south-asian-militant-groups-and-global-jihad-in-2015

NEW AG EN T S OF GLOB AL JIHAD
encourages groups of influential elites to think in cooperative
ways, and it could encourage them to consider the implications of
their decision to support certain terrorist organizations on poorer
Pakistani communities. As such, track II diplomacy would help to
close the gap of individuals in Pakistan that are affected by
terrorism. Such discussions could focus on the religious
inconsistencies that are advocated in terrorist rhetoric, and the
role of terrorists in the killings of civilians.
We suggest that counter-extremist narratives should be presented
in local languages such as Urdu, and that the true cost of terrorism
are highlighted by informing sympathisers of all economic classes
that these groups do not provide social benefits, (or exaggerate
their provision), or the possibility of increased positive
representation.
Groups that claim responsibility for terrorist actions selectively
invoke religious rhetoric to justify politically motivated violence,
but they do not generally represent Muslim populations.
Governments should focus on propagating counter narratives from
within the Islamic framework in order to delegitimize their
Islamist cause.
Government funding should focus on undertaking public health
research initiatives in order to investigate and understand the
causes and the consequences of violence. The WHO Violence
Prevention Alliance (VPA) has recently provided a public health
framework 98 that examines the public health impact of terrorist
acts arising from violent radicalization, including direct
consequences such as deaths, physical injuries and psychological
or mental trauma. 99 These public health frameworks should be
implemented in South Asia, and their findings on the implications
of radicalization and terrorism should be publicized.
Current public health frameworks focus on individual,
relationship, community, and society-centered approaches in
order to prevent violence. We strongly urge governments to
employ social development, therapeutic, and treatment programs
to focus on people at risk of harming themselves and others, and
use a group format to address issues such as anger management
and drug abuse.
WHO VPA programs focus on training in relationship skills, family
therapy, parenting, home visitation and mentoring. Similar
approaches are used by the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in the
United States. These have positive, long-term effects in reducing
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