Islamist groups in Pakistan, emboldened by the Taliban’s 2021 takeover in Afghanistan, are gaining influence. While Pakistan’s military claims to fight extremism, sympathizers exist within its ranks. Add to this a staggering economic collapse, devastating floods, and mounting political paralysis—Pakistan, a nuclear power, is drifting toward instability.
Since its founding in 1947, Pakistan has been locked in conflict with India—especially over Kashmir. The military has long claimed to be the country’s backbone, but its record tells a different story. In 1977, General Zia-ul-Haq launched a sweeping Islamization campaign, reviving harsh Sharia punishments and building a madrassa system that still spreads extremism. Backed by U.S. funds during the Soviet-Afghan war, Pakistan turned into a breeding ground for radical ideologies—roots that continue to feed today’s crisis.
We visit the infamous Red Mosque in Islamabad, a Taliban stronghold, and cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar — each showing a different face of a country under strain. We investigate the rising popularity of radical clerics, the enduring influence of the military, and the populist wave that keeps former Prime Minister Imran Khan—nicknamed “Taliban Khan”—firmly in the spotlight even under house arrest. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s minorities face blasphemy charges, transgender people are pushed underground, and public education has become an engine for religious indoctrination. Private schools offer a way out — but only for the few who can afford them.
As the educated class leaves and the economy flatlines, clim ate change strikes hard. The 2022 floods submerged a third of the country, displacing millions and amplifying public frustration. In this chaos, the Islamist message gains traction. Blending investigative journalism with cinematic storytelling, this documentary traces Pakistan’s slide toward fundamentalism and asks what it means for a nuclear-armed nation on the edge.