Asian Polictical and Legal System - Essay Example

Islamic Fundamentalism: Bangladesh and Pakistan of the of the Concerned Professor September 18, 2009 Islamic Fundamentalism: Bangladesh and Pakistan There is no denying the fact that a majority of the Muslim majority nations around the world are peculiarly vulnerable to Islamic fundamentalism. However, the origins and genesis of Islamic fundamentalism in the specific nations is not a monolithic and regimented phenomenon, nor the potency of Islamic fundamentalism in each nation.

In that context, though Bangladesh and Pakistan are no doubt affected by Islamic fundamentalism, Islamic fundamentalism is a less potent force in Bangladesh then in Pakistan. Plethoras of reasons are responsible for this reality. Islamic fundamentalism in Pakistan needs to be studied in a historical, economic and geopolitical context (Rashid, 2001). Pakistan being adjacent to Afghanistan, the hotbed of Islamic radicalism, is more then exposed to the extremist forces as compared to Bangladesh.

Besides, unlike Bangladesh, Pakistan lies on the route to the oil and natural gas rich regions of Central Asia. A number of affluent and influential nations have a stake in the mineral wealth of Central Asia (Rashid, 2001). Some of these stakes specifically intend to use Islamic fundamentalism as a tool to gain grounds in Pakistan to secure their hold on Afghanistan and Central Asia. Bangladesh, on the contrary is not that lucrative in an economic sense, thus Islamic radicals do not intend to pump much finances in this young nation to propagate their ideology.

In addition, considering the military inferiority of Pakistan as compared to India, a section of the Pakistan's political elites and the army, particularly the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) raised and nurtured Islamic fundamentalism over the years to carry on a proxy war against India. It is not a wonder that Islamic fundamentalism in Pakistan stands on much firmer foundations as compared to Bangladesh. Besides, a significant section of the intelligentsia and the political community in Bangladesh is averse to any accruements in the Pakistani influence in the region owing to historical reasons, and hence Islamic fundamentalism in Bangladesh does not enjoys a widespread support as it does in Pakistan.

The Wahabi Islam is better entrenched in Pakistan then in Bangladesh to which most of the Islamic fundamentalists are affiliated (Rashid, 2001). Hence, it can safely be said that Bangladesh is not that affected by Islamic fundamentalism and the international community can easily soften the brunt of Islamic fundamentalism in Bangladesh by extending the relevant economic and developmental aid. However, Pakistan poses a much tougher problem, as the Islamic fundamentalism there is well entrenched, influenced by multiple international powers and to some extent state sponsored.

Works Cited Rashid, Ahmed. (2001). Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil and Fundamentalism in Central Asia. New York: Yale University Press.