Pakistan- cultural terrorism and the rise of Taliban

Suicide bombing is not confined to Pashtu-speakers of Afghanistan and the North of Pakistan as bombers on many occasions have found to be Punjabis. Those who carry out "sympathetic" terrorism today are seen as a part of the network emerging all over Pakistan as foot-soldiers of al-Qaida.

I know what Lahoris are feeling. In fact, I was in Lahore on November 22, 2008, when three low-intensity cracker bombs exploded near the Alhamra Cultural Complex, the venue of an international performing arts festival. The city was instantly gripped by fear and anger. Many asked who are these people? How do we deal with these manipulative religious extremists?

Dr Mehdi Hassan of Beaconhouse National University in Lahore, a reputed commentator on the issue says extremist groups were trying to lay down their own anti-culture sharia and should be opposed by civil society.

Unfortunately, civic institutions and dictatorships don't go hand in hand. Pakistan, has suffered a military rule for most of the last three decades that destroyed its civic infrastructure and strengthened religious fundamentalists. Consider this, the government each year spends 25 million rupees on promoting "Mela Muweshian" a cultural festival for cattle compared to 5 million rupees for promoting writings.

However, despite all its troubles and stark contradictions, Pakistani society has not lost hope. There is increasing education, some prosperity and a growing middle-class that provide ideal ingredients for rebuilding civic society.

On December 19-20, 2008, I had the opportunity to attend "All Pakistan Writers Conference on Literature for Peace" organised by the Pakistan Academy of Letters. This was the first major conference of its kind in almost three decades. The consensus was clear that the civil society must not allow itself to be torn apart by extremists. Writers and political leadership must work together to rebuild the social and civic infrastructure.

Pakistan's democracy is in its infancy and civic society has a long way to go. It needs the support of Western society at this critical point. Australia and other “friends of Pakistan” should think long and hard before pledging any further military or counter-terrorism support to Pakistan. There are enough guns and bombs going around. Instead Australia, as a friend, should help Pakistan with education and the development and empowerment of civic institutions.