Emerging Challenges of Terrorism in South Asia
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Emerging Challenges Of Terrorism In South Asia Indramohan Jha* Introduction Islamists is on the surge with increasing support for the sharia; and South Asia is infested faster population growth. Muslim with extremists. For population is expected to grow more years Afghanistan, than twice the world population Pakistan and India are among the ten between 2015and 2060.They would countries most impacted by become the largest religious group terrorism.1 Groups like LTTE, Maoists by the second half of the century. By in Nepal, ULFA in Assam, Khalistan 2060 India will have the largest movement etc. have largely been Muslim population (333 million).4 contained or joined the mainstream. Interestingly, a survey across Syria However, terrorism based on a very showed that a fifth of those narrow and exclusivist interpretation interviewed said that the Islamic of Islam by fundamentalists is on the State was a “positive” influence in rise.2The Islamic State (IS) is a catalyst the country.5 The IS emerged as a in further radicalization of Islamists. unique terror outfit; established a This new terrorism of “holy warriors” virtual state claiming capability of cannot be deterred only by force defeating enemies of Islam. instead it provides them useful ammunitions. They believe in Impact of Globalization certainty of victory seeking glory of God to create a society of their vision Globalization, a euphemism for eliminating enemies as a morally westernization changed social justified divine duty and a necessary conditions and values. Neo-liberal expedient to achieve the goal.3 market fundamentalism deepened Therefore, they pose unprecedented the gloom of tragic individualism danger. The ideology of aggressive with the erosion of support systems *Dr. Indramohan Jha is an Associate Professor, ARSD College, Uninversity of Delhi, New Delhi., India. Journal of Peace Studies 23 Vol. 25, Iÿÿssue 3 & 4 July - December, 2018 EMERGING CHALLENGES OF TERRORISM IN SOUTH ASIA — family or welfare state. Chechnya, Kashmir) created an Desperation leads to irrational impression of existential threat to reaction igniting conflicts. Global Islam and Muslims. Fundamenta- terrorism is one such reaction mostly lism became the faith to purify Islam guided by religion. For religion to release its vital force. Terrorism is provided more hope than any projected as a revival to the legacies revolutionary ethos. Thus, the “new of “heroic warriors” defeating age terrorist” ideology is more Christian crusaders; with the pledge religious, most significant being to recreate the golden age of Islam. Islamic fundamentalism. Crucial Terrorism also serves as a means of religious ingredient transformed redemption, a violent response to the terrorism into more irrational, violent conditions denying dignity. It fanatical and mass casualty causing. empowers powerless celebrating Taliban, Tahrik-e-Tliban Pakistan, death to overcome a dominated Haqqani network, Harkat-ul- empty life. Terrorists believed that Mujahidee/Jamiat-ul-Ansar, Jaish- fallen warriors, martyred in battle get e-Muhammad, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, a special place in the heaven and a Indian Mujahideen, SIMI, Lashkaer- welcome by “72 virgins”. Thus, they e-Taiba/Jamaat-ud-Dawa, Al-Faran, embrace the causes and actions of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh heroic masculinity—terrorism, and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami, enacting 9/11 which turned the Hizbut Tahrir, Ansarullah course of history.6 This marked the Bangladesh etc. are also reinventing rise of global model of jihad. Radical themselves. The situation became Islam gained respectability to have murkier with the growing footprints punished the enemies of Islam; both of the IS. the Soviets and Americans. Related ideas are reproduced on ideological South and West Asia became a internet bazaar to be easily accepted. laboratory of Islamic radicalism and New forms of religious beliefs and hotbed of terrorism post-1979 practices are emerging as if the world events—beginning of a new Islamic is moving towards the market century, Islamic revolution in Iran, economy model of religion in which siege of the Mecca mosque and people consume what they want from Soviet intervention in Afghanistan. various religious producers. Afghan-Iraq wars and Taliban/Al 7Terrorists invented counter-cultures Qaeda training camps served as a marking a shift from traditional melting pot of various militant identity groups to objects, real or strands. Civil wars (Palestine, imaginary supranational inspiring Journal of Peace Studies 24 Vol. 25, Iÿÿssue 3 & 4 July- December, 2018 EMERGING CHALLENGES OF TERRORISM IN SOUTH ASIA faithful ones to become a proud holy Foreign Affairs Advisor of Pakistan, warrior. alleged