ISLAMIC State has become a big threat to Western countries, which are not only surprised by the speed of IS taking over areas in the Middle East and also by the large number of Westerners going to Syria to join the IS. There are many people asking the question about how can the IS survive or be created and how come Westerners and educated people want to join the group.

These questions can easily be answered by Pakistanis who have witnessed similar insurgent groups being created in north Pakistan over the past decade and how they operated and how they were eventually beaten by the Pakistan Army.

In Pakistan, when Nato and US armed forces took control of Afghanistan in early 2001, they allowed many nations to open their consulates and embassies in Afghanistan. India took the liberty of opening 12 consulates on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Soon afterwards new insurgent groups started appearing in north Pakistan.

These insurgent groups were different from the countless mujaheddin forces, which were now older, low-financed and having old, used weapons. The newer insurgent groups had latest and brand new weapons. Each fighter was paid a handsome monthly salary (around $250-350), while he also received food, clothing and ammo from the groups. Owing to the high income and benefits, many local criminals joined these groups to gain more power.

Once these realities became clear to our counter-terrorism forces, they used this information to squeeze out these insurgent groups. First, they blocked the money supply chain of these insurgents and then they blocked the food, ammo, weapons, fuel supply chain.

With no more money, food or ammo, the local insurgents, soon started losing fighters. The groups having stockpiles of ammo continued fighting the Pakistan Army for some time or until stocks lasted, while most other groups disbanded and stopped their illegal activities in Pakistan.

Thus if the West wants to stop the IS, it needs to stop its supply chains of money and weapons.

Also, it also shows that most people become fighters for religious groups, not because of religious beliefs but mainly for financial benefits. Thus, to stop new recruits, the West needs to stop IS cash flow.

Engr. Shahryar Khan Baseer

Peshawar

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2015

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