Indian Political Science Association

ADDRESSING FRONTIER-TERORISM- INDIA NEEDS GLOBAL COUNTER-TERRORISM

STRATEGY
Author(s): P. W. Puroshotham, P. W. Puroshatham and M. Veera Prasad
Source: The Indian Journal of Political Science, Vol. 70, No. 2 (APR.-JUNE, 2009), pp. 553-
568
Published by: Indian Political Science Association
Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/42743916
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The Indian Journal of Political Science
Vol. LXX, No. 2, Apr.-Jun., 2009

ADDRESSING FRONTIER-TERORISM- INDIA NEEDS GLOBAL

COUNTER-TERRORISM STRATEGY

P. W. Puroshotham
M. Veera Prasad

Terrorism in all its manifestations are unacceptable and never be justified. Today all
States in every region are vulnerable to terrorism and this menace has become a global
concern. India since its independence has been facing the problem of insurgency and
terrorism in different parts of the country and frontier- terrorism has been the unending
vexed issue. Terrorism in India has often been alleged to be sponsored by Pakistan. The
terrorist groups both religious and non-religious have been resorting to varied terrorist
activities adopting improved and sophisticated devices having external links with likeminded
terrorist groups in other countries. In the light of this, India as a wounded tiger should
evolve equally improved strategies to combat and counter frontier- terrorism in particular
adopting global counter terrorism strategy. This paper explains the ways and means to
adopt and execute these strategies to eradicate its prolonged problem of frontier-terrorism
in all its forms.

Addressing on the launch of uniting against terrorism and while recommending for a counter
Terrorism strategy, the Secretary General of United Nations Organization, Kofi Annan in Madr
stated that Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed by whomsoever, wherever an

for whatever purposes is unacceptable and can never be justified. He also pleaded for adopting a
implementing a strategy to promote comprehensive, co-ordinated and consistent responses
the national, regional and international level to counter terrorism. 1 All States, in every region-lar
or small, strong or weak- are vulnerable to terrorism and its consequences. They all stand
benefit from a strategy to counter it. They all have a role to play in shaping such a strategy, i
implementing it and in enduring that it is updated continuously to respond to the challenges a
they evolve. While formulating the collective global effort to fight terrorism and uniting the nati
around this conviction- an effort bringing together Governments, the United Nations, Civil Soci
and other Private Sector- each using their comparative advantage to supplement the other" s effor
The Secretary of Defense, William Cohen of United States of America, opined that in the new
millennium, we face the vèry real and increasing prospect that regional aggressor, third-rate armi
terrorist groups and even religious cults will seek to wield disproportionate power by acquiring a
using weapons of mass destructions.2 These above statements show the need for a United Globa
Strategy to fight against terrorism and insurgency all over the world in general and India in particular

A study of terrorism in Indian politics as a subject has its own importance in view of the fac
that it no longer is an isolated or a sporadic event. Such developments have occurred in differe
parts of the country particularly since the Naxalites revolt in the states of West Bengal, Andh
Pradesh and Kerala and of the Nagas, the Mizos, the Meitis and the Bodos in the North Eastern
region of the country. However, what has now made it a very sensitive issue is a series of such
activities done by the Kashmiri militants in the state of Jammu-Kashmir since 1990's.3 M
aggressive form of terrorism India could experience since then is and what is more astonishin
the role of foreign states in helping the terrorists in India and recruiting, training and developi

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The Indian Journal of Political Science 554

international terrorists against India to cause d

The term 'Terrorism' comes from the French

verb 'terrere' (to cause to tremble). It dates back

action of the 'Jacobian Club' in their rule of P
Terror". Jacobians are rumored to have coined th

refers to a strategy of using violence, social th

fear, cause disruption and ultimately brings ab
ideological demands. Terrorism aims at desta
constitutional, economic or social structures of
the Code of Federal Bureau of Investigation
persons or property to intimidate or coerce a g
thereof in furtherance of political or social ob
international depending on the origin, base and
the 'cult of pistol and the bomb' and extra-ordin
or threat of violence, often coupled with specif
civilian targets. The motives are political, the ac
maximum publicity.5 The penetrators are usuall
criminals they often claim credit for the act.
beyond the immediate physical damage.6 Howe
terrorism and insurgency. While both look alik
defined as the 'efforts to obtain political goals
irregular warfare and allied potential technique

