In the mid-1980s,.
the general consensus was that Islam had peaked in its growth around the world. In.
addition, the widespread thinking amongst academics and policymakers alike was that the.
radical wing of Islam would be extinct by the end of the 20th century. However, as has.
been witnessed, Islamic fundamentalism has grown with extreme vigor throughout the.
last fifteen years. Although the extreme sects of Islam have grown in recent years, they.
do not have the power to overwhelm, or completely destabilize Pakistan, largely because.
of the distinct environment there. Pakistan differs from other Islamic states in five key.
ways:.
1) Pakistan differs from other Muslim states because Islam has always had a.
fundamental presence in Pakistan. Even a secular man like Musharraf takes.
offense at Pakistan being called a secular state.
2) Pakistan's experience with Islam has always been an alliance, rather than.
confrontational as in Egypt or Algeria.
3) Pakistan is not doctrinally homogeneous. There is a wide gap between the.
"popularists- of Islam and the "literalists- of Islam. "Syncretic' or folk Islam is.
the religion of 70% of rural Pakistanis. The strong presence of diverse Islamic.
sects and groups such as the Shiites and the Sufis, as well as sectarian, urban/rural.
differences, help in stopping the formation of a truly unified religious base. In.
addition, the Pakistani state has skillfully managed to keep the religious groups.
off balance by pitting them against each other.
4) In Pakistan, the radical wing of Islam is not the only alternative to the.
mainstream "there are other powerful groups with a voice, though this is often.
glossed over by the western media. For example, Political Islam in Pakistan is.
currently being challenged by a reinvigorated Sufi movement "this "backlash-.
against more traditional Islamic forces should not be discounted. The Tableghi.
Jamaat is popular in both Pakistan and Bangladesh, and it is not a political.