Causes of Radicalism and Responses in Pakistan
A Note from Editor-in-Chief

Radicalism and terrorism have become synonymous in the context of Pakistan as is evident from numerous reports, books and articles written on the causes, processes, dynamics and responses of terrorism, militancy, radicalism and Jihad. The people of Pakistan don’t approve of many of the misnomers and propagandist words like Islamic radicalism, global jihadism, and so forth. Many such illinformed terms derive from the ignorance and simplicity of the Western media and naive journalists or far-removed scholars who have no direct access to, or
comprehensive knowledge of, true Islamic literature. Tragically, Pakistan is dubbed
today as the hub of these militant and radical elements that stretch back in people’s
minds to the horrific images of 9/11. US Defence Secretary Robert Gates described
western Pakistan as ‘the greatest threat to the homeland’ in Sept, 2008. In the same
month Admiral Mike Mullen stated that ‘Pakistan is not another country but a
country with a growing insurgency, with a border that’s a safe haven for militants
1 who pose America’s toughest national security problem’ .