CONSTRUCTING THE ENEMY: A POST-STRUCTURALIST ANALYSIS OF PAKISTAN’S DISCOURSE ON TERRORISM

The paper examines the evolution of terrorism discourse in Pakistan after 9/11 through a post-structuralist lens. It argues that terrorism discourse in Pakistan does not operate as a singular speech act but through overlapping practices with profound implications. It is guided by three research questions: How has terrorism been securitised across the four phases of emergence, hegemony, internalisation, and operationalisation? How do post structuralist dynamics such as biopower, binaries, genealogy, and power/knowledge reinforce this discourse? and to what extent do counter-narratives challenge or reshape securitised constructions? The study employs a terrorism discourse analysis of political speeches, religious decrees, policy documents, and media texts, purposively sampling voices from military, political, religious, and civil society actors. The findings show that terrorism securitisation discourse in Pakistan has been fragmented, with shifting labels that militants exploited through ambiguity and religious legitimacy. Counter-narratives, often voiced by clerics and rival militants, challenged official framings, leaving discursive vacuums. The study concludes that such incoherent securitisation, lacking consensus, undermines democratic governance and sustainable counterterrorism. Ultimately, it provides theoretical and policy guidance for striking a balance between security imperatives and civil rights in Pakistan.