CHAPTER 8

CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS

CONTENTS

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CONTENTS

PAGE

7.1 .INTRODUCTION

7.2 FOREIGN POLICY GUIDELINES

7.3 IMPLEMNTATION MECHANISM

12

7.4 CONCLUSION

14

REFERENCES

15

CHAPTER 8
CONCLUSIONS AND
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RECOMMENDATIONS
In this chapter, we will look at:
Introduction
Conclusions
Recommendations

8.1

INTRODUCTION
We have discussed in the preceding chapters details of origin, history and growth of

sectarianism in Pakistan. We also highlighted the factors which accelerated sectarianism in

Pakistan before and after 9/11. We have also discussed the effects of 9/11 on sectarian trends in
Pakistan. Later, we also discussed a few possible solutions to sectarianism in the light of a
shifting foreign policy emphasis towards regionalism.

Now we are in a position to summarize our findings, draw meaningful conclusions and
float some recommendations to avert sectarianism from Pakistani society. In this chapter, we will
highlight the key conclusions of our research work and discuss a few recommendations that can
be made to normalize and eliminate sectarian trends from Pakistani society.

8.2

DRIVERS OF SECTARIANISM IN PAKISTAN:

We reckon that the following factors are the key drivers of sectarianism in Pakistan:
1. Sectarianism existed in sub continent since pre partition time.
2. Sectarian polarization became acute after independence of Pakistan (Ahmed, 2013)
3. Sectarianism was triggered by the following incidents in history (Meher, 2004):
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a. Americas use of Mujahidin against the former USSR in 1979

b. Iranian revolution (1979)
c. Zias Sunni based Islamization of Sharia laws in Pakistan (1980)
4. Sectarianism has thrived in Pakistan through ideological and financial support from
several external sources
5. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, Bahrain and Egypt have supported sectarian divide in
Pakistan
6. Sectarianism in Pakistan manifests a proxy war between external Shia and Sunni
elements
7. Sectarian attacks are closely linked with and mimic terror attacks
8. More recently terror attacks have assumed a sectarian character
9. Pakistans involvement in war on terror catalyzed anti US sentiments expressed through
sectarian attacks in Pakistan.
10. American war in Afghanistan was instrumental in turning Talban forces against Pakistan
and USA and the extremists trends were set in Pakistan which continue till to-date
(Sultana, 2012)
11. A pro US foreign policy of Pakistan elicited sectarian / terror attacks in Pakistan
12. After 9/11, a sharp increase in the number injured /killed in sectarian clashes in Pakistan
have been observed
13. Forces of extremism, terrorism and sectarianism overlap and work in support of each
other.
14. Sectarian attacks are supported by Al-Qaeda as well.
15. Religious clerics of prominent sectarian organizations are perceived to use Madrassa
students to advance sectarian clashes advised by their foreign masters.
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16. Part of the problem of sectarianism is linked to economic reasons.

17. In Pakistan, Sectarian crises has become more complex after 9/11
18. The current extremists trends in Pakistan are perceived to be linked via many folds to
Pakistans involvement in proxy US war on terror.

CURRENT SCENARIO:
1. Sectarian threat has assumed an alarming proportions since more recently (Hassan, 2013;
Dawn, 2014)
2. Since recently sectarianism is now politicized in Pakistan (Iqbal, 2012)
3. With increasing number of sectarian attacks, Pakistan is in a dire need of revisiting
foreign policy as sectarian attacks are linked to Pakistans involvement in war on terror.
4. A significant number of sectarian killings have been observed in the recent past between
2011-2013

8.3

PROSPECTS OF SECTAIANISM:
From the foregoing discussions in the previous chapters and in this chapter, it is evident

that with given trends and dispositions, sectarianism is bound to grow in Pakistan. Not
surprisingly, the sectarian killings have risen sharply in the recent past, after terrorism,
sectarianism has already assumed the status of second biggest threat to the peace and stability of
Pakistani society. If these dispositions continue to prevail as they do now, the menace of
sectarianism will threaten the very fabric of our society. However, with careful deliberation of
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the above mentioned causes, an anti sectarian strategy can be charted. We make following
recommendations for an anti sectarianism strategy to evolve for Pakistans sectarian crises.

