Guiding principles for addressing political crisis and terrorism

Pakistan is experiencing intense political unrest coupled with an economic downturn, which poses formidable obstacles for the recently formed coalition administration. On the one hand, political instability and polarisation result from Pakistan’s political parties’ lack of political will to play constructive opposition roles in parliament, and on the other hand, the issue is made worse by the lack of vision and clarity. Since political parties’ differences in how they see society are limited to their own agendas, no political party has started a fully pluralist discussion on social concerns. Big political parties omit regions with fewer parliamentary seats in favour of concentrating their efforts on places where they can assure their survival. Unfortunately, the country continues to be afflicted by the not-so-good policies of the past in a number of ways. The nation is currently plagued by religious extremism and terrorism as a result of the unrestrained freedom and political manipulation of the religious groups, which were originally established for the Afghan war against the Soviet Union. There must be fundamental agreements and principles for Pakistan’s future in such a climate of prevailing uncertainty, with the support and involvement of all political and non-political groups. It must include a well-defined vision centered on the wellbeing of the country.

The Pakistan Resolution of 1940 serves as a guiding principle for the stakeholders of Pakistan amidst the current political and ideological crises. Also known as the Lahore Resolution, it stands as the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foundation. This historic resolution marked the first decisive step of the Pakistan Muslim League towards asserting the right to self-determination and advocating for the separation of Muslims from Hindus in the Indian subcontinent, based on the Two-Nation Theory. The Pakistan Resolution also outlined the essential values that would guide the establishment of the future state of Pakistan, placing a strong emphasis on safeguarding the rights and interests of Muslims in their own country. It was a strong cry for Muslim solidarity and a denial of the idea of a unified India in which Muslims would be marginalized as a minority. Beyond its historical background, the Pakistan Resolution is significant because it still serves as a source of inspiration and direction for the country throughout difficult times. As Pakistan navigates modern problems, its core values of national identity, religious freedom, and self-determination remain relevant. The Pakistan Resolution is essentially a monument to the hopes and hardships of the Muslim population in South Asia for their unique identity and self-governance. It continues to be a ray of hope and a lesson on the value of cooperation, fortitude, and tenacity in the face of difficulty.

Critics of the Two-Nation Theory see no justification for Modi’s despotic rule and extreme Hindu nationalism, or Hindutva. The ideology of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is known as Hindutva, and it is typified by a sharp division between Hindus and non-Hindus, representing a “Us versus them” mentality. Additionally, the new leadership is attempting to merge the political ideologies of Golwalkar’s cultural nationalism and Savarkar’s Hindutva, frequently employing these terms synonymously. Muslims in India frequently experience violence on the streets from Hindutva mobs and are subject to racial and religious discrimination on a daily basis. This circumstance brings to light the escalating worries about intercommunal strife and the decline of secular principles in the Indian society.

The “ghar wapsi” (or “return to your home”) campaign of the RSS is an illustration of how the Two-Nation Theory is still applicable and how the Muslim identity continues to be a focal point around which the country can come together for our common goal.The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) launched this program with the intention of converting non-Hindus-especially Muslims and Christians-back to Hinduism. This highlights the need for a fuller understanding of the Two-Nation Theory, which called for the establishment of Pakistan as a distinct homeland for Muslims on the Indian subcontinent, and also reflects the ongoing issues around religious identity in India. The enduring nature of these initiatives serves as evidence of the Two-Nation Theory’s ongoing significance in influencing South Asia’s sociopolitical environment. It also emphasizes how crucial it is to protect minority communities’ identities and rights in the country and how all citizens, regardless of their religious affiliation, must live in harmony and respect for one another.

Now, when political polarisation is at its peak in the nation, where people are divided into “us versus them” based on their political narratives, political parties are also contributing to this situation. They are reluctant to participate in the political process on democratic grounds and accept the role of opposition in parliament. Non-political forces are also involved in the state’s political process. This has led to chaos and unpredictability across the nation. The policies of elected governments are also short-term since they are subject to non-democratic forces and have no guarantee of staying in force. The entire political elite is primarily focused on securing another term in parliament, neglecting their duty to serve the common people. The legitimacy of state institutions and the state itself is threatened by this political division. People are hesitant to get involved in politics because they think that power is not in parliament but somewhere else, and they think that democracy will never affect their lot in life. In order to further their political campaigns, certain political parties also take advantage of these feelings, further dividing society and state institutions. Given that Pakistan is split along partisan lines, this is undoubtedly a concerning situation.

Moreover, issues like terrorism and insurgency present a serious risk to the state. This poses a direct challenge to the state’s legitimacy. A 2023 report of the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) states: ‘A total of 306 terrorist attacks took place in Pakistan, including 23 suicide bombings, which killed 693 people and injured 1,124. Religiously inspired militant groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), as well as other local Taliban groups including Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP) and the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, along with the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K), perpetrated a combined total of 208 terrorist attacks - an increase from 179 attacks in the previous year - resulting in the deaths of 579 people and injuries to 938 others. Different Baloch and Sindhi nationalist insurgent groups carried out 86 attacks - compared to 79 such attacks in 2022 - claiming 90 lives and injuring another 151 people. Meanwhile, 12 sectarian-related terrorist attacks were recorded in 2023, compared to four in 2022, resulting in the deaths of 24 individuals and injuries to another 35 people.’

The gravity of the terrorism and insurgency problems is evident even from a brief glance at these figures. It further contributes to other factors, such as the grievances of people who are victims of violence in operations against terrorism. With the resurgence of outlawed organisations, they feel that they are targeted from both sides. After prolonged counter-terrorism operations, terrorists are still present, and the state is paying no attention to the concerns and rehabilitation of the people. Conspiracy theories, which appeal greatly to individuals at the periphery, can easily exploit them. Their perception that the government is uninterested in resolving their problems has sparked discussions about Pakistan’s legitimacy and ideology. This does not augur well for the country’s cohesiveness. It blatantly challenges the authority of the government and its apparatus. Terrorists, militants, and other forces are attempting to take advantage of this situation for their personal benefit.

All Pakistani stakeholders, political and non-political, should consider the Pakistan Resolution of 1940 and its guiding principles in order to combat political polarisation and terrorism. They have to come together on one platform and come to a decision that is supported by the majority of Pakistani citizens as well as all relevant parties. It needs to be a thorough procedure that involves every societal group. The new Pakistan Resolution ought to be based on the idea of Muslim unity and a distinct vision for a thriving Muslim state.

This strategy aims to address the present issues by taking the Pakistan Resolution’s historical relevance as inspiration. It seeks to develop a sense of solidarity among Pakistanis and encourage inclusive decision-making processes by focusing on unity and a shared vision. Involving a variety of social groups also guarantees that the resolution represents the hopes and worries of every person, which strengthens its legitimacy and efficiency in leading the country forward.