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For decades, Pakistan has been fighting against violent and non-violent extremism, and the state of Pakistan and Pakistan military has conducted various operations to tackle this issue. While significant success has been achieved, there was still a need for a policy that could address the root causes of violent extremism. For instance, the stats show that 2526 people were killed in the attacks last year as a result of violent extremism, until when Pakistan has to cope with it? The National Prevention of Violent Extremism (NPVE) Policy has been introduced by National Counter Terrorism Authority NACTA as a comprehensive and preventive approach to dealing with this issue, offering long-term benefits for Pakistan.
With the introduction of this policy, analysts and policymakers are debating whether such a policy is necessary or if military operations alone are sufficient. But the real question is, why should Pakistan remain solely dependent on military operations? Why is there hesitation in formulating a policy that addresses the root cause of the violent and non-violent extremism?
The previous counter-terrorism policies have been heavily reliant on military action. However, historical evidence suggests that military operations provide only short-term solutions. The moment extremist elements find an opportunity, they resurface, leading to yet another military intervention. The issue is not just the repetition of military operations but the enormous cost associated with them in terms of money, time, effort, energy, and most importantly the lives of the soldiers. The NPVE policy introduces an approach that prevents such extremist activities from emerging in the first place, eliminating the need for repeated military action.
The first step is “Revisit”, which aims to incorporate a nationalist approach at the curriculum level to unify the youth and the nation under a common vision. The next step, “Reach Out”, focuses on spreading the message of Pakistan and patriotism at all levels. The third step, “Reduce”, involves launching initiatives that benefit both the country and its people. In “Reinforce”, strategies will be developed to implement peace-oriented policies. Finally, “Reintegrate” will include rehabilitation and reconciliation programs designed to support affected families.
Many countries have implemented policies to counter violent extremism, but objections are only raised against Pakistan because those pushing such propaganda have their own agendas. For example, the CONTEST Strategy in the UK is a well-known program designed to prevent and counter such activities, and the UK actively uses it. Similarly, the Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Strategy in the US, the Radicalization Awareness Network (RAN) in the EU, Australia’s Living Safe Together policy, and Canada’s National Strategy on Countering Radicalization to Violence, launched in 2018, all serve the same ultimate purpose. That is why these countries are peaceful and focused on their progress and development rather than being stuck in continuous cycles of security operations.
The 5-R approach of this policy does not enforce anything abruptly but follows a step-by-step process to secure and safeguard every level from violent extremism. No one will feel left out; instead, everyone will be involved for the sake of national interest. Given the circumstances and events in Pakistan over the past few years, the national interest level among people has been declining, which also needs to be revived. This policy will help us rebuild a patriotic nation.
The NPVE policy is not meant to target or oppress anyone; its sole purpose is to address the root causes of extremism before they escalate into serious problems. Any analyst would agree that unless an issue is eliminated at its source, continuously countering it is neither feasible nor effective. For example, when a disease emerges, the logical step is to avoid what causes the illness rather than repeatedly relying on medications until the body either becomes immune or succumbs to the disease. Extremism is no different; it is a disease that one must not become accustomed to. Instead, Pakistanis must think about their future and the future of their children.
Critics argue that this policy is just another version of the National Action Plan (NAP), which is completely incorrect. When NAP was introduced, Pakistan was going through one of its worst phases every month, thousands of people, both civilians and military personnel, were losing their lives. NAP played a crucial role in bringing that number down. Instead of frequent terrorist attacks every month, incidents became less frequent, eventually reducing to almost zero at one point. Can we then call the National Action Plan a failure? Absolutely not.
Even if there were some flaws in NAP, that does not mean we should dismiss this new policy as a failure before even giving it a chance. Pakistanis cannot afford to leave their future unsafe. This policy is an opportunity to address past shortcomings and ensure long-term security and stability.
Now, let’s imagine a scenario where this policy is successfully implemented. The economic and social benefits would be substantial. Pakistan would emerge as a peaceful nation, presenting a positive image on the global stage. Pakistan’s respect and credibility would increase, and Pakistanis would be able to restore the dignity Pakistanis have lost over the past few decades.
Rejecting things prematurely has always been unfair to Pakistan and its welfare. If the purpose is to secure the future of Pakistan, then one should support this policy and remain passionate about its success. Instead of doubting it from the start, it should be believed that it will work and contribute to making Pakistan a safer and stronger nation. Only then Pakistanis can work for the progress and development of Pakistan.
Nazish Mehmood is a political analyst, policy researcher, and writer with extensive experience covering global conflicts, security strategies, and digital transformation. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.
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