Anti-Americanism And Radicalization Process: A Case Study Of Collateral Damage From Drone Strikes In FATA, Pakistan

• Published in: Webology 2022-01, Vol.19 (3), p.2231-2249
• Main Authors: Shah, Ayaz Ali, Arbab, Sadaf, Ud Din, Jamal, Rahman, Fazli, Ullah, Sana, Hassan, Mubasher, Amin, Afzaal, Ali, Imad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aircraft; Anti-Americanism; Casualties; Civilians; Counterinsurgency; Counterterrorism; Drones; Extremism; Intelligence services; Militancy; Military bases; Military deployment; Murders & murder attempts; Obama, Barack; Radicalism; Rebellions; Religion; September 11 terrorist attacks-2001; Terrorism; Unmanned aerial vehicles
• ISSN: 1735-188X

This paper is primarily about how collateral damage from US drone strikes in the FATA region of Pakistan results in the radicalization of the aggrieved community. However, this research study challenges the very established hypothetical assumption that it is religion that helps people in FATA undergo radicalization process. Instead, what is argued is that it is the tribal code of revenge that encourages the local people to join militant organizations like Al Qaeda and Taliban in Afghanistan to fix the revenge for the death of their dear ones. Importantly, the paper establishes the assumption, with empirical data, that drone strikes kill innocent people along with high profile terrorists intentionally targeted to kill. As the region is already in the grip of intense feelings of anti-Americanism, any small mistake or mishap brings much bigger repercussions and gives boost to how America is projected and presented by these banned militant organizations. Though data is scarce on the subject matter, much efforts were made to collect as much empirical evidence as possible to support the hypothetical assumptions.