Day 52 – Q 3.India is the typical example of a country suffering from external state sponsored terrorism. Comment. How is the government planning to address it? Discuss.

3. India is the typical example of a country suffering from external state sponsored terrorism. Comment. How is the government planning to address it? Discuss.  

भारत बाहरी राज्य प्रायोजित आतंकवाद से पीड़ित देश का विशिष्ट उदाहरण है। टिप्पणी करें। सरकार इससे कैसे निपटने की योजना बना रही है? चर्चा करें।

Introduction:

State-sponsored terrorism is government support of violent non-state actors engaged in terrorism. This warfare by proxy is as old as the history of military conflict. Today state sponsored terrorism has considerably altered the nature of terrorist activities around the world.

Body:

In recent times, some countries have embraced terrorism as a deliberate instrument of foreign policy. India has been facing this problem from Independence:

• Pakistan nurtures such groups to engage in low grade wars against India and compensate for its traditional military weakness. Lashkar-e-Taiba operating from PoK is supported by ISI of Pakistan. It carried parliament attack in 2000 and Mumbai attack in 2008
• Attacks by state sponsored terrorists hamper the global image of India. As India’s global position grows, any terror attack casts doubts over its internal security framework, hurts India’s reputation, and deters potential investors seeking stability. This harms India’s developmental Aspirations.
• Groups like Let, JMB, etc enjoy patronage and safe haven in Pakistan, despite global condemnation and they are used to wage proxy wars on in the state of J&K, instilling fear and overall instability in the region.
• Recent attack of military base at Uri and Pathankot and regular infiltration of terrorist and cross border firing along the LOC are instances where terror was raised with the help of state forces.
• Instances of outfits of China Maoists supporting Indian Naxalites ideologically, morally and financially which is a great threat to India’s internal security are also seen.

How is the government planning to address it?

• Five point formula: Addressing UN High Level conference on Heads of Counter Terrorism Agencies Special Secretary, Internal Security of India extended five-point formula:
• Exchange of timely and actionable intelligence; 
• Prevention of misuse of modern communication through collaboration with private sector; 
• Building capacities for improved border controls; 
• Sharing of info related to movement of passengers.
• Designation of Counter-Terror focal points for establishing a possible global forum to fight global terror. 
  Addressing the issue on global forums and involving all stakeholders at global stage.
• Recently, Indian Government also repealed Article 370, to strengthen the internal security and integrate the J&K region with the rest of the country. This move has been important because of the constant Pakistan sponsored terror acts and violence observed in the region.
• Convention on Countering International Terrorism (CCIT) was proposed by India two decades back and recently the SCO Summit backed India’s proposal. 
  

Challenges:

• India’s counter-terror efforts continue to be thwarted due to lack of international collaboration in respect of exchange of information and evidence or of extradition of the accused persons who are hiding outside India’s territory. 
• Recognition of state sponsored terror acts and direct naming by International community is lacking.
• Reluctance by Pakistan to accept evidences and dodging effective solutions.
• India’s internal security shortcoming.

Conclusion:

Countries like Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Libya and North Korea have been engaged in sponsorship of political violence of different nature in their ‘enemy’ countries. Combating terrorism and radicalisation is increasingly becoming a great threat globally. All nations must thrive together to combat this and ensure global peace through an effective and firm diplomacy.