II.
1) Why do children join the Taliban? Give specific examples.
2) How has the war in Pakistan impacted children?
3) Had the military offensive by Pakistani army / US military drones been effective? Cite specific examples.
4) How and why does the Taliban continue to grow?
1.
In Pakistan, children join the Taliban largely because they are the only option. The Taliban’s aggressive campaign to indoctrinate the young children of the countryside and the areas that are under their control prevents them from having any other option. Most non-Taliban schools are bombed, and no girls’ school is allowed to remain standing.
The indoctrination from a very young age in madrassas gives the children the beliefs of the Taliban. For example, the 14-year old boy who wanted to become a suicide bomber, if his father consented, had been in the extremist madrassa since he was a young child. The director of recruiting children stated that he “had” children from the ages of five to seven. These young children are easy to indoctrinate, and will become loyal Taliban soldiers.
In addition, children may join the Taliban because they dislike the Americans or the Pakistani army. Constant bombings and attacks like the one that destroyed an entire village turn the people’s opinion against the attackers. Children resentful of the killings of their family may turn to the Taliban for revenge.
2.
The war in Pakistan has impacted children possibly more than any other group. The children are the ideal soldiers for the Taliban, as they are easily indoctrinated, and can carry out attacks just as effectively as an adult. In addition, the indiscriminate killings of civilians by the Pakistani army greatly impacts children, who may be killed, orphaned, or separated from their family.
On top of this, the removal of a public education system by the Taliban prevents children from getting education to become members of a modern society, forcing them to join the Taliban, who provide a social structure in place of the one they have taken away.
3.
The American/NATO offensive by predator drones in Pakistan has not helped them. While they may succeed in attacking and killing some Taliban leaders, these leaders will be replaced, like Baitullah Mehsud replacing Nek Mohammad. In addition, the indiscriminate bombings make the local population resentful towards the faceless drones, which represent American aggression.
When families are killed, the children or neighbors can begin to dislike the United States, because of the bombings. The children of a bombed village are far more likely to join the Taliban, because they have reason to hate America, and because they are now homeless and friendless. The Taliban can take them in easily, provide education in a madrassa, and have a new suicide bomber, like Wasifullah, a victim of an air strike who is eager to join the Taliban.
4.
The Taliban continues to grow for a few reasons. The first, most obvious reason, is their aggressive campaign to conquer areas and begin indoctrinating the local youth. This creates a new generation of Taliban, who can continue the process. The madrassas are extremely effective, and are generally free or even pay the families of students. Even the poorest of children can attend one.
There is also the dislike of the people of this region of the invading Americans. There is a strong sense that the American troops are occupiers, and that the local people, to maintain freedom, must fight against them. The Taliban is currently the largest organization that does this, and so people join them.
The American strategy of somewhat indiscriminate bombing, on top of the Pakistani army’s lack of efficiency (Wiping out a village, for example, is not effective), make the local people dislike the United States forces. These attacks are not sufficient to protect the local people from the Taliban, and the number of forces is not sufficient, so locals will join the Taliban, even if they may not want to do so.
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