This video originally appeared on PBS NewsHour. Across Pakistan, life is often interrupted by terrorist attacks and sectarian violence. Last year alone, there were more than 600 bomb blasts. The Pakistani government says it’s trying to fight extremism through military means and economic development. The United States is assisting with military aid and drone strikes […]
Sameena Imtiaz felt that youth in Pakistan were not being engaged to maintain peace in her country. Often overlooked because they are seen as “the future,” Ms. Imtiaz argues that to ignore her country’s youth is to ignore their present circumstances. Over 60% of the population in Pakistan is youth, so Ms. Imtiaz reached out […]
When interviewed in 2011, Farhat Asif, a Pakistani researcher and journalist, spoke about the importance of home and family in teaching children the skills to cope with extremism and violence. In her eyes, the home is the “Intensive Care Unit” for society, so if the family is struggling, the society will struggle as well. She […]
Bushra Hyder, a peacebuilder and educator, believes that women in Pakistan need to unite and call for peace in her country—just as women in Northern Ireland and Sudan have done—in order to save future generations from more violence. In an interview in 2011, she described her concern about the mental health of youth growing up […]
In this clip, Pakistani journalist Naziha Ali explains why she joined Citizens for Democracy Pakistan in January 2011 after the assassination of Pakistani politician Salmaan Taseer, who was killed for his religious beliefs. This experience inspired her and others to come together to work to reform the blasphemy laws.
Sameena Imtiaz holds many roles in her native Pakistan. She is a social worker, education reformer, mother, and peacebuilder. By working in the most conflict-affected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkwa (KPK) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), she was able to change the mindsets of young people who would otherwise turn to violent extremism. Eventually, […]
Extremism is a boiling problem in Pakistan. Zarmina Rafiq, a peace trainer from some of the most extreme areas of the country, spoke to staff at Inclusive Security during a trip to visit the coalition for moderating extremism in Lahore, Pakistan.
In 2011, Inclusive Security staff went to Pakistan to meet with members of our coalition of women peacebuilders. Zarmina Rafiq, a peace trainer from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), spoke about her work to create groups of peace practitioners in areas that are difficult to reach due to geographic and cultural constraints. Through illustrations […]
In an interview in 2011 in Islamabad, Pakistan, Farhat Asif told a story about how her training as a mediator enabled her to calm down a friend who held extremist attitudes about Shi’as. She was able to remind her friend that people are human beings first and that other layers of their identity, such as […]
Sameen Imtiaz noticed that a great deal of blame has been placed on madrasas for causing the rise of extremism in Pakistan, which she felt was not entirely true. In order to change this perception and work with madrasas to become part of the solution to peace, she began engaging religious leaders and teachers in […]
