From DDR to DDVE
Rethinking Non-Kinetic Responses to Terrorism in Pakistan
Abstract
The first- and second-generation Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) of the United Nations were thought to be inadequate in responding to the changing nature of the post-9/11 wave of global terrorism. Therefore, member states confronting the threat are implementing country-specific CVE interventions as a part of their non-kinetic responses. Pakistan, a country ranked second in 2025 in the global list of worst-hit countries, has adopted a combination of non-kinetic CVE measures, including de-radicalization, rehabilitation, and counter-narrative. The paper critically examines these interventions in light of the DDR-CVE convergence model presented by Richard and recommends combining these state-led initiatives with the third-generation UN DDR programmes for a futuristic Demobilization and Disengagement of Violent Extremism (DDVE) framework, tailored specifically to the local context.
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