Pak-Norwegian expert to help Nigeria combat Boko Haram

Pak-Norwegian cognitive science expert Tahir Mahmood who has scientifically found out that radicalisation has nothing to do with religion or ideology, has been formally invited by the chief of armed forces’ intelligence services of Nigeria to pay a visit to Nigeria and to give workable guidelines to the officials about his de-radicalization process model with the idea of combating the acts of terrorism unleashed by the dangerous Boko Haram militants.

The scientist has developed over 100 knowledge-based indicators of radicalization to identify the radicalised youths at early stages and subsequent to the development of these indicators, he has also developed six-dimensional De-radicalisation Dialogue Model that again is based on knowledge and not on simple experience and observation.

Mahmood’s model has come at a time when most parts of the world are confronted with worst type of radicalization and militarized extremism. His work has been well acknowledged in Norway and some other countries of the world. 

The News contacted Tahir Mahmood the other day after having come to know that the scientist has been formally honoured and invited by Nigeria to provide them help in fighting the terror menace Boko Haram which is no less dangerous,  terrifying and bestial than the suicide bombers of TTP and other outfits operative inside Pakistan and Afghanistan.  

Talking telephonically from Norway, Tahir Mahmood told The News that it was his utmost desire to start his de-radicalization work from his native land, Pakistan. Answering a question about his indicators, Mahmood said, “My indicators are different than others, because rest of the world have indicators which are based on observations and experience, but my indicators are called knowledge-based which can be of immense help to the governments in devising appropriate and effective tools of de-radicalization”.

“My next finding was to find the best methods to do mapping of radicalisation, because if we cannot map the radicalization in a town, district, division or province, we cannot start relevant counter–radicalisation or counter-terrorism work at all. Without mapping, the counter–radicalization work is not systematic and scientific but it is just superficial on the surface. This tool (of mapping) is yet again knowledge-based and others without mapping are experience-based or observation-based.

Mahmood was then asked as to how he has practically arrived at the conclusion that radicalisation has nothing to do with religion? He replied, “My last findings were about definition of radicalisation that challenges the existing definitions of the world. I have, through scientific research, found out that radicalisation is a process in which humans unfortunately choose an unwanted cognitive journey to be violent. It has, as such, nothing to do with religion or ideology”.