TERRORISM

Published on 01 Feb 2025

According to the FBI, “Terrorism is the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.”

Types of terrorism 

• Political Terrorism: It involves targeting symbols of political power and authority to advance a particular political agenda or to overthrow a government.  

• Example: Irish Republican Army (IRA) terrorist activity seeking to end British rule in Northern Ireland.

• Religious Terrorism: It involves using violence to achieve religious objectives or to impose their interpretation of religious doctrine on others. 

• Example: ISIS terror activity based on selective interpretation of Islamic ideas.

• Ethnic or Nationalist Terrorism: This form of terrorism is driven by ethnic or nationalist aspirations, seeking to achieve autonomy, independence, or territorial control for a specific ethnic group. 

• Example: Suicide bombings and other terror activity by Tamil Tigers (LTTE) in Sri Lanka

• State-Sponsored Terrorism: In this case, a government supports or uses terrorist groups to achieve its goals. The government may provide funding, training, and safe havens for these groups. 

• Example: Hezbollah – A Lebanese militant group allegedly supported by Iran

• Single-Issue Terrorism: This type of terrorism focuses on a single specific issue, such as environmental concerns, animal rights, or anti-globalization. 

• Example: Earth Liberation Front (ELF) are targeted industries and entities they believed were harming the environment, using arson and other tactics to cause economic damage

• Ideology based terrorism: Ideologies like left-wing terrorism focus on overthrowing the state through an armed struggle and establishing a communist state and right-wing terrorism seek to maintain the status-quo or to return to some past situation that they feel should have been conserved.

• Example: Left Wing Extremist (Maoist) groups in India and Nepal 

Causes of terrorism 

• Social 

• Ethnic and Religious Tensions: Conflict among different religious and ethnic groups can lead to violence and terrorism. 

• Example: Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), a Sikh militant organisation that aims to create an independent Sikh nation of Khalistan in Punjab works on the basis of Sikh nationalism. 

• Developmental Deficit: Socioeconomic disparities and marginalization can create a sense of discontent among certain communities. 

• Example: Naxalism & Insurgency in underdeveloped regions of Central and North East India.

• Religious Extremism: Extremist ideologies and religious fundamentalism can drive individuals and groups toward terrorism.

• Example: The 2006 Mumbai train bombings were linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, which aims to establish an Islamic state based on their interpretation of Sharia law.

• Unemployment and Lack of Education: Lack of education and employment opportunities, especially among the youth, can make them vulnerable to recruitment by terrorist groups. 

• Example: Indian Mujahideen a terrorist organization reportedly recruiting such vulnerable youth.

• Historical Conflicts and Grievances: Lingering historical conflicts provide fertile ground for the emergence of terrorist movements. 

• Example: The demand for an independent Khalistan, fuelled by historical grievances, contributed to the Punjab insurgency.

• Media and Propaganda: The media can play a role in amplifying terrorist messages and providing them with a platform. 

• Example: The Indian Mujahideen used media channels to claim responsibility for their attacks and spread fear.

• Political 

• Underrepresentation: Political instability, perceived injustice, and lack of representation can contribute to terrorism. 

• Example: The Punjab insurgency, which peaked in the 1980s, was rooted in demands for greater autonomy and grievances against the central government

• Geopolitical Influence: External state actors, can fuel terrorism as a tactic of grey-zone warfare.

• Example: Chinese support to NE insurgent groups by providing arms, training, funding, etc. 

• Ineffective Governance: Corruption, weak law enforcement, etc can create an environment conducive for terrorism. 

• Example: The Mumbai underworld, left unchecked due to weak governance and corruption was involved in various criminal and terrorist activities, 

• Ideologies: Extreme ideologies may sometimes result in hatred towards other sections of society and may lead to terrorism. 

• Example: Terrorist groups motivated by ideology include the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamal Eelam (LTTE).

• Security

• Weak Border Security: India shares porous borders with several neighbouring countries, making it challenging to prevent the cross-border movement of militants and arms. 

• Example: Terror groups, such as NSCN-K operating in the north-eastern states, often exploit these vulnerabilities to their advantage.

