On Friday, a report from the Greek City Times said that Pakistan’s own army is now clashing with the Islamist groups it once helped nurture. The military, which still claims to champion moderation abroad, has quietly used religious nationalism at home to silence critics, a contradiction that has sparked violent protests.
The A‑news piece highlighted that the army’s leadership, headed by Field Marshal Asim Munir, has been preaching tolerance to Western audiences while backing the Israel‑Gaza peace talks that many religious groups fear undermines Islam in Pakistan. This move has turned many moderate and extremist supporters of the Tehreek‑e‑Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) into angry protesters.
In late September and early October, TLP activists clashed with police in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi. Thousands marched, chanting “No to the army, no to selling out Islam for dollars.” The military quickly met the crowds with tear gas, rubber bullets and, in some areas, live fire.
Human rights groups and local media said at least a handful of people were killed and dozens wounded, including young TLP members. Protesters blamed the army for abandoning its ideological promises and treating former allies as enemies when they disagreed with the military’s new policy direction.
The report argues the army’s use of religious groups was once a way to keep liberal and democratic movements in check. Now, as the generals seek Western approval and economic aid, they view the TLP as expendable. That shift, the article warned, could drive more religious and political groups to protest and deepen polarization.
According to the Greek City Times, the Pakistani military’s heavy-handed approach is likely to intensify unrest. The army’s desire for Western support and its crackdown on dissent threaten to upset a fragile balance that has kept Pakistan from chaos.
Source: ianslive
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