Abstract:
Daesh, a Sunni militant organisation based in the
Middle East, has attracted militants from Asia, Europe
and the West. Daesh‟s multifaceted media strategy has
been instrumental in the spread of extremist ideology,
and advancing the outfit‟s global reach. The rising
profile of Daesh, in particular, the outfit‟s links with
other terrorist organisations is a source of concern
since it could prove to be detrimental for international
peace. Daesh presence in Afghanistan raises fears that
it may become a regional threat. Pakistan cannot
isolate itself from these security developments, and
needs to employ countermeasures to thwart any
potential threat. Pakistan‟s counterterrorist drive is a
deterrent against extremist factions. However, to
counter an extremist ideology, a counternarrative
based on rational views needs to be adopted. The
country‟s media needs to play an active role in
promotion of balanced ideological ideas. This paper
analyses Daesh‟s media strategy; the terrorist outfit‟s
radicalising tactics; the role of media in spreading
such an ideology; and thoughts on formulating a
media strategy for countering extremism.
