Social Implications of Suicide bombing

Ahsan Mansoor Khan

M. Uzair Rasool

BE-06 (Aero)
 “I have to tell the world that if they do not defend us,
then we have to defend ourselves with the only thing we
have, our bodies. Our bodies are the only fighting
means at our disposal.”

Hiba, Mother of Five (Suicide bomber trainee)

 Introduction
“A suicide attack is an operational method in which the very act of the attack is
dependent upon the death of the perpetrator”.(Institute for Counter-Terrorism)

“Intended to cause death or serious bodily harm to civilians or non-combatants(Kofi

Annan, as Secretary General of the UN, defined terrorism in March 2005 in the
General Assembly ).”
 Through Ages

• Hashishin :The work of the Hashishin, or Assassins, was the public murder of
influential leaders -- true suicide missions.
• Another group, the Muslim Assassins (also known as Ismailis-Nazari) that operated
in the eleventh through the thirteenth centuries, conducted suicide missions.
• Japanese kamikaze pilots used suicide tactics during World War II.
• The first known modern suicide bombing attack occurred in Lebanon in 1981
during a civil war between Christian and Muslim militants.(British Psychological
Society).
• Tamils in Sri Lanka targeted military crops and civilians in 1980’s.
 “This is the poor man’s nuclear weapon, you don’t need a
Tomahawk missile, this phenomenon is better. If a suicide
bomber decides at the last minute he can turn 90 degrees from
his target, to a new one, this is very powerful.”
Anat Berko in The Path to the Garden of Eden
 Development of a suicide bomber
 

• Insulation of group from external information and Influence

• Lack of impartial leadership and of norms encouraging proper

procedures
 
• High stress from external threats

• Unquestioning belief that the group must be right

• Tendency to ignore or discredit information contrary to the

group’s position
 Objectives of Suicide Bombing
• Achieve Major Political Goals.
• Punish a state or society for doing harm to their community or
religion.
• Use against specific targets.
• Create high casualties to ensure media coverage to mobilize
support for their cause.
• Revenge.
• The terror group has failed to meet its goals through less
extreme measures.
• The radical Islamic activists who decide to become “shaheeds”
see themselves as martyrs who are fulfilling a divine command
of protecting their religion.
Current Situation
People killed in Suicide bombings
1200

1000

800

Killed
600

400

200

0
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

(Data Source: South Asia Terrorism portal)

 Social Implications
Economical Destabilization
• Tourism
• Foreign
• Increase in Trade Deficit
• Dependence on foreign aids/Loans
• Poverty
 Military operations(Fight with country mates)
• Swat operation
• Waziristan operation

“Pakistan has received total disbursement of $11,998 Million from USA under
Coalition Support Fund (CSF), out of this amount $3,129 Million were
economic related aid and security related aid amounted to $8,869
Million.”
“After war declared by government within Pakistan, KSE dropped its index to
4,675 points with a market capitalization of Rs.1.58 trillion, a loss of over
65% from its capitalization in 2007.”
 Mind sets
• Sense of insecurity
• State of fear at public gatherings
• Businessmen moving their assets
• Pessimism among the youth due to extensive
media coverage
• Description of Pakistan as “the most
dangerous country in the world”
• Increased expenditure on security measures, Less for
social development and education
• Protocol culture for VIPS
• Misconception about Madrasa education
• Social Taunts of Pathans being terrorist in Punjab and
Sindh region
• Demoralization of security and intelligence personnel
 Religious Harmony

• Attacks on Shia gatherings(Karbala Gammay

Shah)
• Data Darbar incident
• Attack on Lahore Ahmadi Mosque
 Islamic Perspective
• The Qur’an states: “Think not of those who are slain in the cause
of God as dead. Nay, they are alive in the presence of the Lord
and are granted gifts from him.”(3, 169)

• The Qur’an states, “And do not kill yourself, for God is indeed
merciful to you.” Qur’anic interpreters explain that the verse and
the lines on committing suicide represent a direct negation of
divine mercy.
• In another verse the Qur’an states, “And do not throw yourself
into destruction with your own hands.” Interpreters explain that
“throwing yourself into destruction with your own hands” refers
to committing suicide
• education largely shapes the values and belief
systems of the individual, and imposes these
values and beliefs on individuals.

• If the education system is not under the

control of the State, then the possibility of
non-state actors using education to impose
their version of history/beliefs becomes easier.
Questions