SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF TERRORISM IN PAKISTAN

Pakistan is among those regions of this terrestrial surface that is of utmost and undeniable importance. Its political, economic and social instability is of deep concern for US policymakers after 9/11, because of its sanctuary position in relevance to terrorists’ oust from Afghanistan. Consequently, Pakistan had to take serious measures through direct intervention against terrorists in different parts of the country that resulted in socio-political and economic chaos and fuss. This paper sociologically investigates terrorism on its causal and consequential grounds in Pakistan. The study was undertaken in Swat; known as the paradise and Switzerland of Pakistan, which is almost obliterated and shuddered by the terrorists. The data is collected from 180 samples (selected purposively) in Swat using structured interview schedule. The data is quantitatively analyzed through the application of chi-square test and the results conclude that socio-economic and religious determinants are among the instigating factors to encourage terrorism.