Dawn, 16 May 2010,
PESHAWAR: Afghan ulema played a key role in radicalisation of society in the Swat valley as they used mosques against the state and encouraged people to participate in ‘jihad’, according to a survey conducted by a non-governmental organisation.
The Regional Institute of Policy Research and Training, Peshawar, conducted the survey regarding the conflict in Swat based on perceptions of the residents, in which responses from 384 randomly-selected households scattered over 16 union councils of the district were taken.
The survey covers a large area of the drivers of the conflict and provides a comprehensive coverage of subjects that were divided into eight categories, including strategic communication, development, foreign intervention, governance, security and poverty.
The survey report provides many insightful inferences for policymakers.
According to the report, there was a close nexus between the Afghan refugees and insurgency when the former took over the mosques and used the platform to preach against the state and encourage people to participate in ‘jihad’.
Use of illegal FM broadcasts was instrumental in gathering support for Swat militants.
The survey found that the 2001 LGO weakened governance and encouraged militancy to grow and fester. It says the people of Swat hold the government complicit as it failed to control the rise of militancy before 2008.—Bureau Report
Pakistan 
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