By Dr. Kumar Rakesh
Separating Faith from the Political Abuse of Religion
After every major terrorist attack anywhere in the world, a question resurfaces—sometimes whispered, sometimes shouted: Is terrorism the other name for Islam? The framing itself is deeply flawed and unjust. Islam, like any major faith, is followed by over a billion people across cultures, nations and political systems. Yet global security data presents an uncomfortable pattern that cannot simply be brushed aside: a disproportionate number of large-scale, transnational terror attacks in recent decades have been carried out by groups that claim justification through Islamist ideology.
Acknowledging this pattern is not an indictment of Muslims as a community. It is an attempt to understand how religion has been politically weaponised, and why this specific form of extremism has achieved global reach.
A Repeating Global Pattern That Refuses to Disappear
From the September 11 attacks in the United States to the 7/7 London bombings, from Paris, Nice and Manchester to Madrid, Bali, Orlando, the Moscow Theatre siege and the Mumbai attacks, the ideological thread remains strikingly consistent. Investigations into these incidents repeatedly point to jihadist organisations or individuals inspired by extremist Islamist narratives. Groups such as Al-Qaeda, ISIS, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab have invoked religion to legitimise mass violence. Their ideological core rejects democracy, pluralism, constitutional order and the very idea of peaceful coexistence. These are not spontaneous outbursts of rage; they are organised political movements that deploy theology as a tool of mobilisation.
The persistence of this pattern across continents makes denial intellectually dishonest. Coincidence cannot explain recurrence at this scale.
Islamist Extremism as a Political Ideology, Not a Religious Identity
A critical distinction is often lost in public debate. Islamist extremism is not Islam. It is a political ideology that seeks to establish power through violence, claiming divine sanction while discarding moral restraint. Like fascism or totalitarian communism, it demands absolute obedience, suppresses dissent and dehumanises those outside its worldview.
This ideological framework thrives on grievance narratives—real or manufactured—and frames violence as religious duty. The targets are not only non-Muslims but also Muslims who reject radical interpretations. In fact, globally, the largest victims of Islamist terrorism have been Muslims themselves.
Pakistan and the Infrastructure of Terror
No serious discussion of global terrorism can ignore Pakistan’s repeated appearance in international terror dossiers. Osama bin Laden’s years-long presence in Abbottabad before being killed by U.S. forces shattered the credibility of claims of ignorance. Multiple terror organisations designated by the United Nations continue to operate from Pakistani soil.
The Financial Action Task Force has repeatedly flagged Pakistan for deficiencies in addressing terror financing. Political leaders and lawmakers across Europe, Australia and North America have accused Pakistan-based networks of exporting radicalism. Dutch leader Geert Wilders’ claim that Pakistan functions as a hub of extremist threats—while controversial in tone—mirrors assessments made by several intelligence agencies.
These are not isolated allegations; they form a cumulative global record.
India’s Consistent Position: Terror and Dialogue Cannot Coexist
India’s approach to terrorism has remained consistent across governments, but under Prime Minister Narendra Modi it has been articulated with particular clarity on international platforms. India has repeatedly asserted that terrorism and dialogue cannot go together, especially when terror is used as an instrument of state policy.
At forums such as the G20 and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, India has pushed for explicit condemnation of cross-border terrorism, terror financing and state-sponsored safe havens. The argument is constitutional as much as political: terrorism undermines sovereignty, democracy and the right to life—values enshrined not only in India’s Constitution but in international law.
Global Condemnation, Uneven Enforcement
Over the years, United Nations resolutions, FATF frameworks, G20 declarations and regional security agreements have acknowledged terrorism as a global threat that destabilises economies, corrodes social harmony and weakens democratic institutions. Yet enforcement remains selective.
Geopolitical interests, strategic alliances and diplomatic calculations often dilute accountability. States accused of nurturing or tolerating extremist networks are sometimes shielded because they are considered “too important to fail.” This inconsistency creates space for radical groups to survive, regroup and adapt.
Voices from Within: Muslim Resistance to Extremism
One of the most underreported aspects of this debate is resistance to extremism from within Muslim communities. Protests against terrorism by Muslim groups, including recent demonstrations in Sydney, signal a recognition that silence only empowers radicals.
Across the world, Muslim scholars and organisations have condemned terror attacks unequivocally. Yet scepticism persists in some quarters—whether these mobilisations represent sustained moral leadership or reactive responses to international scrutiny. The answer likely varies by context.
What remains undeniable is that extremist ideology cannot be defeated without internal opposition from the very communities it seeks to exploit.
The Central Role of Muslim Communities
No counter-terror strategy can succeed through intelligence agencies and military force alone. Radical ideology is sustained through social networks, funding pipelines, indoctrination and political protection. It must be challenged intellectually, socially and theologically.
Muslim communities are not responsible for terrorism—but they are indispensable to defeating Islamist extremism. Empowering moderate voices, protecting reformist scholars and confronting radical narratives within mosques, online spaces and educational institutions are essential steps.
The Real Question the World Must Confront
The real question is not whether Muslims are terrorists—they are not. The real question is why Islamist extremism has emerged as the dominant ideological driver of global terrorism, and who continues to enable it through funding, shelter, political protection and strategic silence.
Until states that nurture radicals are isolated, terror financing is dismantled, ideological indoctrination is confronted and geopolitical convenience is abandoned, terrorism will not disappear. It will only mutate.
The choice before the world is stark: confront the problem honestly, or continue paying the price of denial in innocent lives.
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