Terrorism: What Next

Irfan Nawaz

Writer is freelance columnist & Social Work Graduate

The dawn of 21^st century bring new challenges. On September 11, 2001, Twins tower, World Trade Centers United states, were came under attack by terrorists, which later retaliated in New World Order in which coping terrorism had become top priority of the US and its allies. These attacks were considered as attack on USA’s sovereignty and President George Bush, however, pledged to his nation that he will bring attackers before justice. In this way, USA, with collaboration of NATO, attacked on Afghanistan for arresting Al-Qaida’s top leadership which was held responsible of Twin towers attack. Waging war in Afghanistan resulted in chaos. In this war against terror, Pakistan played a role as a frontline state. Having long border with Afghanistan helped terrorists to escape from Afghanistan to Pakistan and find safe heavens in Pakistani tribal areas. These terrorists started operating in Pakistan and facilitated terrorist activities here as they opined that being front line state in war against terrorism Pakistan is equally responsible and they considered themselves justified to attack Pakistani people on Pakistani soil. Since 2004, People of Pakistan have been witnessing thousands of suicide attacks and terrorist activities on their soil.

Moreover, Terrorism refers to multifaceted warfare having severe psychological, physical and social effects. Moreover, it is worthwhile to mention that terrorism is not only a problem for those who are living in war zones but it also affects inhabitants of nearby areas. A terrorism-affected person may respond in numerous ways; apart from physical injuries, some victims may experience trauma that would lead to stress and fear.

Addressing this menace, admirable efforts have been made on strategic ground as various military operations launched in different areas of the country and presently Operation Zarb e Azab is in process in South and North Waziristan. In this way, improving surveillance on western border and intelligence sharing with Afghanistan are recent initiatives to root out this menace of terrorism. But on social grounds, no efforts, unfortunately, have been made so far in coping terrorism. As terrorism-hit nation, people are facing psychological problems and as a whole we are losing our temperament.  For instance, in APS massacre, children were still in traumas as they are the future of the nation but unfortunately they need some aspect of help to comes in normal life. But it seems that no one is here to help such terrorism-hit people as they are not few in number but more than sixty thousands families who are in need of some help to restore their normal functioning in the society. In this severe situation, apart from others, a professional Social Worker should take step ahead to play his due role in the society. 

A Professional Social Worker can play its role at both micro and macro level. At micro level, In context of terrorism, a person, who is being affected by terrorism might be victim of the attack or witness of that attack. In both cases, he would be at risk of trauma. In this way, a Professional Social Worker conduct therapeutic interviews in which he studies client’s current state of mind and the severity of the effects on his personality. By conducting series of interview, a Professional Social Worker brings him in a comfort zone where a client is in position to understand his problem and in position to intimate efforts to restore his normal functioning. At macro level, by application of social action, Professional Social Worker can conduct seminars, trainings and group discussion in which participants are informed about severity of the terrorism, what is first aid and what are the first aid essentials, then how local leadership raise to educate people about coping terrorism with the application of principle of utilizing local resources by community development.  Overall, these efforts under the umbrella of Social Work Profession philosophy would help in informing masses about the menace of terrorism and strengthen the notion that there is no sympathy for terrorists, by learning first aid concepts people are aware that how they respond in case of any emergency like blasts till the ambulances reach.

In a nutshell, coping terrorism at strategic grounds is not only the solution to end terrorism but since long witnessing terrorism severely affected citizens of the Pakistan. In this way, it is dire need to step ahead the social scientists especially Professional Social Workers to restore Pakistani society as a healthy nation by all bio-psycho-social aspects and government of Pakistan should also coordinate and support so that these social scientists can work independently to normalize the social fabric of society which is torn by terrorists.