Abstract
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan has been a home to religious activism since its inception, due to its proclaimed religious ideology. Religious activism played a profound role in the state’s social make-up and accordingly remained manifest in routine cultural activities. The period after the 1980s witnessed a rise in violent activities by these religious extremists. The situation became more pronounced in early 2000s, when religious extremist groups openly started undermining state authority in less developed areas of FATA and Balochistan. This was followed by an armed struggle generating a threat to the stability of the country. Accordingly this paper explores the enablers that contribute towards the mobilization capacity of religious non-state actors in Pakistan. It tests the theory that the legitimacy earned by these elements is an outcome of the environment shaped during Afghan War of 1980s in the context of two case studies: Lashkar e Taiba (LeT) and Tehrik e Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Keyword(s)
religious activism, cultural activities, Extremist Groups, Non-state Actors, LeT, TTP