Suicide Bombing In Pakistan

Abstract

This thesis is an attempt to explore the causes and motivation factors behind suicide terrorism in Pakistan with special reference to the region of Waziri stan. The area under research is large and complex. The research is focused on the main causes and motivation factors behind the ever burgeonin g culture of sui cide terrorism in Pakistan. It was planned at the very outset that the study shou ld not expand into too many areas of investigation which always insti gate a researcher to probe while losing sight of main problem. The main focus of the study is the region comprising of North and South Waziristan, the most troubled zone in the tribal areas of Pakistan which has emerged as a hub of Al-Qaeda supported religious extremists and a nursery of suicide bombers in Pakistan. Anthropological field work was the hardest activity to carry out in this region since both the militants and the security forces are engaged in hostilities. Visiting the region and conducting field research was not without risks. However, despite these difficulties my native ethnic connections and support of political and tribal leaders worked effectively and finally I was able to enter the fi eld and conduct my research. The study is highly qualitative in nature because of its obvious req uirements but a handful of statistical tools were also employed to tabu late the supportive tangib le information. The primary data has been presented by and large in the form of case stud ies but a sizeable part contains an account and analys is of in-depth interv iews and personal field observations. The study has been planned systematicall y, startin g with theoretical di scussion on the subject and moving logica lly towards the main analysis. A detailed discussion of the regional scenario and history of sui cide bombing has been provided before address ing the central thes is problem pertaining to su icide bombing in Pakistan. The data on tribal areas of Pakistan reveals that political and religious factors are not the so le reasons for motivating volunteers to carry out suicide bombing. It has also been discussed that the suicide bombing phenomenon in Pakistan is not total ly comparab le to rest of the world particularly to other Muslim regions such as Palestine and Iraq. The treatment and practice of religion is ethnographically grounded and highly context sensitive; therefore the conventional parameters of analysis are not applicable across the board. Thus, the frameworks proposed by Robeti Pape and Samuel Huntington do not offer much relevance to understand terrorism and sui cide bombing in Pakistan. The tribal culture and religious environment have a dominant role here. The 'Pushtun' tribal cu ltural code of life called 'Pushtunwi ' provides that every Pushtun is bound to take revenge against his enemy for his insu lt and dishonour. Pashtunwah mandates upon him to offer shelter to his guests or a person who seeks asylum. Pashtunwali also requires a Pashtun to be loyal to his faith, Is lam, which is regarded as a matter of personal honour. The Is lamic concept of Jihad also binds a Muslim to fight against the enemies of Islam. This concept has been interpreted by pro-mi litants clerics to motivate their fo llowers for Jihad and martyrdom (Shahadat) which is the ultimate culmination of Jihad. These concepts have widely been used to engage youth in suicide terrori sm by motivating them with religious emotionalism. This study argues that the phenomenon of suicide bombing can best be understood in a holi stic manner by taking into account the interplay of strong cultural support factors, ex ist ing re li gious mi lieu and socio-economic and political conditions of Pakistan and in parti cular the Pashtun inhabitants of tribal areas. Suicide bombing and the resu lting culture, the data strongly suggests, is not entirely an individual activity. It is a group activity, planned and organized by other players who have their own political agenda; the individual is used merely as a mule and an instrument. There were a number of questions proposed in the research problem whi ch have been answered in the final analysis. It has been concluded that suicide bombers in Paki stan are not always alienated and marginalized individuals. It is rather peoples' di sillusionment and frustration as a result of politically motivated problems that are channelized into suicide attacks. Religion in iso lation of other social, cultural and economic factors is not the sole motivating factor behind suicide attacks. A set of motivational factors inducing an individual to commit suicide bombing may include a desire for social prestige, heroism, albeit pseudo, and recognition particularly with one's immediate social and tribal circles. The data also reveal that almost all known suicide bombers belong to religious schools of Deobandis who are Sunnis and followers of the Hanafite school of Islamic fiqh, with some adherents of the Wahhabi school as well. The data also show that finances are abundantly available for terrorist activiti es. However, the ident ification of ma in sources is undiscoverable through anthropological research because of the sensiti vity of the subj ect. The main postulate that religion is the main moti vation factor was, therefore, proved incorrect owing to the fact that at personal level it is not re ligion but personal indi vidual traits and inclinations under which an individual succumbs to motivations for commission of such acts. Religious zeal is just one factor in addition to many others. Revenge appeared as a strong contributing factor. However, at a larger societal level, it was not found correct. The assumption II that the society in general is strongly supportive of suicide attacks was also proved false as the majority of the people do not agree with the interpretation of Islamic principles offered by the militant circles. Money, as a major inducement and contributor was also not proved correct. The study was not aimed at offering a v iable so lution to the suicide bombing problem. However, it has come up with the finding that suicide terrori sm is basically a reaction of extremist re ligio-political groups to political grievances, and that Pakistan ' s current social and political environment has provided an enabling environment and a fertile ground for this style of activity. Its internal political and social problems have facilitated the exploitation of religion and culture by the militants and disgruntled elements to spread their message through death and destruction. This study is divided into eight chapters. The first chapter di scusses the methodological approach adopted for the research. The second chapter discL~sses the relevant theoretical formulations and literature review. The third chapter provides an overview of the background of suicide terrorism in other Muslim states and Pakistan. Chapter four discusses the tribal areas of Pakistan, in particu lar, Waziristan and the cu ltural and traditions of its Pashtun inhabitants. Chapter five discusses developments in Waziristan after the October 2001 invasion of Afghanistan and the emergence of militancy as a result and its re lat ion ship with sui cide terro rism in the region. Chapter six and seven include ethnographic stud ies, including case studies, interviews etc. of the re latives of suicide bombers and would be suicide bombers. A discussion on public perceptions and response to suicide terrorism is also included. Chapter eight contains the final conclusion and observations.