- By Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Afsir Karim, Editor, Aakrosh, Asian Journal on Terrorism and Internal Conflicts, New Delhi.
Introduction
South Asia is likely to remain an arena of international terrorist operations in the foreseeable future; terrorism may assume the form of protracted low intensity conflict, insurgency, or armed separatist movements. Afghanistan, Pakistan, Central Asia, Xinjiang in China, India, Sri Lanka and Nepal have been facing serious terrorist threats since the last few decades. Most terrorist groups, operating in South Asia and contiguous regions, are based in Pakistan, J&K, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
The nature of threat of international terrorism has become more daunting with the availability of new weapons and sophisticated technologies to the global terrorist groups. Military force by itself is no longer adequate to deal with global terrorism, well coordinated multidimensional international efforts ranging from psychological warfare to employment of covert forces, indirect pressures coupled with denying of material and moral assistance to the terrorists are now necessary. Use of conventional force for combating terrorism has generally been found to be counter-productive in the long run, meshing together of all available instruments of national power are required to defeat terrorism.
Conceptualization of terrorist threats presents practical difficulties and it is not possible to anticipate all terrorist attacks because they can come in many shapes and forms. There are, however, certain a common feature of all forms of terrorism, terrorism basically aims to generate fear, panic and terror calculated to influence a larger audience. Jehadi terrorism is a new face of politically motivated terrorism emerging from obscure ideologies and beliefs; the acts of terror perpetrated by Jehadi terrorists are also designed to change the cultural norms or religious ethos of a targeted country.
Patterns Of Terrorism
It would be incorrect to consider terrorism, as mindless violence because invariably there is a definite strategic aim behind most terrorist movements. Terrorist attacks have lately shown a marked sophistication and have focused on causing maximum number of casualties. There is now a distinct possibility that terrorist may acquire and use weapons of mass destruction soon. Possibility of use of Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) weapons now poses a real threat to all nations.
Democratic and secular regimes have been the main target of attack in South Asia, terrorism is being used for fomenting ethnic violence; religious strife, social unrest and destruction of vital economic and political infrastructure of these countries. Failure to achieve political objectives does not necessarily deter the sponsors as long as terrorism continues to generate strife or create the intended chaos. During the last few decades’ covert wars of this kind have been launched against many countries in South and Central Asia.
Terrorism, unlike ordinary violence, employs inordinate lethal force against civilian targets to erode the political will of the targeted country, undermine morale of the people, spread despondency and panic through catastrophic terrorist attacks. It is necessary to survey the entire landscape surrounding international and transnational terrorism for formulating appropriate strategies to counter terrorism. A conceptual road map of the activities of terrorist groups and the likely pattern of their future operations must be drawn for formulating long-term strategies for countering terrorism in all its forms. The regional or national priorities should indicate immediate and future policies to meet various contingencies, which are likely to arise.
Effort should to be made to strengthen the existing regional institutions for developing a wider security network. The role of non- governmental institutions in creating a framework for prevention and resolution of regional conflicts that promote terrorism should not be overlooked.
The general pattern of the terrorist operations in South Asia has been:
Terrorism and violence through Jehadi groups, who have been armed and trained to confront security forces.
Terrorism by local groups, which are ready to act against their government.
Maoist, Naxalites, the LTTE and other terrorist groups have been generating violence in various parts of the region with the help of various international supporters. These groups have been spreading disorder to divert critical material and human resources away from constructive activities.
Destabilizing communally or ethnic sensitive areas by Jhadi terrorist organisations to create political chaos and promote religious and ethnic strife.
Terrorist attacks with the aim of disrupting peace and social cohesion between diverse ethnic, caste and religious sub- groups in the region.
Countering Terrorism
It is necessary that regional countries adopt a pro-active policy to combat terrorism in the South Asia with the assistance of the international community. Pakistan is still sponsoring Afghan and Pakistani terrorists for fomenting trouble in Kashmir. A large number of terrorists of foreign origin have been found operating in Kashmir, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The continuing terrorist operations in Sri Lanka and Nepal have the potential to destabilize the entire region; vigorous efforts must be made to counter these movements because these developments are fraught with grave consequences for the whole region. The political and military consequences of terrorism at the regional level must be coordinated at the highest political level and ways and means to curb Jihadi terrorism in the subcontinent must be found.
Political, economic, social and military efforts have to be meshed together for countering terrorism effectively, isolated counter terrorist efforts by any one country cannot succeed, well thought out and coordinated planning and actions are required at the regional level to combat terrorism. The regional terrorist threats can be substantially reduced if:
Permanent organizations are created to develop regional policies and programs for countering terrorism.
Regional assets and financial resources are pooled for countering terrorism.
All countries in South Asia facing serious terrorist threats should raise Special Forces for taking immediate action in terrorist related crisis situations in the region.
Shared intelligence and information about terrorist groups, and coordinated action at regional level will increase ability of various countries and organizations to act in concert for countering terrorism.
Conclusion
No one country can face the challenges of international terrorism. A concerted regional effort is the only way to control terrorism in South Asia, however, no such effort is presently in sight. Terrorism is only a destructive force, which cannot solve political issues. The total failure of terrorism in attaining even symbolic success in political goals in various parts of the world is quite evident.