8.4

RECOMMENDATIONS:

From the above mentioned drivers of sectarianism in Pakistan, many historical causes now
cannot be managed. Those which can be managed are reproduced as below:

1. Sectarianism has thrived in Pakistan through ideological and financial support from
several external sources
2. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, Bahrain and Egypt have supported sectarian divide in
Pakistan
3. Sectarian attacks are closely linked with and mimic terror attacks
4. More recently terror attacks have assumed a sectarian character
5. Pakistans involvement in war on terror catalyzed anti US sentiments expressed through
sectarian attacks in Pakistan.
6. A pro US foreign policy of Pakistan elicited sectarian / terror attacks in Pakistan
7. After 9/11, a sharp increase in the number injured /killed in sectarian clashes in Pakistan
have been observed
8. Forces of extremism, terrorism and sectarianism overlap and work in support of each
other.
9. Religious clerics of prominent sectarian organizations are perceived to use Madrassa
students to advance sectarian clashes advised by their foreign masters.
10. Part of the problem of sectarianism is linked to economic reasons.

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11. The current extremists trends in Pakistan are perceived to be linked via many folds to
Pakistans involvement in proxy US war on terror.
12. Since recently sectarianism is now politicized in Pakistan (Iqbal, 2012)
13. With increasing number of sectarian attacks, Pakistan is in a dire need of revisiting
foreign policy as sectarian attacks are linked to Pakistans involvement in war on terror.
14. A significant number of sectarian killings have been observed in the recent past between
2011-2013

To remedy the above mentioned drivers of sectarianism in Pakistan, we would like to make the
following recommendations which will normalize and/or completely solve and uproot the
sectarian crises from Pakistan.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. STOP FOREIGN INFLUENCE:

The first element of our proposed strategy is to stop the foreign element negatively influencing
the sectarianism divide in Pakistan. Govt. of Pakistan must use the diplomatic channel to ask the
respective governments in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, Bahrain and Egypt to stop supporting
the sectarian ideology and funding thereof with immediate effect. This must be highlighted to the
highest level possible in each country.

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2. DE LINK TERRORISM AND EXTREMISM AND TALIBAN INFLUENCE

The Govt. of Pakistan must declare the link between Taliban forces and sectarian organizations
in Pakistan as cross border terrorism affecting Pakistani society. In this regard, the new
government in Afghanistan must be brought on board where any link proven between Taliban
forces and sectarian organizations in Pakistan must be declared as cross border terrorism. This
would also be achieved through new Afghanistan policy that is highlighted in Chapter 7 and
again in one of the following paragraphs.

3. SHIFT FOREIGN POLICY EMPHASIS FROM PRO US TO A MORE DIVERSE

REGIONALISM:
In order to desensitize an anti US sentiments expressed through sectarian attacks in Pakistan, we
need to make major foreign policy shifts. Since we understand that sectarian clashes have killed
more people after 9/11 and there is a perceived link between war on terror, Pakistans
involvement in war on terror and sectarianism as a backlash of Pakistans involvement in war on
terror and rising numbers, intensity, ambiguity of sectarian attacks and killings, this proves that
the perception of such as link is a reality. If Pakistan delinks from a pro US foreign policy and
shifts it foreign policy emphasis from a pro US stance towards a regionalism, it will help
desensitize sectarian forces and Taliban forces in Pakistan and Afghanistan and thus sectarian
clashes and terrorists attacks will subside. We highlight contours of an effective foreign policy in
the following paragraphs.

4. UPLIFT THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF FAMILIES CONCERNED:

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Since majority of the students enrolled at Madrassas in Pakistan who are trained for sectarian
clashes later come from poor families, poor economic conditions are also one of the reasons why
sectarianism is flourishing in Pakistan. We need to be realistic about poor economic realities of
these families who send their kids to Madrassa where they are used for sectarian causes. Govt. of
Pakistan must articulate a strategy through regionalism whereby economic benefits of many
lucrative opportunities that prevail in todays regional environment may reach these destitute
families. If the Govt. of Pakistan is any serious about dealing with sectarianism, it must weed out
its root cause which is poor economic conditions and lack of education and employability of
these students who enroll at these Madrassas. We highlight a bleak roadmap as to how some of
the potential economic rewards accruing from a new foreign policy based on regionalism can be
channelized to these families.

