TERRORISM – INTERNATIONAL
News: Categorisation of terrorism on the basis of motivation is dangerous', says India
What's in the news?
● India said the tendency to categorise terrorism on the basis of motivations behind terrorist acts is "dangerous" and asserted that all kinds of terror attacks, whether motivated by Islamophobia, anti-Sikh, anti-Buddhist or anti-Hindu prejudices, are condemnable.
Key takeaways:
● International community needs to stand guard against new terminologies and false priorities that can dilute its focus of combating the scourge of terrorism.
● The tendency of categorisation of terrorism based on the motivations behind terrorist acts is dangerous and goes against the accepted principles that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations should be condemned and there cannot be any justification for any act of terrorism, whatsoever.
What is Terrorism?
● Although the term is not subject to a universally agreed definition, terrorism can be broadly understood as a method of coercion that utilizes or threatens to utilize violence to spread fear and thereby attain political or ideological goals.
Terrorism in India:
● India’s tryst with terrorism and violent extremism can be traced back partly to the religion-based partition in 1947, which ripped the sub-continent into two nations - India and Pakistan.
● The sub-continent remained witness to the most horrifying ethnic riots in modern history, which were marked by extreme violence and acts of terrorism.
● Following the partition, after a brief period of neutrality, the then Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), Hari Singh formally acceded to India; however, this act of accession has not, and continues not to be recognised by Pakistan which lays claims to the Muslim majority region.
● This territorial dispute lies at the core of the long-standing conflict between the two nations with both nations each vehemently rejecting the other’s claims.
● Further, India views Pakistan as perpetuating the ongoing cross-border conflict and sponsoring militant activity in a bid to destabilize the state of J&K and other parts of the country.
● In addition, considering the number of ongoing insurgencies in India, terrorism and violent extremism is also a manifestation of
○ Politico-religious violence
○ Ethnic-sub regional nationalism
○ Socio-economic conditions
○ Politics of identity.
● The primary causes of terrorism and insurgency in India are based on political, religious, ethnic, ideological, identity-driven, linguistic or socio-economic grievances.
● Terrorism in India can be broadly categorised in three distinct parts:
○ Cross border terrorism in J&K.
○ Terrorism in the hinterland.
○ Extreme violence and terrorism as an integral part of the ongoing insurgencies.
● According to the Global Terrorism Index, India is the 12th most terrorism affected country.
Factors responsible for the rise in Terrorist activities:
1. Deprivation and Inequality: Perceptions of deprivation and inequality, especially amongst culturally defined groups. This can lead to civil violence, of which terrorism may be a part.
2. Non integration of different sections: A lack of political legitimacy and continuity, as well as a lack of integration for the political fringes, encourages ideological terrorism. The potential is exacerbated by ethnic diversity.
3. State sponsored Terrorism: The terrorism in one country can spill over into neighbouring areas. Several nations in the world sponsoring the terrorist activities in its rival nations to disturb the economic, political and social fabric. For example: State sponsored terrorism in India by Pakistan.
4. Ideological differences: Extreme ideologies may sometime result in hatred towards other section of society and may lead to terrorism. Examples of terrorist groups motivated by ideology include the Irish Republican Army (IRA), in Sri Lanka the Liberation Tigers of Tamal Eelam (LTTE), and the Bader Meinhoff in Germany.
5. Poverty: Due to inadequate government response to the development of the people, many are misled by the extremists against the government.
Impacts of terrorism:
1. Political impact:
● Security problem: Terrorism aims to create terror, a feeling of insecurity, and the idea that sovereign leaders can no longer protect those they lead.
● Rise of separatist movements: These political implications relate first and foremost to democracy and the separation of powers, and can lead to the discontent and abuse of existing structures.
2. Cultural impact:
● If the impact of terrorism is lasting, it becomes cultural and individuals change their habits and behaviours.
● They learn not to be passive in the event of a terrorist attack, and live in a mental agony that a terrorist attack could take place.
● They also consume differently, which has a number of effects, including considerable economic ones. Terrorism changes people’s understanding of reality.
3. Economic impact:
● Direct destruction: The most immediate and measurable impact of terrorism is physical destruction. Terrorists destroy existing plants, machines, transportation systems and other economic resources. On smaller scales, acts of terrorism may blow up different public places, markets or religious places.
● Increased market uncertainty: Markets hate uncertainty, and terrorist attack create a lot of it. The real threat of global terrorism from an investor’s perspective is about the broader picture, not individual incidents. International investment and cooperation are lower in a world full of terrorism.
● Insurance, Trade, Tourism, and FDI: There are two obvious industries especially vulnerable to the effects of terrorism: insurance and tourism. On a broader scale, terrorism hurts international trade.
Key challenges faced by India’s counter-terrorism apparatus:
1. Lack of Coordination: Lack of effective communication between intelligence agencies and law enforcement agencies.
2. Concern still exists over the fact that the information is not dispersed among the security forces at the tactical level at the speed and effectiveness with which it should ideally occur.
3. Evolution of social media: Currently, those involved in terrorist activities are making use of social media platforms to recruit and spread ideology among a wider audience. They are even giving manuals on how to make explosives to the public. Communication has also become easier for these individuals.
4. The radicalisation of youth in India’s vulnerable areas has also become easier due to social media.
5. Cyber security: Due to the improvement in IT, most of the infrastructural and industrial capacities have become technology-driven. Most of the citizen's personal information is digitized, leading to higher dependence on technology. This makes India highly vulnerable to cyber terrorism. Currently, India does not have sufficient manpower, expertise, and technologies to deal with this emerging threat.
