The Impact of Western Strategy on Muslim South Asia

On December 3^rd RUSI hosted a one-day conference on ‘The Impact of Western Strategy on Muslim South Asia’.

The discussion concentrated on the global war on terror and its effects on extremism in the region. An investigation into this topic has been especially urgent, with the nagging suspicion in the minds of many South Asian Muslims that the war on terror is a war against Islam. The results of this frustration have been plain to observe both at home and abroad, where young South Asian’s continue to be drawn towards radical jihad. This is undermining both the position of moderates within the community and government policies in countering the jihadist threat.

Core Themes:

·          Public opinion in Muslim South Asia; the struggle for hearts and minds

·          Afghanistan and ‘talebanisation’ within South Asia

·          Current government policy impact within the Muslim community

·          Alternative approaches to the GWOT

Speakers included:

       Lt. Gen. (Retd) Javed Ashraf Qazi, Senator and Special Envoy to the Government of Pakistan

       Jonathan Paris, Adjunct Fellow, Hudson Institute

       Sir Hilary Synnott KCMG, Former High Commissioner to Islamabad.

       Iain Mathewson CMG, Adviser, Citigroup

       Rt Hon Parmjit Dhanda MP, Parliamentary Undersecretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government

Event photos:

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