Pakistan has introduced a new strategy to counter violent extremism, aiming to use education, religion, social media, and community engagement alongside military operations. However, experts remain skeptical about its execution and effectiveness.
The National Prevention of Violent Extremism (NPVE) Policy comes at a time of increasing violence, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Data from the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) reveals that 2024 was Pakistan’s deadliest year in nearly a decade, with 2,526 fatalities, including 700 security personnel, over 900 civilians, and nearly 900 militants. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), linked ideologically to the Afghan Taliban, has been responsible for most of these attacks.
What is the NPVE Policy?
The policy, approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s cabinet in December 2023, is structured around a “5-R” approach: Revisit, Reach Out, Reduce, Reinforce, and Reintegrate. This approach incorporates over 700 key performance indicators to track progress.
- Revisit: Reforming school curriculums and engaging youth, teachers, and religious leaders.
- Reach Out: Countering extremist narratives through social media and promoting national unity.
- Reduce: Targeting youth and women through peace-building initiatives and research.
- Reinforce: Encouraging tolerance and inclusion through arts, culture, and scientific progress.
- Reintegrate: Supporting de-radicalization and rehabilitation programs for former militants and affected communities.
According to Dayyab Gillani, Director of Research and Development at the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), the policy aims to prevent extremism rather than react to it. “Military operations alone are not a sustainable strategy,” he told Al Jazeera. “Terrorism resurges because its root causes were never addressed.”
Military Operations and Policy Challenges
Pakistan has long relied on military operations to combat extremism, launching several campaigns since the rise of the TTP in 2007. The 2014 attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar led to the formulation of the National Action Plan (NAP), Pakistan’s first formal counterterrorism framework. However, previous policies primarily focused on military responses rather than prevention.
Despite the NPVE’s holistic approach, analysts warn of significant implementation hurdles. Abdul Basit, a research fellow at Singapore’s S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, noted that Pakistan has a history of well-intentioned policies failing due to weak execution. Similarly, Iftikhar Firdous, co-founder of The Khorasan Diary, said that while the policy acknowledges the role of ideology in extremism, it lacks a robust implementation framework.
Civilian vs. Military Oversight
A key concern is whether a civilian institution like NACTA can effectively lead the policy’s implementation in a country where the military has traditionally dominated security affairs. “At a time when military influence in policymaking is growing, NACTA’s ability to lead this initiative remains questionable,” Basit said.
Rohan Gunaratna, a security studies professor at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, added that the NPVE lacks region-specific solutions. “A one-size-fits-all approach won’t work. Pakistan needs tailored models to address the diverse challenges in different regions,” he told Al Jazeera.
While the NPVE Policy represents an effort to balance military and non-military counter-extremism strategies, its success will depend on effective implementation, inter-agency cooperation, and whether civilian institutions can assert their role in policymaking.
This report is based on an article originally published by Al Jazeera.