Beginning by exploring the rise of extremist groups in Pakistan and the avenues through which they increase their influence in society, this edition also discusses government-led initiatives to counter extremism and efforts to build public awareness and counter violent extremism.

Pakistan is one of the most strategically important countries for the United States and the Muslim world, particularly in regards to countering violent extremism (CVE). In lieu of a robust government-led strategy, Pakistan's civil society has had to take the lead in CVE. This paper analyzes existing initiatives and their capacities to counter extremism, identifies challenges in program implementation, and develops recommendations for national and provincial strategies to empower civil society as a bulwark against extremism.

With recent changes in social and political landscapes around the world the focus of preventive counter-terrorism has shifted in many places from government to civil society. The contributors analyze the different approaches of Civil Society Organizations in preventing and countering violent extremism in various countries in South and Southeast Asia. The cases examined include, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The key emphasis is on understanding the context within which each example was initiated, and the factors that determined their relative success or failure. The evidence from these cases suggests that much can be achieved through empowering communities to engage in aiding both the indoctrinated and those who pose the greatest risk of radicalization. A valuable contribution to the literature on preventing and countering violent extremism.

This report examines political violence, sectarianism, insurgency, militancy and terrorism in Pakistan, approaches of political parties and government and its implications for the society and polity of Pakistan. The report focuses on a one-year period after the May 2013 general elections, which saw the PML-N assuming power in Islamabad with the Provinces being led by other national and regional parties. According to the report, the rising tide of violence and terrorism being witnessed in Pakistan has its basis in the society and polity of Pakistan which enable a culture of intolerance and hatred which is so deeply entrenched that it has made the state's fight against terror extremely difficult. The overall internal security situation gets even more complicated because of the fact that various sectarian groups and radical organizations like the TTP and other fundamentalist forces are not only closely networked, but also have an ideological affinity and provide each other sanctuaries and bases. Moreover, there are radicals within the ranks of the army, political parties and civil society who support these groups and their activities; and rather than accepting that Pakistan is plagued by home-grown radicalism, they resort to diversionary tactics and put the blame on external powers, which inevitably weakens the domestic resolve to fight the growing menace of terrorism and extremism.