Pakistan has introduced a comprehensive new policy to combat “violent extremism,” utilizing a range of tools including education, religious and social media outreach, alongside traditional military tactics. This announcement comes amid a rise in deadly armed attacks, particularly in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
The policy was unveiled by the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) which claims the strategy represents a “whole-of-society” approach to prevent violent extremism, including the use of “non-kinetic” measures. The focus shifts from military action as the primary solution to addressing the root causes of terrorism.
The National Prevention of Violent Extremism (NPVE) Policy introduces a “5-R” framework, which entails Revisit, Reach Out, Reduce, Reinforce, and Reintegrate. These steps include revising school curricula, promoting national narratives through media, engaging with youth and religious leaders, targeting radicals through research, and supporting peace through arts and culture. The policy emphasizes de-radicalization, rehabilitation and reconciliation programs for former fighters and affected communities.
However, several analysts have raised concerns over the policy’s ambitious scope and the challenges it may face in implementation. They cite Pakistan’s history of poorly implemented policies and worry about the dominance of the military in security matters which might undermine the effectiveness of a civilian-led strategy. The country’s military has had a significant influence over the country’s policies for over three decades.
Despite these concerns, NACTA remains optimistic that the policy could be a game changer if executed properly, evidenced by the comprehensive 71-page document released for public review in early 2025. The policy’s success is contingent on whether state enforcement ensures its proper execution and whether consensus can be achieved among military and civilian stakeholders.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/25/can-pakistans-new-anti-extremism-policy-defeat-rising-armed-attacks?traffic_source=rss
