slowly destroying the nation, especially following the events of 9/11/01. Madrasas still exist, churning out graduates with a jihadist mindset to destroy whatever they perceive “un-Islamic” or secular. CD and record shops selling popular music are being destroyed, as music this is forbidden by the TTP. They have targeted NGO workers and white-collar workers, halting many local development projects. Girl’s schools have been bombed due to the Taliban’s view on female inferiority. In fact, when Swat was completely so-called Talibanised in February, 40,000 girls were barred from attending school.
The current situation with regards to education and development in the Tribal Regions and in Pakistan in general is very grim. The following measures address the issue of education, as it appears to be the genesis and sustaining factor of the Taliban movement.
More Security
Nothing can be achieved without providing civilian security. It has been very difficult to fight against the militants as tribesmen protect them from counterinsurgents. In Pashtun culture, people are guaranteed protection from their tribe regardless of their intentions. In fact, some Al-Qaeda members have married into the tribes for protection, such as its deputy head, Ayman al-Zwahiri. There is nothing wrong in considering a fellow tribesman as part of the extended family but not to the extent that such kinship links are being abused.
However, there are tribal militias or Lashkars resisting the militants. Unfortunately, The Lashkars neither have the training nor the weaponry to counterattack these militants. They need to be supplied with weaponry for protection of their villages. This should be done under supervision of an international organisation such as the United Nations and the Pakistani government. Once security is achieved, only then it would be possible for secular schools to flourish once again. Additionally, NGO workers and others involved in development projects would be encouraged to return to these regions.
Restructuring the education system
The historical neglect of socio-economic and political affaires of these regions by Islamabad and Zia’s Islamicisation during the 1980s is the root cause of the phenomenon of Deobandi madrasas propagating Islamist militancy. It is vital that the education system is restructured as it will halt Madrasas from promoting jihadism and fuelling Islamic insurgency.
The public education system, which has collapsed in the country, needs to be revitalised. The government should get much more involved in administering these regions, especially in the field of education, where secular schools need to be established. The government should also stop outsourcing education to Madrasas. Due to the sectarian nature of Pashtun societies, it is advisable to integrate weekly Islamic teachings from a moderate mullah, although keeping the curriculum as secular as possible.
Though Pashtun families prioritise a son’s education due to the patrilineal nature of their society, they would also like their daughters to be educated. Veritably, many Pashtun fathers in Swat Valley resent the ban of girls’ schooling. Due to Pashtun traditional conservativeness, single-sex schools should be set up. If girls are educated, they will be a lot more empowered than their mothers and will be on a more equitable footing with their male counterparts. Hopefully they would raise their children, especially their boys, not to become jihadists or jihadist sympathisers. In the long run, this could make their societies less conservative and more progressive in liberalising their perceptions of science, education and their knowledge of the larger world and other cultures. Unfortunately, such reforms are unlikely to be implemented soon. Contrarily, Pakistan’s new National Education Policy enforces school teaching to centre on the Islamic faith. This could propagate further Islamicisation of education, thus exacerbating the current crisis.
But what has hindered progress is the large amount of corruption within the government. The government has been gradually spending less money on education for the past twenty years. However, the urban Pakistani upper-class is determined to ameliorate the country as it becomes increasingly more aware of its problems. Such problems include the pervading nation-wide feudalism, which has institutionalised widespread illiteracy, and excessive urban and rural abject poverty; whilst excessive wealth lays in the hands of a few aristocrats. This vicious cycle of national underdevelopment has in turn cultivated Islamic fundamentalism amongst the poor. This has consequently encouraged many of them to become jihadists. It is true to note that a great proportion of this feudal upper class are accountable for creating and enforcing such problems in their own country.
At the same time, there are many members from this class who are determined to rectify Pakistan’s ills. Such a group realise that if these issues are not addressed, Pakistan could potentially fragment into smithereens. Thus, it is vital that a private, yet government sanctioned body consisting of members of this segment of Pakistani society should be set up. Such a body would channel funds into the public education system, which would otherwise fizzle out under the control of corrupt government officials. Additionally, Saudi and other Gulf investments into Madrasas should be curtailed without damaging diplomatic relations.
Local-orientated development
Tribal Pakistan’s peoples have always had distrust for foreigners. This is a product of the countless foreign invasions over the millennia. Any attempt by foreign organisations or states to carry out development in these regions has been met with intense hostility. This has been demonstrated through a series of assassinations such as the one on USAID contractor, Stephen Vance in November 2008. An exception has been Greg Mortenson, the only foreigner who has been able to set up schools. (EDITORS NOTE: For information on Mortenson and the CAI, see our previous issue!) But he came before September 11th, when anti-American sentiment was much less. He is now too entrenched to leave Pakistan.
Therefore, those of the same tribe are far more likely to effectively set up schools than foreigners as they will always be welcomed by their tribe. One such person is Salma Masood Khan, who runs an NGO called Kwendo Kor (Pashto for “sister’s home”). Her NGO has set up 388 community and 9 medal schools that educate thousands of boys and girls in FATA and NWFP. Despite the constant threat of Taliban attacks, their resilience to operate shows that there is hope. This lays the roots for a new generation of literate Pashtuns who will resist Islamic militancy more effectively.
Additionally, land reforms must be carried out in order to consolidate popular support for Islamabad. The Taliban receive recruitment from a polity (especially in Swat) that despises the Zamindars, or feudal landlords, who have suppressed them as bonded labour. These people sympathise with the Taliban not on religious grounds, but because the Taliban seem to have cultivated a Robin Hood cult image for the poor against the oppressive Zamindars. Paradoxically, since the recent annexation of Swat, the Taliban’s continual harassment of locals and the destruction of their businesses and schools have made them lose substantial amount of support.
Conclusion
None of these recommendations can be carried out overnight. Even the jihadist Madrasas did not appear immediately. It took over a decade under Zia’s tenure for these Madrasas to have the massive influence they have today in the tribal areas. The solutions discussed will take much time to be carried out. Tribes, their children and their schools will not be protected immediately. And if the suggestions on education reform are carried out, it will take at least a generation or two before the people of the Tribal Belt are educated and empowered enough (especially the women) to resist these insurgents. Islamist militants thrive on poverty and illiteracy. If these two issues are addressed, then the Deobandi-orientated Madrasas’ source of recruitment will dry up. Tribal parents will have the socio-economic means and the intellectual awareness not to send their children to such schools. Augmented literacy and socio-economic prosperity will remain the two main long- term objectives.
comments
It's true, eradication of poverty through education is the answer even in India. Well written. Jaideep
— J. Mehrotra, November 27th, 2009