Pakistan

Who is reaching young Pakistanis?

Current news coverage on Pakistan focuses on drone strikes, military offensives and suicide bombings. Yet the real battle to decide the future of Pakistan is being waged in the classrooms, campuses and social hangouts of Pakistani youngsters.

Pakistan is a young country. 63% of the population are under the age of 25. That is over a hundred million young people.

Yet a lack of economic opportunities coupled with an increasingly ineffective state mean that a large number of youngsters are likely to become disenchanted and vulnerable to radicalisation. If Pakistan is to remain a moderate Islamic state, the battle for youngsters' hearts and minds must be won today.

Bill Law meets young Pakistanis from all walks of life to hear their thoughts on the crisis and find out what future they would like for their country.

Listen to Crossing Continents: Pakistan

BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents is broadcast on Thursday, 23 July, 2009 at 1102 BST and is repeated on Monday, 27 July, 2009 at 20:30 BST.

Reporter: Bill Law
Producer: Colin Pereira