The rise of militant Islamic communities in the United Kingdom is causing consternation among Britain’s MI5. In a similar fashion to other second generation expatriate communities throughout the European Union, foreign enclaves within the UK, particularly Pakistani youth, have become a target for radical indoctrination by groups such as al-Qaeda , Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) , and Jaish e Mohammed (JeM) . To combat the dramatic rise in terrorist recruitment within the UK and to eliminate isolated-homegrown cells that threaten the nation, British law enforcement has begun to examine the intrinsic reasoning behind the allure of terrorism to these communities.
Indian Occupation of Kashmir
The growth of Islamic radicalism within the UK is inspired largely by Indian occupation of Kashmir and is less concerned with British and American foreign policies, although the latter still plays a certain role in drawing Islamic jihadist recruits. A considerable proportion of Pakistani communities in the UK trace their historical lineages to Kashmir, thus inspiring Pakistani expatriate youth to join the jihadist struggle in Kashmir against the Indian state. However, historical linkages to a foreign land are not the only impetuous behind the dramatic increase in Pakistani expatriates traveling to Kashmir to partake in jihad. A recent study compiled by the British government shows that one-quarter of young British Pakistanis are unemployed with an unidentified number also lacking advanced education.
Religious Travel to Pakistan and the Growth of Radicalism
An estimated 400,000 British Pakistanis travel to their homeland each year. Although only small percentage of the 400,000 partake in religious education while in Pakistan , a small number engage in radical religious study and learn skills to become a terrorist upon their return to the UK or their dispatch to Kashmir.
British intelligence determined that the cell members responsible for the July 2005 subway bombings (Terrorist Incident and Terrorist Incident) had traveled to Pakistan for religious indoctrination and to meet with al-Qaeda members. Additionally, several of the men responsible for a thwarted 2004 attack to explode a fertilizer bomb in Great Britain had traveled to Pakistan for unknown reasons (Terrorist Incident forthcoming).
The linkages between British Pakistanis and Kashmir-inspired Islamic radicalism can best be articulated by examining the recent exposed plot to destroy transatlantic flights (Intel Report and Intel Report). The alleged ringleader of the cell, Rashid Rauf, traces his familial ties to Kashmir, from which his parents emigrated before he was born. Moreover, Rauf is married to the sister-in-law of Maulana Masood Azhar, the leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Pakistani Engagement in Deterring the Growth of Radicalism
Since 9/11 , Pervez Musharraf’s government has militarily engaged remnants of the Taliban and al-Qaeda, seeking sanctuary along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Simultaneously, Pakistani security forces?in conjunction with the US FBI–have arrested or killed several al-Qaeda members, including top al-Qaeda leader Abu Zubaida and Khaled Sheik Muhammed. However, although the Pakistani government’s commitment to US-led war against the Taliban regime and al-Qaeda is largely unquestioned, Musharraf’s commitment to the elimination of Kashmiri-based terrorists is less than comprehensive. A firm commitment to eliminate the LeT and JeM will reduce the growth of radical militancy among the Pakistani Diaspora while ingratiating Musharraf with both the British and US governments.
United States and Homegrown Terrorists
In June 2006, FBI Director Robert Mueller warned of the threat posed by homegrown terrorists cells in the US, saying “Homegrown terrorists may prove to be as dangerous as groups like al-Qaeda, if not more so.” The prolific rise of autonomous cells, inspired by al-Qaeda rhetoric but possessing no linkages to the al-Qaeda terrorist network, could perpetrate attacks in the US similar to the attacks in Madrid and London (see this WAR Report). The US government, in conjunction with the British and Pakistani governments, should be similarly concerned with the US citizens of Pakistani origin traveling to Pakistan for religious training.
Although the percentage of both British and US citizens who travel to Pakistan and become engrained with radical beliefs is notably small, the threat is real. Constructive engagement with the Pakistani government and the prodding of Musharraf to eliminate Kashmiri militant groups could substantially reduce the numbers of radical militants posing a threat to western governments.