​The recent horrific attacks in Paris that took a staggering victim count of over 100 plus civilians along with large number of causalities. This attack has shook the world, Syria, Iraq, Nigeria, Mali and other countries where daily innocent people live in fear.

 The incident of Paris differed from an incident that occurs in other countries, mainly because France is a developed nation with very low level of security issues of any sort compared to the nations mentioned above which over the years have become an epicentre of attacks. This does not make lives in these nations dispensable, thus should be taken more seriously.

These attacks demonstrate ISIS, which had no existence a decade ago, now has got influence and power shift to carry out such inhumane attacks and becomes the biggest enemy for the global community. But let’s not forget that the victims of this attacks were not French only, the biggest victims are again Muslims and refugees in particular.

Causes of Terrorism

This attack carried out by ISIS firstly indicates that terrorism has no religion, because Terrorism itself is a twisted bundle of inhuman Ideologies, inspired by violence, killings, torturing and destroying groups, communities, countries which has never been mentioned in any religion. It is not new in the history that countries or terrorist groups using religions or Democracy as a tool to gain popularity, therefore to accept that ISIS is the reflection of Islam is like to say that Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) is the reflection of Democracy.

 These terrorist groups only justify their actions by religion as s means to attract youngsters into their organisations. To our surprise, the rise of insurgency is more related to weak governance, discrimination, and lack of opportunity, marginalisation, and poverty and of course foreign invasions. These factors have done more to help terrorism than theological or religious differences. As former CIA analyst Michael Scheuer noted that terrorist attacks (particularly Al-Qaeda attacks on America) are not motivated by a religiously inspired hatred Western Civilisation or religion, but by the belief that US foreign policy has oppressed, killed, or otherwise harmed Muslims in the Middle East, in his word ‘’ they hate us for what we do, not who we are’’.

 I remember that in the wake of Russian bombing of Syria in support of the repressive government of Bashar Assad , many world leaders raised their concern that Russian intervention  would  fuel extremism and increase radicalisation, as David Cameron pointed out’’ Moscow’s bombing campaign will lead to further radicalisation and increase  terrorism’’ soon after Russian passenger plane were brought down by bombs, many connected the incident to the Russian military involvement in the Syria, but it should also believe that the savage attacks in Paris were not merely linked to religious or cultural difference but it was more a reaction to the France’s military involvement in Middle East. The idea differs from country to country, it is clear that attacks are justified based on political affiliation and action. The recent UK parliament vote to Air Strike Syria was justified under the pretence of the Paris attacks, which previously condemned Russia.

As Mehdi Hasan wrote in his article (we accept that Russian bombs can provoke a terror backlash. Our can too.)’’ To understand political violence requires an understanding of political grievances; to blame terrorism only on religious ideology or medieval mind-set is short-sighted and self-serving’’. Is every attack a religious deed?? Why it that the political agendas are never is looked at?? Paul Bremmer the Chief Head in the 2003 Invasion of Iraq mentioned in an interview with Al Jazeera that it was our failure to act in Iraq that led to ISIS growing into its current position.  

In the aftermath of Paris attacks there has been a hike in the number of Islam phobia. Hence resulting in anti refugees sentiment has, with growing sense of hatred against refugees in Europe, against those who themselves are fleeing war and conflicts. Along with hate rant towards the Muslims for example the Republican candidate Donald Trump who believes all Muslims should be banned from the states.

 Yet The rise of terrorism has not been a result of theological or religious war, but it more resulted from a political game between nations for their national interest, for instance Al Qaida was the outcome of Cold War periods between West and East, it was in 1979 with the Russian invasion of Afghanistan that Al Qaida gained power and brought up extremists from all over the world together in the name of Jihad to defeat Soviet Union. And again now ISIS created strengthened more as an outcome of foreign invasion and poor execution and planning of the mentioned invasion. The governments, which brought up regime changes in the Middle East without having a better alternative government to replace it are partly responsible for the rise and cause of extremism.

In this situation let’s not forget the role of Saudi Arabia and Iran in the crisis of Middle East. Saudi Arabia with its Wahabi extremists on the one side, and Iran with its Hezbollah and other extremist groups on the other side, both countries benefiting from this turmoil and both countries tries to pursue their geopolitical interest and have more influence in the regions. To attain these aims these countries use sectarian divide and ethnic cleansing as means to an end.

Regardless of religion, politics and never ending blame game, it is in fact that ISIS has become most feared monster that has managed to extend its influence globally. It does not come as a surprise of its influence in Afghanistan and looking for permanent sanctuary. Therefore poses a huge threat for the security of the world, it is e time that now the world leaders should execute a coherent plan to take action against global terrorism and exterminate its existence rather than do it to be the next super hero nation to save mankind from terrorism. This of course cannot be done just by artillery power as that has proved to be the root cause of the surge in terrorism in the last decade with its greatest example being the invasion of Afghanistan that has only surged the extremism since the withdrawal of the forces in 2014. In order to bring peace and stability in Middle East, the International Community must reach to a consensus with all the parties involved in the conflict though diplomacy.

The US lead allies should help Iraq to build a powerful centralised government with the participation of all section of society.  Most importantly the International community should put pressure over Saudi Arabia and Iran to end their political game in the region and to stop supporting of extremist groups and ideologies and convince Russia to stop arming and backing Bashar Assad. It will be for the global welfare and an equal chance for countries to develop and have new beginning for this it is a requirement to attain the removal of terrorism and radicalism through global development and welfare rather than engaging in war.

View expressed in this article are of the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Pajhwok’s editorial policy.