Pakistan’s Madrasas: Moderation or Militancy?

The Madrasa Debate and the Reform Process

This report discusses the controversy over madrasas in Pakistan and identifies some of the challenges and opportunities for reform. The author argues that the dominant security discourse has placed the most radical madrasas in the spotlight and has neglected to mention those which are moderate, non-militant and non-political. It is argued that a more constructive and fruitful approach to the “madrasa challenge” might be to look at the diversity of schools existing in the sector (in terms of size, financing, and theological and ideological positions) as well as at their links to political groups.

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