Impact of terrorism 

• Social 

• Social Disruption: Terrorism can disrupt the normal functioning of societies and communities as people become wary of one another and isolate themselves for safety.

• Example: The 2002 Godhra train burning and subsequent riots in Gujarat, deepened mistrust and hostility between different religious communities.

• Migration and Displacement: Terrorism can lead to population displacement and migration as people flee conflict zones or areas affected by terrorism. This can create refugee crises.

• Example: The conflict in Yemen, involving Houthi rebels, has led to a significant humanitarian crisis, displacing many Yemeni citizens.

• Political and Civil 

• Loss of Life and Physical Injuries: Acts of terrorism can result in significant casualties and trauma for victims and communities.

• Example: 2011 Mumbai bombings, also known as 13/7, by Indian Mujahideen left 26 killed and 130 injured. 

• Psychological and Emotional Impact: Terrorism can create a pervasive atmosphere of fear, anxiety, and psychological distress. 

• Example: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) widely observed among survivors of terror attacks.

• Political Instability: Terrorism have potential to destabilizes governments, cause leadership changes, policy shifts, and even erosion of democracy.

• Example: The assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, former Prime Minister of India in 1991

• Erosion of Civil Liberties: In the name of combating terrorism, some governments may implement measures that infringe upon civil liberties and human rights. 

• Example: Supreme Court held that largescale killings in Manipur in the guise of self-defence (AFSPA) was unacceptable.

• Economic Loss: Terrorism often causes economic disruption by damaging infrastructure, disrupting supply chains, and deterring investment and tourism. 

• Example: The 1993 Bombay bombings and the 2006 Mumbai train bombings resulted in disruption to business activities, loss of productivity, and damage to infrastructure.

• Impact on International Relations: Acts of terrorism can strain diplomatic relations between countries, especially if it's believed that a state is sponsoring or harbouring terrorist groups. 

• Example: Diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan strained considerably after suicide bombing in the Pulwama, with both countries recalling their ambassadors. 

• Cultural 

• Radicalization and Recruitment: Terrorism can contribute to the radicalization of individuals who are drawn to extremist ideologies and may be more susceptible to joining terrorist groups. 

• Example: Online platforms can facilitate the spread of such ideologies.

• Media Influence: Terrorism often garners significant media coverage, which can amplify the impact by spreading fear and sensationalism. 

• Cultural Impact: Acts of terrorism can also target cultural symbols and heritage sites, leading to the loss of historical and cultural treasures. 

• Example: The destruction of the Bamiyan Buddha statues in Afghanistan by the Taliban in 2001 was a significant cultural tragedy.

Measures taken to counter terrorism 

• Legislative measures

• Legal framework: Enactment and amendment of anti-terrorism laws and establishment of specialized anti-terrorism courts for speedy trials of terrorism-related cases.

• Example: Amendment to (UAPA) include the provision of designating an individual as terrorist..

• Policy of Zero-Tolerance Against Terrorism: India calls for zero-tolerance against terrorism and focuses on developing a common strategy to curb it.

• Security measures 

• Intelligence and Surveillance: Enhancing surveillance capabilities to monitor and track suspicious activities and individuals.

• Example: Intelligence, surveillance and early warning inputs by IB and RAW.

• Security Forces and Capacity Building: Enhancing the skills of law enforcement agencies in counter-terrorism tactics and hostage rescue operations.

• Example: Training and equipping security forces, such as the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), National Security Guard (NSG), etc., to respond effectively to terrorist incidents.

• Border Security: Strengthening border security through increased patrolling, fencing, and use of technology to prevent infiltration of militants.

• Example: Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS), BOLD-QIT project

• Technological measures 

• Biometric Identification: Biometric identification systems, such as fingerprint and iris recognition, are used for identity verification and tracking individuals involved in terrorism or criminal activities.

• Counter-Drone Technologies: Anti-drone systems are used to detect and neutralize unauthorized drone flights, which can potentially be used for surveillance or carrying out attacks.

• Example: D4 anti Drone system by DRDO.

• Social Media Monitoring: Automated tools and algorithms are used to monitor social media platforms for extremist content, recruitment efforts, and propaganda dissemination.

