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January 11, 2004
Review: How to counter terrorism
THIS book is based on the papers read out in a seminar on ‘Terrorism and low intensity conflicts in the South Asian region’ organized by the International Relations Department of the Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India. It addresses many aspects of terrorism, especially in the context of South Asia. Given the inherent problems with defining terrorism, this is a challenging assignment.
Recognizing that terrorism existed in one form or another in many societies for centuries, the authors have mainly analyzed issues in the context of the 9/11 incident. It is an interesting expose of an Indian attempt to make New Delhi’s concerns acceptable to those who were spearheading the unilateral international war on terrorism, which at the time was mainly affecting the Muslim society, the world over.
Omparkash Mishra who has co-edited the book, believes that “low intensity conflicts are a much more pronounced feature of the conflict-landscape of the world. Under conditions of globalization and patronage of technology, they have received an unprecedented impetus in recent years”.
9/11 “irrevocably changed the definition of terror”, but the threat posed by terrorism and various forms of low intensity conflict, predate the terror strike on the twin towers and the current global campaign to contain it. Its roots go back to the “general underdevelopment, relative deprivation, lack of democratic structure and practices, failure to address the grievances of the ethnic groups and marginalized sections of society, and, above all, intolerance and antagonism, which are breeding grounds of terrorism.
“Terrorist activities may be conducted in the name of ‘national liberation struggle’ and ‘struggle for national self-determination’. These are increasingly conducted in the name of religion too. They may erupt in the form of ‘separatist insurgency’ or ethnic strife. Mostly these are a reflection of the failure to deliver good governance and unwillingness on the part of the nation states to understand sovereignty as responsibility, and not merely as authority.”
It has been argued that certain characteristics of globalization have helped the perpetrators of terrorist acts, allowing them to cross state frontiers, acquire weapons and equipment, transfer funds, communicate and create a network with each other.
Another important issue is the internationalization of terrorism, as ambiguity remains in the definition of terrorism. It has not been possible to clear the semantic confusions and make valid distinctions between a ‘terrorist’ and a ‘freedom fighter’, between a terrorist organization and a ‘national liberation movement’ or to achieve a balance between anti-terrorism policies and human rights, etc.
The identification of the differences between terrorism and movements of national liberation as well as the clarification of the right of self-determination are closely related to the conduct, effectiveness and success of an anti-terrorism regime. Part of the problem is the unequal development of national societies and the decentralized nature of the consensus building processes in the world. But the more important problem is the use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy, whether in relation to the neighbouring states or to contain domestic dissent, writes Omparkash.
A general anti-terrorist convention, away from the bunch of destructive conceptual and semantic confusion and controversy, has also been suggested so that no terrorist activity remains unpunished.
The book also contains papers on India’s problems in Assam and other eastern parts besides an interesting paper on the Chechen issue.
But to me four papers were of special interests as they dealt with Indo-Pakistan and Indo-Bangladesh relations, both of which have been described by India as cradles of Muslim militancy.
Rajat Ganguly analyzes the continuity and change in Pakistan’s Kashmir policy. The author feels that “a breakthrough understanding between New Delhi and the local Kashmiri insurgents in the near future will not be enough to stop the violence and bloodshed in Kashmir unless jihadi outfits and their backers in Pakistan are either completely neutralized or brought on board a peace process”.
The author believes that Pakistan’s Kashmir policy had drained its scanty resources, drastically hindered the development of the country and failed in paralyzing India. Internationally, the author maintains, Pakistan’s Kashmir policy had resulted in a hardening of India’s resolve to hold on to the region at any cost, thereby diminishing the possibility of major Indian concessions over Kashmir in the future.
It has been argued, and perhaps rightly so, that a lot would depend on “how future talks between New Delhi and the Kashmiri insurgents proceed and whether the two governments can effectively neutralize the hardliners in their respective camps and create the political space needed to come to the negotiating table.”
Ashok Behuria’s paper, ‘Many Pakistans within Pakistan: The case of sectarian conflicts in a Talibanized context’ deals with sectarian conflicts in Pakistan and analyzes its impact on Pakistani society. But the writer is not correct when he looks at the problem in the context of Taliban. Perhaps after the emergence of the Taliban, the various religious sects have rallied on one platform, which was not the case in the days the American-sponsored jihad against the Soviets in Afghanistan was taking place.
However, the author believes that Pakistan’s engagement in Afghanistan over the last two decades, especially during the Taliban years, deepened the sectarian fault lines. President Musharraf’s attempt to rein in the jihadis and ban some militant organizations have prevented the deweaponization of Pakistani society. As the author argues, only de-Talibanization can bring about a lasting change in an otherwise armed society.
Sanjukta Banerji Bhattacharya in her paper ‘Of Islamic militancy, Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden’ explores the roots of Islamic militancy. The author maintains that with globalization, terror networks have also become global. They are now funded internationally from diverse sources and manned by jihadis supplied by many countries.
She highlights the importance of rooting out the causes of Muslim anger responsible for Islamic militancy, which in its extreme form can erupt in acts of terrorism.
Subir Bhaumik in his paper focuses on the growth of fundamentalist groups in Bangladesh. The approach of the author seems to be more partisan. He has also involved Pakistan’s ISI, which is a convenient target, like RAW is in Pakistan. He had no time to examine the involvement of RAW in Bangladesh, about which Dhaka had been complaining.
According to him “all major Islamic radical groups active in South Asia have bases, safe houses, sympathizers and rendezvous points in Bangladesh” and “Bangladesh is well on the way to becoming South Asia’s second front of Islamic terror after Pakistan”. Perhaps this reflects the latent Indian philosophy and the present course was merely an eyewash.
The threat posed by chemical and biological weapons as well as by “agroterrorism” can only be combated through international cooperation. This is all the more important considering the emergence of a new brand of terrorists who might use weapons of mass destruction such as nuclear weapons.
The US counter-terrorism strategy has been built around a high-speed communications system which controls long-range strikes using precision munitions and its impact on the region.
The general consensus is that terrorism is a threat to peace, security and development. Increased militarization and domestic regimentation are no less a threat to civil society and liberal democracies that ensure the availability and environment for realization of these values.
Terrorism and Low Intensity Conflict in the South Asian Region
Edited by Omparkash Mishra and Sucheta Ghosh
Manak Publications (Pvt) Limited, B-7, Saraswati Complex, Subhash Chowk, Laxmi Nagar, New Delhi-110092. Tel: 91-11-22453894, 22042529
Fax: 91-11-22418599.
Email: manak_publications@hotmail.com
Website: www.manakpublications.com
ISBN 81-7827-073-0
568pp. Indian Rs395
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