(Defence Against Terrorism Review, 2014) Muhammad Feyyaz
This paper attempts to address religious extremism and the factors confounding
its conceptual and definitional understanding within the existing reality of Pakistan. It
particularly highlights and analyzes the demographic magnitude of extremists’ potential,
inspirations, channels and geographical location of extremism in the country. These
areas have been ignored in the extant literature on extremism in Pakistan. The conclusions
respond to the reviewed issues besides proposing a contextualized definition of religious
extremism. A few broad policy suggestions are also offered, including a generalizable
framework to measure holistic spread of extremism in Pakistan to meaningfully
respond to the situation.