The recent sentencing of Kahkashan Haider Khan in the United States is yet another reminder of a deeply troubling pattern: individuals who claim to speak for “rights” or “grievances” while actively plotting violence, destabilisation, and terror. Khan—an American citizen of Pakistani origin—wasn’t a victim of the state she constantly maligned. She was an active recruiter and facilitator for the banned terrorist outfit MQM, raising funds, selecting targets, planning attacks, and even celebrating what she believed was a firebombing that left innocent people burned.
This case exposes an uncomfortable truth: there are actors who weaponize political rhetoric to justify violence, all while painting the state and its security forces as oppressors. Whenever their deceit is exposed, these same elements cry foul—yet their actions repeatedly show contempt for the rule of law, public safety, and human life itself.
Terrorism thrives where narratives of hatred against institutions take root
Groups like MQM have long used grievances—real or manufactured—to recruit vulnerable people, distort facts, and demonise the very law enforcement agencies fighting to protect citizens. Kahkashan Khan’s plot to burn down Punjabi-owned gas stations in Karachi was not about justice. It was not about rights. It was a sectarian, divisive act that targeted ordinary people and aimed to ignite ethnic conflict.
Yet, individuals like her often use the language of “victimhood,” trying to delegitimize the state and its security forces at every turn. Their goal is simple: weaken public trust so that terrorism can flourish behind the smokescreen of propaganda.
Security forces stand as the shield between society and chaos
Whether in Pakistan, the U.S., or any other nation, security agencies are the first line of defence against violent extremism. The FBI’s swift action in this case—and the statements by U.S. officials—underscore a universal reality: no country can allow its soil to become a launching pad for terrorism.
And yet, the same institutions that protect the public are regularly targeted by hostile narratives. These attacks are not meant to improve governance—they are meant to paralyse the state, demoralise the forces keeping society safe, and create space for violent actors to operate.
National unity is not optional—it is essential
In times when terrorism continues to evolve and adapt, societies must not fall for the divisive rhetoric of those who exploit grievances as cover for extremism.
Unity is the greatest weapon against terror.
Social cohesion undermines the terrorists’ goal of creating fear and fragmentation.
A strong bond between the public and the state makes it impossible for extremist networks to gain footholds.
Kahkashan Khan’s case should be a wake-up call: when individuals try to malign their own country and its institutions while secretly enabling violence, they are not activists—they are threats to peace.
The path forward
To defeat terrorism as a nation, we must:
Support our security forces, who work tirelessly, and often thanklessly, to keep us safe.
Reject propaganda and misinformation, especially from those who have a history of enabling violence.
Strengthen national unity, ensuring no space is left for sectarian, ethnic, or political hatred to be exploited.
Expose and confront malicious actors who hide behind narratives of grievance while plotting harm.
Arena of Public Perception
The fight against terrorism is not just fought on battlefields or through intelligence operations—it is fought in the arena of public perception. When we stand united, resolute, and aware of the tactics used by such malicious actors, we deny them the one thing they need most: division.
Now more than ever, national cohesion is our shield, and trust in our institutions is our strength.
