Long-term strategy key to counter violent extremism, says Barrister Saif

PESHAWAR: Advisor to the Chief Minister on Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif on Thursday called for a long-term and comprehensive strategy to counter extremism in the country.

“Violent extremism is not merely an ideological issue but rather a consequence of various social, historical, economic, and psychological factors. Countering extremism requires more than just security measures.

A long-term and comprehensive strategy is needed, developed with the coordination of all relevant institutions and stakeholders,” he told a consultative workshop. The event was organised by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Centre of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism (KPCVE) in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The workshop aimed at promoting effective, integrated, and sustainable policymaking for preventing violent extremism. It brought together policymakers, academics, civil society representatives, subject matter experts, and other stakeholders to assess the issue from multiple perspectives and devise a collective strategy.

In his speech, Barrister Dr Saif underscored the importance of understanding violent extremism through a sociological and anthropological lens. He explained that extremism does not simply emerge based on ideological beliefs but is rather a product of social complexities, historical contexts, and differing value systems.

Providing a historical perspective, he stated that extremism has existed in different forms across various eras and regions, evolving with changing times and circumstances. While religious extremism is currently the most visible form, environmental, linguistic, and political extremism are also rapidly growing in different parts of the world and require equal attention.

Saif highlighted the root causes of violent extremism, stating that social injustice, political instability, economic deprivation, and ideological exploitation are key factors contributing to its rise.

He pointed out that while religion is often used as a tool to propagate extremism, at its core, extremism is a human behavior that can manifest under any ideological framework.He identified institutional weaknesses as a major challenge, explaining that weak state and social institutions play a significant role in fostering extremist ideologies.