In recent times, terrorism has taken a ne

boundaries of one state. They make their shelter
the help, open or concealed, of some other
become capable of saving themselves from the
targets which include large aircrafts, super-
transportation bombs, commercial and commu
liquid natural gas facilities, nuclear power plan
systems. They adopt new and advanced techno
new, rather latest, weapons whereby they eng
toleration' has also developed in the form of dir
by the states and also by other law-abiding sect
only that, such centres "supply the terrorists with
support".8

The South East Asian countries have been increasingly affected by pan-Islamic Jihadi
terrorism spawned in the Madrasas and training camps of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Cadres of
the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Abu Sayaaf of Southern Phillippines had fought along with

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Addressing Frontier - Terorism - India Needs Global Counter - Terrorism Strategy 555

Pakistani Jihadi and Afghan Mujahideen groups against the Soviet troops in Afghanistan in the
1 980's. The links built up then have been sustained. The Harkat-UI-Mujahideen (HUM) of Pakistan,
which is a member of Bin Laden's International Islamic Front (IIF), has been training the Abu
Sayaaf and providing it with arms and ammunition. HUM leaders claim that many HUM cadres
fought against the Filippino security forces along with Abu Sayaaf and achieved "martyrdom" and
are buried there In 1998, Abu Sayaaf became a member of bin Laden's IIF. The Jemmah
Islamiyah (Jl), which has been co-ordinating pan-Islamic jihadi activities in S.E.Asia, is sought to
be patterned after the IIF. It is believed to have many cadres of Afghan jihad vintage in its ranks and
leadership. In the middle of last year, the total number of students from S.E.Asia studying in the
pan-Islamic Madrasas of Pakistan was estimated at about 400. Some of them had gone to
Afghanistan and fought against the American troops in order to get jihadi experience. The Pakistan
branch of the Tablighi Jamaat (TJ) is very active in S.E. Asia, ostensibly to teach the Muslims of
the region to be better Muslims, but it acts as the front organisation of the Jihadi members of the
IIF for recruiting local volunteers for training and forfunneling financial and other assistance. India
has a good database on these organizations and their activities and has a valuable experience of
dealing with them.9

India since its Independence in 1947, has been facing the problem of insurgency and
terrorism in different parts of the country. Terrorism has been taken to mean an armed violent
movement directed against government as well as non-government targets, involving pre-meditated
attacks with arms, ammunition and explosives against civilians, and resorting to intimidation
tactics such as hostage- taking and hijacking, but not seeking territorial control.

India has faced exclusively terrorist movements in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir,
bordering Pakistan, and part insurgent- part terrorist movements in the northeast, bordering Myanmar
and Bangladesh; in Bihar, bordering Nepal; and in certain interior states like Andhra Pradesh,
Madhya Pradesh and Orissa that do not have international borders.

India has also faced terrorism of an ephemeral nature, which sprang suddenly due to
religious anger against either the government or the majority Hindu community or both and petered
out subsequently. Examples of this would be the simultaneous explosions in Mumbai on March
1 2th, 1 993, which killed about 250 civilians, and the simultaneous explosions in Coimbatore, Tamil
Nadu, in February 1998. Tamil Nadu has also faced the fallout of terrorism promoted by the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka in the form of attacks by LTTE elements on its
political rivals living in the state and in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in
May 1991.

