Terrorism in South Asia
Geo-politically, South Asia represents an integral security zone and in that, with each of her neighbours, India has special ties of ethnicity, language, culture, common historical experience or of shared access to vital natural resources like water of a degree of intensity that is not shared by any others. Currently, the whole of South Asia – India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan and Pakistan – is going through internal unrest and upheavals due to insurgency, ethnic conflicts, religious fundamentalism or just political polarisation that encourages and uses terrorism.
Currently, the whole of South Asia is going through internal unrest and upheavals due to insurgency, ethnic conflicts, religious fundamentalism or just political polarisation that encourages and uses terrorism.
Their terrorist activities also have a long history of crossing national boundaries and leading to inter-state tensions. The impact of terrorism in neighboring states is always felt in India. As Harish Khare, the well-known journalist stated recently, “In this age of globalisation and the internet, it would be foolish to insist that not a single Muslim should allow himself to be brainwashed by the global Islamist fervour.” The general impression is that the terrorist situation in South Asia has deteriorated due to lack of political consensus, a comprehensive collective strategy, a will to implement and inadequate capacity building.
A few nations in South Asia still carry the belief that someone’s terrorist can be another’s freedom fighter. Such a notion is puerile. Any pre-meditated and unlawful act of violence against the innocent or non-combatants, irrespective of its cause and motive is nothing but terrorism. Some nations also believe that terrorism is a weapon of the small to bleed bigger nations. Such notions and advocacy reflect lack of commitment to war against terror. ‘Terrorism is a double-edged weapon. It is like a wicked dog, which often bites the hand that feeds it.’ India experienced it with Bhindranwale and LTTE of Sri Lanka during the 1980s. Pakistan is realising it now, after sponsoring the Afghan Mujahideen in the 1980s and the 1990s. Even the Pakistan military, which supported and controlled them earlier, is finding it difficult to control the situation in FATA and other areas of the NWFP. ‘A proxy or sub conventional war through terrorists’ activities can easily escalate into a conventional war’.
Global Counter Terrorism Strategy
Establishment of a Regional Counter Terrorism Centre with experts from different countries who would work under a common umbrella to provide professional guidance and secretarial support to the SAARC political leadership and to monitor implementation of their Resolutions in letter and spirit.
Capacity building in combating terrorism by intelligence, police, para military and military in each other’s schools of instructions and thus learning from varied experience.
Some nations also believe that terrorism is a weapon of the small to bleed bigger nations.
Greater liaison and coordination for counter-terrorism operations would require certain amount of inter-operability. The backbone of such inter-operability is sets of common inter-operable communication systems and operating procedures.
Updating of equipment required for counter-terrorism operations. This does not involve heavy weaponry but force multipliers which enable better day and night surveillance, faster decision making and reaction, as well as accuracy to avoid collateral damage.
A common database at the regional level, a multilateral/bilateral intelligence sharing and a mechanism for joint interrogation of terrorist leaders and important suspects.
Trust and transparency of action against sanctuaries in foreign territory and against States sponsoring terrorism. Effective action against terrorist-funding, gun running and narcotics production and smuggling.
Legal assistance to watch others in matters relating to investigations and prosecution.
Strategy to Counter WMD Terrorism
Determine terrorists’ intentions, capabilities and plans to develop or acquire WMD. Understand and assess the credibility of threat reporting and provide technical assessments of terrorists’ WMD capabilities.
Deny terrorists access to the materials, expertise and other enabling capabilities required to develop WMD, with a particular focus on weapons-usable fissile materials, dangerous pathogens and poisonous chemicals. Denial efforts extend to the methods of transport, sources of funds and other capabilities that could facilitate the execution of a WMD attack. In addition to building upon existing initiatives to secure materials, develop innovative approaches that blend classic counter proliferation, non-proliferation and counter terrorism efforts.
The biggest worry of these countries which have suffered at the hands of terrorists is that Weapons of Mass Destruction may fall into the hands of the terrorists and that catastrophic consequences would follow.
Deter terrorists from employing WMD. A new deterrence calculus seeks to deter terrorists, facilitators and supporters from contemplating a WMD attack and, failing that, to dissuade them from actually conducting an attack. Traditional deterrence by punishment may not work because terrorists generally show a wanton disregard for the lives of innocents and, in some cases, for their own. Accordingly, develop a range of deterrence strategies that are tailored to the various WMD threats and the individual actors who facilitate or enable those threats. Employ diplomatic strategies that seek to address extremism and defuse volatile conditions in order to discourage consideration of WMD as a tool to address real or perceived injustices.
Detect and disrupt terrorists’ attempted movement of WMD-related materials, weapons, and personnel. Expand our global capability for detecting illicit materials, weapons and personnel transiting abroad. Utilise global partnerships, international agreements and ongoing border security and interdiction efforts to promote detection capabilities. Continue to work with countries to enact and enforce strict penalties for WMD trafficking and other suspect WMD-related activities.
Prevent a WMD-related terrorist attack and develop a response capability. Once the possibility of a WMD attack has been detected, work to contain, interdict and eliminate the threat. Continue to develop requisite capabilities to eliminate the possibility of a WMD operation and to prevent a possible follow-on attack. Prepare ourselves for possible WMD incidents by developing capabilities to manage the range of consequences that may result from such an attack.
Define the nature and source of a terrorist-employed WMD device. Should a WMD terrorist attack occur, the rapid identification of the source and perpetrator of an attack would facilitate response efforts and may be critical in disrupting follow-on attacks. Work to maintain and improve our capability to determine responsibility for the intended or actual use of WMD via accurate attribution using the rapid fusion of technical forensic data with intelligence and law enforcement information.
There should be no distinction between a good and a bad terrorist which is what some countries are trying to do. The scourge will consume all unless it is ruthlessly eliminated. Countries sponsoring terrorism might realise that it is like riding a tiger that, one day, they might fall prey to. The biggest worry of these countries which have suffered at the hands of terrorists is that Weapons of Mass Destruction may fall into the hands of the terrorists and that catastrophic consequences would follow. A worldwide integrated approach to tackling terrorism is, therefore, a must.
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