• Example: Netra (Network Traffic Analysis) used by law enforcement agencies to monitor social media and internet traffic for keywords and phrases associated with terrorism and extremism.

• Perception management measures

• Deradicalization Programs: Initiatives to encourages people with extreme political, social, or religious views to adopt more moderate positions and stay away from influence of terror cells.

• Example: Operation Pigeon by Kerala police.

• Resilience Building: Programs that enhance critical thinking skills, emotional intelligence, and coping mechanisms can strengthen resilience against extremist influence and recruitment.

• Example: Surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy, 2020

• Global measures 

• Financial Tracking and Sanctions: Tracking and freezing the financial assets of individuals and entities involved in terrorist activities.

• Example: Financial Action Task Force (FATF) blacklists and sanctions countries that facilitate terrorism.

• United Nations (UN) Counter-Terrorism Framework: The UN has established various bodies and initiatives to address terrorism, including the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT).

• Aviation Security: The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) establishes global standards for aviation security, ensuring that countries implement measures to prevent hijackings and bombings of aircraft.

• International Legal Cooperation: Countries cooperate to ensure that terrorists are brought to justice through extradition, mutual legal assistance, and coordination in prosecuting terrorism-related cases.

• Example: INTERPOL facilitates international police cooperation by sharing information, issuing alerts, and providing support for counter-terrorism operations.

Challenges related to terrorism

• No Global Definition of Terrorism: Lack of universal terrorism definitions hampers international coordination in counter-terror efforts.

• Expanding web of Terrorism: Social media used to disseminate propaganda, recruit new members, coordinate attacks etc.

• Money Laundering & Terror Financing: According to the IMF and World Bank, criminals launder an estimated two to nearly four trillion dollars each year. Fund movements by terrorists have also been concealed through charities and alternative remittance systems.

• Example: Lack of regulation of crypto currency could make it a breeding ground for terrorists.

• Technological Advancement in Terrorist Tactics

• Bio-Terrorism: Intentional release of viruses, bacteria, or other germs that can sicken or kill people, livestock, or crops.

• Example: Tropical agricultural pathogens or pests can also be used as anti-crop agents to hamper food security worldwide.

• Cyber Terrorism: The use of the internet to conduct violent acts or threats of violence against a government or its people.

• Example: The government sector faced 18,862 malware attacks, while the banking sector faced 15,514 malware attacks. [Trend Micro Report]

• Drone attacks: The use of drones has become a new method in terrorist activities.

• Example: Yemen's Houthi rebel group out drone attacks targeting the Israeli port city of Eilat, and a commercial vessel in the Red Sea

Way forward

• Security 

• Curbing Terror Financing: There is a need to strengthen laws that require banks to perform due diligence on their customers and to report suspicious transactions to prevent terrorism. 

• Example: India to host the “No Money for Terror” Conference in Delhi would be a step in this direction.

• Global Counter Terrorism Measures: Accepting a universal definition of terrorism and global sanctions against nations that are state sponsors of terrorism can pave a way for peaceful world order.

• Example: Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) proposed by India.

• Developmental measures 

• Socio-Economic Development: Focus on equitable and inclusive development in conflict-affected regions to address socio-economic disparities that contribute to terrorism.

• Example: Create employment opportunities, improve education, and provide basic services to mitigate grievances.

• Capacity Building: India should move in the direction of specialization of military to fight cross-border terrorism ensuring co-ordination among the intelligence and security agencies to check infiltration of terror activity.

• Example: In order to have speedy trials, India also needs to enhance its National Criminal Justice system and implement strict legal protocol against terrorism

• Perception Management Measures 

• Engagement with Civil Society: Partner with civil society organizations, non-governmental groups, and religious institutions to counter radicalization and promote social cohesion.

• Education and Awareness: Integrate anti-terrorism and peace education into school curricula to equip students with critical thinking skills and resilience against extremist ideologies.

Addressing terrorism demands swift global action, necessitating collaboration among nations and intelligence agencies. Further. implementing resilient security measures compliant with international law, is paramount for effective counterterrorism efforts.

Tags:
Security

Keywords:
Internal security Terrorism Border security Left wing extremism North east insurgency

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 3

Topics:
Internal Security