Countering Violent Extremism in Pakistan

In recent years the counterterrorism field has increasingly defined its work as countering violent extremism (CVE), described by Daniel Benjamin, coordinator of the State Department's Office of Counterterrorism as efforts "to stop those most at risk of radicalization from becoming terrorists" by providing the means to undercut the ideological and rhetorical narratives which drive violent extremism. Identifying these means for the Pakistani context is one of the core goals of USIP's Pakistan program as it strives to support innovative ideas and new approaches to inform and catalyze larger efforts to counter violent extremism and manage conflict.

Photo courtesy of NY Times

In recent years the counterterrorism field has increasingly defined its work as countering violent extremism (CVE). CVE first entered U.S. public parlance in early 2010, when Daniel Benjamin,

coordinator of the State Department's Office of Counterterrorism, described it at a Senate Armed Service Committee hearing as efforts "to stop those most at risk of radicalization from becoming terrorists" by providing the means to undercut the ideological and rhetorical narratives which drive violent extremism. Identifying these means for the Pakistani context is one of the core goals of USIP's Pakistan program as it strives to support innovative ideas and new approaches to inform and catalyze larger efforts to counter violent extremism and manage conflict. Daily headlines highlight the urgency of this goal, the latest coming on May 4 when a suicide attack in Bajaur District claimed by the Pakistani Taliban killed 19 people and injured 57. In January 2012, Benjamin told an audience at the National Defense University that improving U.S. CVE efforts requires interventions driven by local needs, information, and input. While these criteria have always informed USIP's work on-the-ground in Pakistan, they are particularly important benchmarks for our current projects and explains USIP's commitment to civil society partnerships. A recently awarded USIP grant to a partner in Islamabad will facilitate efforts through the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation and a number of private FM stations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas to provide rights-based educational programming and promote diversity and tolerance as an alternative to sensationalist radio rhetoric. Elsewhere in Pakistan, USIP is supporting research on the drivers of extremism in the Pakistani context, with forthcoming research parsing the ethnic and political motivations behind the violence in Karachi. USIP's Center on Media, Conflict and Peacebuilding is undertaking a mapping exercise of Pakistan's media sector in collaboration with Pakistan-based experts to identify points of sensationalism and extremism in media rhetoric, and how to address their public impact. Bearing out the reality that community-driven responses to the challenges of violent extremism stand the best chance of succeeding given their ability to adapt to changing circumstances and needs has been the efforts of the Sabaoon School near Pakistan's Swat Valley. The school, whose name means "New Dawn," works to de-radicalize young men who became involved with the Pakistani Taliban during the Pakistani military's offensive in the Swat Valley by providing a comprehensive educational programming paired with psychological consultations and vocational training. As USIP looks to improve knowledge of and responses to violent extremism, we are pleased to host the Sabaoon project's director, Dr. Feriha Peracha, to discuss Sabaoon's program,

highlighting the challenges the school faces and the successes it has achieved. Complementing these insights from the field will be senior U.S. officials speaking to the U.S. approach to CVE in Pakistan. We hope you can join us on May 9 at 10am for this important discussion linking localized knowledge with global policy imperatives toward the countering of radicalization and violent extremism in Pakistan.