UNRAVELING THE NEXUS: RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM AND SECTARIAN DIVIDE IN PAKISTAN

Authors

  • Areej Ajmal Lecturer, School of Integrated Social Sciences, University of Lahore, Pakistan Author

Abstract

Religious extremism is the most lethal threat to the world and it has jeopardized the security, rights, peace and sustainability of states. Deeply ingrained religious extremism in Pakistan is a result of the intricate interaction of historical, socioeconomic, and geopolitical elements. The extremist elements usually target the religious minorities and lead to sectarian violence, which causes a divide in the Pakistani society. This sectarian divide is primarily between Sunni and Shia segments of the society. The main argument of this study is to analyze how religious extremism has been deeply enrooted in Pakistani society since independence and how this religious extremism has led to a greater sectarian divide in the Pakistani society. The study highlights the socio-political factors, which aggravate religious extremism and their impact on society. The study has been conducted using qualitative methods of research. In dissecting the root causes, this article seeks to offer insights into the strategies for fostering religious intolerance and social cohesion within the society.

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Published

2023-12-10