Initiatives taken by the Government to counter terrorism:
● India has been at the forefront of global action against terrorism and has always played an active role in the global promotion and protection of human rights.
● India, which has been a victim of cross-border terrorism, took cognizance of the threat long before the major world powers.
● It is a crime against humanity and violates the most Fundamental Human Right, namely the Right to Life (Article 21).
● India has taken steps for setting up Joint Working Groups (JWGs) on counter-terrorism/security matters with countries.
● Bilateral treaties on Mutual Legal Assistance (MLATs) in Criminal matters to facilitate the investigation, collection of evidence, transfer of witnesses, location and action against proceeds of crime, etc. have been signed with other countries.
● In 2018, India highlighted its demand for a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) at the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
● In 1996, with the objective of providing a comprehensible legal framework to counter-terrorism, India proposed to the UNGA the adoption of CCIT. It included the following major objectives:
a. To have a universal definition of terrorism that all members would adopt into their own criminal laws.
b. To ban all terror groups and shut down terror camps.
c. To prosecute all terrorists under special laws.
d. To make cross-border terrorism an extraditable offence worldwide.
● Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System: It vastly improves the capability of Border Security Force (BSF) in detecting and controlling the cross border crimes like illegal infiltration, smuggling of contraband goods, human trafficking and cross border terrorism, etc.
● Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967: It enables more effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of individuals and associations and for dealing with terrorist activities, and other related matters.
● Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 allows the use of any kind of force that is necessary against a person who is “acting to disrupt the law and order”. This is applicable only if the warning is given by the security personnel.
● Platforms of training: Paramilitary forces are given specialised training in counter-terrorism. These forces include BSF, CRPF, NSG, etc.
● India’s intelligence agencies monitor the terrorist activities and give a warning about the imminent attacks to prevent it from taking place. These agencies include Intelligence Bureau (IB), Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), etc
● National Investigation Agency: It is India's counter-terrorist task force and is empowered to deal with terror related crimes across states without special permission from the states.
● A Terror Funding and Fake Currency (TFFC) Cell has been constituted in National Investigation Agency (NIA) to conduct focused investigation of terror funding and fake currency cases.
● Policy of Zero-Tolerance Against Terrorism: India calls for zero-tolerance agianst terrorism and focuses on developing a common strategy to curb it.
● Various Counter-Terrorism Operations:
a. Operation Rakshak: Counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operation in Jammu and Kashmir in 1990.
b. Operation Sarp Vinash: Undertaken by Indian army to flush out terrorists in the areas of the Pir Panjal range in Jammu and Kashmir in 2003.
c. Operation All Out: Joint offensive launched by Indian security forces to flush out militants and terrorists in Kashmir in 2017.
● Welfare schemes: A Central Scheme titled Central Scheme for Assistance to Civilian Victims of Terrorist/ Communal/Left Wing Extremist (LWE), Cross Border Firing and Mine/IED blasts on Indian Territory has been formulated. The broad aim of the Scheme is to assist families of victims of Terrorist, Communal and Naxal violence.
International initiatives against terrorism:
1. Across the globe, the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) leads and coordinates an all-of-UN approach to prevent and counter-terrorism and violent extremism.
2. UN Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) under UNOCT, promotes international cooperation in the fight against terrorism and supports the Member States in implementing the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
3. The Terrorism Prevention Branch (TPB) of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) plays a significant role in international efforts.
○ It works to assist the Member States, upon request, with the ratification, legislative incorporation and implementation of the universal legal framework against terrorism.
4. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) which is a global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog, sets international standards that aim to prevent these illegal activities and the harm they cause to society.
5. India has also voted in favour of Resolution 34/8 of the Human Rights Council on ‘Effects of terrorism on the enjoyment of all human rights’.
6. In January 2021, at the 20th anniversary of the UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1373, India presented an eight-point action plan to deal with the scourge of terrorism.
7. Summoning the political will to unhesitatingly combat terrorism.
8. Decrying double standards in the fight against terrorism.
9. Reform of the working methods of the Committees dealing with Sanctions and Counter-Terrorism.
10. Firmly discouraging exclusivist thinking that divides the world and harms social fabric.
11. Enlisting and delisting individuals and entities under the UN sanctions regimes objectively not for political or religious considerations.
12. Fully recognising and addressing the link between terrorism and transnational organized crime.
13. Combating terrorist financing.
14. Immediate attention to adequate funding to UN Counter-Terrorism bodies from the UN regular budget.
WAY FORWARD:
1. Strong and Reformed Institutions: Multilateral institutions and mechanisms need to be strengthened and reformed to be able to deal with these emerging challenges effectively.
2. Timely and Appropriate Action: Intelligence gathering and sharing are not enough, timely and appropriate action is required on the intelligence received. Intelligence agencies have to be empowered both monetarily and through modern infrastructure to be able to respond in time.
3. Collaboration between the government, media and the public is a need of the hour. This will ensure quick and efficient sharing of information about suspicious activities to the law enforcement agencies while also ensuring inclusive growth among the people. Media and government can also ensure the de-radicalization of the youth in vulnerable areas.
4. Institutionalizing swift decision-making is necessary to address security issues. Efficient counterterrorism strategies must be formulated in an integrated and multidimensional manner for these decisions to be successful. These decisions must be quick and proactive with no delays.