With these arrangements put in place, Pakistan will be able to bring itself on track to recover
from the chronic problem of sectarianism. Since many of the causes of sectarian crises are linked
with causes of a terrorists backlash in Pakistan and are entangled with Pakistans involvement in
war on terror.

FOREIGN POLICY SHIFTS TO SOLVE SECTARIANISM: GOBALISM VS

REGIONALISM:
1. Pakistan needs major shifts in its foreign policy directions.
2. Foreign policy needs re-orientation from globalism to more diverse and penetrative
regionalism.
3. Pakistan should not serve a global agenda at the expense of its national interests.
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4. War on terror must be a de-prioritized in favor of Pakistans domestic national interests

5. Pakistan must strive to become an important state in South Asia.
6. Pakistan must have a foreign policy that links it viably with the regional players in South
Asia so that it may construct a viable and solid regional position in South Asia.
7. Pakistans new foreign policy must respond favorably to the wishes, desires and
aspirations of Pakistani people.
8. Must assign high priority to regional opportunities and avenues at the expense of global
interests of super power - US.
9. Pakistani people cannot keep themselves aloof from the material and socio-cultural
progress taking place in the region of South Asia.
10. Political and economic landscape of South Asia has altered dramatically over the past
two decades
11. Pakistan is now surrounded by many lucrative opportunities which lure a new regional
foreign policy fix.

CHINA OR US:
1. Since China is regionally proximate, diplomatically aligned and shares an anti-Indian
sentiment with Pakistan, China must be our number one ally and friend in our new
foreign policy regional approach at all levels
2. Regional policy must be envisioned on a long term basis and relationships must be built
for a strategic time frame.
3. Choosing China over United States has strategic leverages to Pakistan
4. Choosing China will mandate US policy to tilt towards Pakistan more constructively.

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5. Shift from globalism to regionalism will be welcomed by Taliban forces who will stop
feeding the sectarian forces in Pakistan.
6. Choosing China will force US to understand Pakistans real potential and shun adhocism.

CHINA:
1. Pakistan must initiate flow of knowhow from Chinese labor intensive cottage industry
2. Train madrassa students in the requisite vocational skills for cottage industry.
3. Strategize to channelize the economic benefits to the sectarian activists and students

CENTRAL ASIA
1. Start trade via the land route and develop economies of CAS and Pakistan
2. Fully tap the economic and cultural potential of opportunities prevailing with Central
Asian region.

AFGHANISTAN
1. A stable political situation in Afghanistan needed to averse sectarian violence
Pakistan
2. A non-Taliban stable rule in Afghanistan is in the best interest of Pakistan to
stabilize situation of sectarianism in Pakistan

IRAN:
1. Baluchistan and Quetta are already hotspots for sectarian violence in
Pakistan(Naeem, 2014)
2. Economic development in Baluchistan must be ushered in and sustained through Iran
Pakistan gas pipeline project
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3. Economic benefits must be channelized to sectarian-hit madrassa students and

families in Baluchistan

MUSLIM COUNTRIES: KSA BAHRAIN Etc

1. Pakistan must bridge the West and the Islamic world and leverage economic benefits
2. Must channelize benefits to pro sectarian elements

8.5 IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY TO LEVERAGE GEO POLITICAL

SITUATION OF PAKISTAN
1. Poor families send their children to madrassas
2. These madrassa students are used by clerics to advance sectarian violence.
3. Economic benefits must be channelized to the economically deficient families of
students at Madrassa in Pakistan.
4. Govt of Pakistan must approach these madrassas to involver them in development
process
5. Govt of Pakistan must arrange trainings to impart vocational knowledge and make
this as employable skills
6. Vocational training and job offers must be free of cost
7. Monthly stipend must be offered to motivate and enable the madrassa students
8. Help and make madrassa students become economically active citizens of Pakistan.
9. Pakistani society must start to make progress with contemporary regional societies

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REFERENCES:
1

Narain, R, S; and Singh (2005) Asian strategic and military perspective. Lancer publishers,

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