Religion, community resilience and countering violent extremism in Dir Valley, Pakistan

Abstract

The post 9/11 terrorism and subsequent wave of violent extremism has generated a significant interest in the role of religion in both peace and conflict. Religion is a significant part of the lives of a significant majority the global population. This realization has led policy makers to seek ways in which religious leaders can and had impacted the community resilience towards violent extremism. Swat and Dir valleys have seen the brunt of violent extremism in the recent past. This extremism was generated and exploited by a few religiously motivated violent organizations. However, we believe there were religious leaders who opposed this surge of violent extremism in those specific communities. This research aims at finding out whether religious leaders mobilized the communities for countering violent extremism. In order to do that, a quantitative survey was designed whereby a community perception was measured. The data was collected from 180 respondents from both the districts of Dir valley, i.e., lower Dir and upper Dir. Our data shows that religious leaders played some role in building community resilience. In terms of bonding, they played a significant role. In terms of bridging, they also played a significant role. However, in terms of linking, the religious leaders played a little role.

In the Fire of Local community Conflicts: The Role of Religious Leaders in Conflict Resolution, Examples from Pashtun Culture Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

“…Moreover, it can be concluded from this report that religious leaders can encourage reconciliation, interfaith dialogue, disarmament, and demilitarization and contribute to a change of attitudes. However, Ahmed et al (2021) findings show that in Swat and Dir valleys, Religious leaders play a role in some way to the peacebuilding of the community in terms of bonding, bridging and linking. Samim (2011) discovered that Afghani Pashtun has enough love and respect for those religious leaders who love their homeland and have enough religiosity, in one interview with Afghan tribesman, he noted that peace in our country is only gettable if America utilizes our religious leaders because people following their advises and suggestions.…”

“…He further recommended that religious leaders become familiar and understand the state institutions and society. However, the lack of trust and cooperation are the most significant challenges faced by Religious leaders from the state-apparatus (Ahmed et al, 2021).…”