Rise of Extremism and Minority Persecution Fuelled by Military’s Support for Radical Groups
On January 6, 2025, a Christian mother was tragically killed, and her daughter critically injured in a horrifying attack in Gujranwala, marking a new low in Pakistan’s descent into radicalism. This brutal crime is part of a broader, systemic pattern of violence targeting vulnerable minority communities in the country.
The roots of such heinous acts can be traced directly to the Pakistan Army’s role in enabling radical Islamist groups to unleash terror upon Christians, Hindus, Ahmadis, and other religious minorities. The establishment has fostered a climate where minority rights are routinely violated, and extremist ideologies are allowed to flourish, threatening the safety and dignity of those who are already marginalized.
The failure of law enforcement and the judicial system only exacerbates the suffering of minorities. Police often fail to take action to protect victims of violence, and the legal framework, including vague and oppressive laws like the notorious blasphemy law, is routinely weaponized against them. These laws not only silence dissent but also shield perpetrators of violence, making it difficult for victims to seek justice.
In particular, minority girls are often forced into marriages and conversions, with the judicial system legitimizing these acts under the guise of religious freedom. This twisted legal framework is no accident, but the result of long-standing alliances between the military and radical Islamists, who have used such groups to further their political agenda.
This alliance between Pakistan’s military and radical groups has turned the country into a hotbed of extremism, destabilizing both the nation and the broader region. The unchecked violence against minorities is not an isolated incident, but rather a predictable outcome of decades of military-sponsored radicalization. The establishment’s failure to protect its own citizens from such brutality continues to fuel a cycle of violence and repression against Pakistan’s most vulnerable communities.
