Daesh in Pakistan

The influence of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (Isis) or Daesh is on the rise in Pakistan as the government continues to turn a blind eye. A report in this newspaper confirms that three Lahore-based families, led by women, have moved to Syria to join Daesh. While kidnapping cases for the women have been registered, family members confirmed that they made contact before moving to Syria. Media reports also confirm that a married couple was arrested in Johar Town, Lahore on Thursday for sending people to fight in Syria. It seems this issue has been ignored ti now. But there have been reports of the presence of Isis/Daesh sympathisers and affiliates within educational and religious circles. Three women were arrested in Karachi two weeks ago for spreading Daesh literature and funding raising for the group. Six other women were detained a week later while 13 men were arrested in Daska on Tuesday for suspected involvement with the terror group. This group was reportedly in touch with the Daesh high command.

Along with other factors, the confirmation of the involvement and direct participation of women in terrorist activities via Daesh opens up a whole new front in the war on terrorism. After the woman involved in the San Bernardino attack was reported to have had some links with the Al Huda schools in Pakistan, the world’s attention is now focusing on how the radicalisation of the Musim woman can be prevented. There seem to be no official statistics about the spread of Daesh influence in Pakistan, but reports indicate that members of the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Jamaatud Dawa are joining the group in significant numbers. The regional presence of the group has been on the rise. The trouble is that Pakistani authorities still seem to be issuing verbal denials. Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz spoke about Daesh influence in Afghanistan spreading. Moreover, our Foreign Office has taken comfort behind the idea that Isis is not in an organised form in Pakistan. The FO then seems to not even be following what message some state agencies clearly seem to be sending out: Daesh has influence in Pakistan (the extent of it, though, is still unclear). The fact is that a number of segments of society in Pakistan area feeling the group’s influence. This is a strange situation; we claim to be in a war against terrorism in the country but fail to acknowledge the scale and scope of the presence of Isis in the country. There is also the fear that between those joining Daesh, and those who are reportedly going to Syria to join the anti-Daesh efforts, Pakistan will once again be caught up in violent game. That said, we need to understand that no one benefits from issuing repeated denials about the presence of this terror group in Pakistan. The threat the group poses is serious. It is time the government admitted it.