Menace of Islamic State and Islamophobia

The ongoing rise of IS (Islamic state, also called DAISH) along with growing Islamophobia are quite irksome. The embattled region of Mid East is in trouble so is Pakistan where “Operation Zarb-i-Azb” by the Pakistan Army in North Waziristan has successfully eliminated the threat of TTP and other militant organisations including Al Qaeda, the Haqqanis, Uzbeks and Uighurs. Also, the ‘infrastructure of terrorism’ which existed there such as training camps, arms caches, communications facilities etc., has all been successfully destroyed. In this operation, more than 4,000 terrorists have been killed and hundreds captured.

As a result of the military pressure, the TTP has broken up splitting into several factions. All militants in the area have disappeared resulting in the sharp decline in the frequency of terrorist attacks. The Wagah bombing against the soft target of innocent civilians was an act of desperation, yet the public opinion is firmly behind the anti-terrorist campaign. Actually, the Wagah suicide attack has strengthened the domestic consensus in favour of the ongoing ‘operation zarb e azb.’

Shocking development: The provincial government of Balochistan has conveyed a confidential report to Islamabad, and the relevant law enforcement agencies have been warned of the “increased footprints” of militant organisation “IS” in two provinces of Pakistan namely Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunwa.

This indicates a huge trouble ahead; like Iraq and Syria, there is a bad news in the making for the people of Pakistan and a real challenge for Pakistan Military and Civil Armed Forces.

The sources disclosed, the IS has claimed to have recruited a massive 10 to 12,000 followers from the Hangu and Kurram Agency tribal areas. "It has been reliably learnt that Daish has offered some elements of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) and Ahl-e-Sunnat Wai Jamat (ASWJ) to join hands in Pakistan. Daish has also formed a ten-member “Strategic Planning Wing," in retaliation to the army-led Zarb-i-Azb operation. A heightened vigilance and security measures in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are surely needed to prevent and pre-empt such attacks.

Obviously, the US withdrawal is an opportunity for the IS to focus on Pakistan and Afghanistan. In other words, Pakistan faces a perceived threat which can become real threat if Pakistan security apparatus fails to check footprints of the “IS” which is headed by Abu Bakar Al-Baghdadi.

Furthermore, wall-chalking in support of IS in some cities of Pakistan, including Karachi and Khanewal is quite thought provoking.

Although, the challenge facing the West is of lone-wolf sympathizer attacks, yet the brutal IS has been actively involved in killing hundreds of Muslims and some American, Canadian and UK citizens, including journalists and aid workers. The problem is the IS organization has been succeeding in having attracted foreign fighters from every corner of the world, including Canada. The latest federal report from Ottawa, indicated more than 130 Canadians abroad taking part in terrorist activities, and another 80 returned to Canada. (http://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/4941649-no-connection-between-ottawa-gunman-and-quebec-attacker-rcmp-say/)

It seems as if the ferocious Islamic State elements intend to turn the West against “Islam and the Muslims” through their dirty inhuman work. If the “IS” is really targeting Islam, it needs to be looked at carefully by the international community without prejudice.

The spread of Islam is based on logic, not forcible conversion - there is no compulsion in the matter of religion. The Quran is not a man made book; it was revealed as the final version to the final Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) through the angel Gabriel. The said book is guidance and a manual of successful pious life for all humankind including the Muslims.

Unless read and understood in entirety, there should be no nonsense opinion about the noble Qur^an. Sadly, the media only tries to sell misinformation to the naive public that is too blind to see the truth; reliance on the media news without confirmation is unethical. As the Quran makes sense, Islamophobia stands no chance.

Lack of responsibility: Shame on the religious zealots who interpret erroneous picture of Islam and spread radical and extreme views among masses to inflame the fragile situation.

Other factor is, despite the airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, the radical group enjoys a “successful recruitment strategy” through social media attracting young Westerners. The question is what are the root causes that lead the Western youths to forsake their identities and lifestyles to swell ISIS ranks as fighters?

Historically speaking, Iraqis were rich people living with the highest quality and same is true for Libya. Also, the world back then was a much safer place. Both Russia and China were against regime change in Libya and Iraq. Russia opposed helping and arming rebels in Syria as well.

Bigger trouble: The Islamic State (faking) has become the most compelling and attractive organisation for the troubled/confused/vulnerable youths around the world in a very short time.

Major threat: The so called Islamic state continues to cause even greater unrest in countries where Muslims aren't a majority. The Islamic State group is bent upon tearing apart the whole Middle East making a mess/unrest for the present and future generations.

The countries with heavy Muslim population are nervous for sound reason: India has the world's second-largest Muslim population, but is in shock after Islamic State sympathisers have turned up from Kashmir in the north to Tamil Nadu in the south.

Suspicions will easily be raised by Islamophobes in the west including Canada, the US, and Europe.

Chaos: The so called “Islamic State” has already sparked political and theological instability across the Middle East, and if they continue expanding, the region would certainly slip into even greater turmoil.

As, the terrorist “IS” has prompted blasts and fighting in Lebanon, Jordan and Kuwait, the governments are worried that sleeper cells may be striking any moment.

No wonder, Saudi Arabia is extremely worried that the Islamic State group will come after them with force.

In a recent interview, a senior Islamic State defector said their next stop would be Saudi Arabia, which includes Mecca and Medina. (http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/security/2014/07/syria-opposition-is-saudi-arabia.html).

Saudi rulers are now in full panic, sending money to the Lebanese army, funding UN counter-terrorism efforts, and even getting senior Muftis to condemn the group.

Guess what! The Saudi government is most likely to be asking Pakistan Army to security-guard against the IS.

As terrorism has no religion, the faking Islamic State (IS) cannot be preaching nor can it be practising Islam; the barbaric force is most likely a sponsored proxy terrorist force aimed at showing “ISLAM” as a bad guy. Motive of course seems to be the commercial profiting.

There is a need of collective effort and shared response from media, civilian institutions, political parties and security forces to combat terrorism, radicalism and extremism.
Islam teaches only moderation, yet a well funded education programme is need of the hour to eradicate radicalization and Islamophobia in the West.