that, “India is blaming us for non-state actors acting across the Support System border, but India’s state actors are spreading violent unrest in Pakistan.” Formidable outfits based in He referred to Kulbhushan Jadhav, a Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and former naval officer arrested in Bangladesh get support from hostile Pakistan in March 2016.9Allegations neighbours. Pakistan’s brazen are repeated at the UN by branding support to terrorists targets “Hindu” India “predator and mother of India—an eternally sworn enemy. terrorism supporting and sponsoring The festering wound of Bangladesh terrorism in Pakistan, and other dismemberment is still fresh in their neighbours.” Thus, terrorism thrive psyche. Terrorism is an extended arm as a self-inflicting suicidal pathos in of the Pak military in proxy war the region. designs to balkanize India. This has wider support there. Benazir Bhutto This scenario augurs well for in an interview with a French terrorists. Initially inspired by Taliban journalist complimented her bête and Osama bin Laden the IS further noire Zia for proxy war by supporting revitalized them. Jihad became a the separatist movements in Punjab religious duty and “martyrdom” its and Kashmir; for Pakistan never reward. South Asian demography, forgot the humiliating loss of backwardness and geo-politics Bangladesh.8 Thus, terrorism is a facilitated coupled with global events “legitimate and logical” state-policy emboldened them. On 3 Nov. 1999 of Pakistan. Fundamentalists have Hafiz Saeed declared that, “the jihad tried to convert Bangladesh into is not about Kashmir only. It another Pakistan. India suffered encompasses all India… I declare the notorious attacks —- serial Mumbai break-up of India. We will not rest blasts 1993, Kargil infiltration 1999, until the whole of India is dissolved December 1999 plane hijack to into Pakistan.”10In this direction the Kandahar, the seat of Taliban, getting “Karachi Project” was started in 2003 release of Azhar Masood, the founder under the guidance of Pakistan’s ISI of JeM, Parliament attack 2001, in collaboration with Lashkari Mumbai carnage 2008, Pathankot Tayabba (LeT) and Harkat-i-Jihad-i- January 2016, to name a few Islami (HIJI) to use Indian Muslims instances. However, Pakistan often particularly Indian Mujahideen to leveled counter-charges. Sartaj Aziz, launch terror attacks at a higher level Journal of Peace Studies 25 Vol. 25, Iÿÿssue 3 & 4 July - December, 2018 EMERGING CHALLENGES OF TERRORISM IN SOUTH ASIA to maintain deniability of the Holy Grail of South Asian involvement of ISI.11 Further the IS jihadists.14 The menace of terrorism has become an overwhelming has become global, yet remains influence in J&K with online undefined and highly contested. propaganda. In 2016 it announced to Shielded by conceptual vagueness, expand into Kashmir as part of its some countries accept only to have broader Khorasan branch.12 Its flag extended moral and diplomatic surfaced in Kashmir during support to “freedom fighters” against demonstrations after the death of “occupation and repression”. Fellow Burhan Wani on 8 July 2016. More feelings, human rights, democracy or important, Prime Minister of Pakistan just war ideas are used to Nawaz Sharif convened a special camouflage dirty covert diplomacy. cabinet meeting and 19th July was Hence, this calls for a globally declared a day of mourning for the accepted definition. “martyr”. Such a blatant support to terrorists is blessed by China to keep Terrorism is an indiscriminate use India embroiled with Pakistan as a of violence to achieve a political part of “string of pearls” strategy. objective by creating an environment China generally supported Pakistan of fear. It is perceived as a curse of terror groups at the UN. These the civilized society, goal is depicted gestures are more than publicity ploy. as sectional; methods are denounced Now terror groups have one more as clandestine and sinister. Therefore, state (IS) besides Pakistan to support. terrorism is condemned as illegitimate and immoral. However, A document found in Pakistan, all forms of violence (freedom/ titled “A Brief History of the Islamic revolution) or warfare by nation- State Caliphate, The Caliphate states aim at creating fear; and according to the Prophet” revealed therefore cannot claim legitimacy. that the IS planned a terror-war on Thus, there is an element of India to create an end of the world arbitrariness eluding objectivity. This scenario by uniting factions of the dilemma was duly echoed in Pakistan and Afghan Taliban. The Seymour Gerald’s novel, Harry’s ghazva-i-hind (a prophesied battle Game—one person’s terrorist is against India) details chilling future another’s freedom fighter. More battle plans by beheading rebels dubious distinction was brought in against Allah.13 This magnifies IS this debate in the form of the