India had also faced, for some years, Hindu sectarian terrorism in the form of the Anand
Marg, which, in its motivation and irrationality, resembled to some extent the Aum Shinrikiyo of
Japan. The Marg with its emphasis on meditation, special religious and spiritual practices and use
of violence against its detractors, had as many followers in foreign countries as it had in India. Its
over-ground activities have petered out since 1995, but it is believed to retain many of its covert

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The Indian Journal of Political Science 556

cells in different countries. However, they have n

The regions with long term terrorist activities t

India (Naxalism) and Seven Sister States (indepe
the Punjab insurgency led to militant activities in
capital Delhi (Delhi serial blasts, Anti-Sikh riots).
districts were afflicted at differing intensities by v

Terrorism in India has often been alleged to b

terrorism in India, many journalists and politi
Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of playing a role.
most terrorišf organizations, primarily the separa
a series of attacks including explosions in loc
unprecedented attacks of 26th November, 2008, wh
in South Mumbai, were seized. A joint operatio
MARCOS involved in dealing with it. At least 200
terrorist attacks in Mumbai on November 26, 200
4 Americans were killed. The 1 9th floor of Oberoi
by the terrorists. Most of the visitors in the hote
vehicle after killing 3 high rank officers and 3 co
to clear Oberoi Hotel and Nariman House and 60 h

CAUSES FOR TERRORISM :

The causes for the various terrorist and insurgent movements may be political, economic,
ethnic, and religious . All these causes sometimes isolated or interlinked. The following are the
causes for the various terrorist movements in different states in India.13

Political causes : This is seen essentially in Assam and T ripura. The political factors that
led to insurgency-cum-terrorism included the failure of the government to control large-scale illega
immigration of Muslims from Bangladesh, to fulfill the demand of economic benefits for the sons
and daughters of the soil, etc.

Economic causes : Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Bihar are prime
examples. The economic factors include the absence of land reforms, rural unemployment
exploitation of landless laborers by land owners, etc. These economic grievances and perceptions
of gross social injustice have given rise to ideological terrorist groups such as the various Marxist/
Maoist groups operating under different names.

Ethnic causes : These causes may be mostly found in Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur
due to feelings of ethnic separatedness

Religious causes : There are clear evidences of religious causes for terrorist activities in
Punjab before 1 995 and in J&K since 1 989. In Punjab, some Sikh elements belonging to different

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Addressing Frontier - Terorism • India Needs Global Counter - Terrorism Strategy 557

organizations took to terrorism to demand the creation of an independent state called Khalistan for
the Sikhs. In J&K, Muslims belonging to different organizations took to terrorism for conflicting
objectives. Some, such as the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front(JKLF), want independence
for the state, including all the territory presently part of India, Pakistan and China. Others, such as
the Hizbul Mujahideen, want Indias's J&K state be merged with Pakistan. While those who want
independence project their struggle as a separatist one, those wanting a merger with Pakistan
project it as a religious struggle.

There have also been sporadic acts of religious terrorism in other parts of India. These are
either due to feelings of anger amongst sections of the Muslim youth over the government's
perceived failure to safeguard their lives and interests or due to Pakistan's attempts to cause
religious polarization. The maximum number of terrorist incidents and deaths of innocent civilians
have occurred due to religious terrorism. While the intensity of the violence caused by terrorism of
a non-religious nature can be rated as low or medium, that of religious terrorism has been high or
very high. It has involved the indiscriminate use of sophisticated Improvised Explosive Devices,
suicide bombers, the killing of civilians belonging to the majority community with hand-held weapons
and resorting to methods such as hijacking, hostage-taking, blowing up of aircraft through lEDs,
etc. Certain distinctions between the modus operandi and concepts/beliefs of religious and non-
religious terrorist groups need to be underlined, namely:

Non-religious terrorist groups in India do not believe in suicide terrorism, but the LTTE does. Of
the religious terrorist groups, the Sikhs did not believe in suicide terrorism. The indigenous terrorist
groups in J&K do not believe in suicide terrorism either; it is a unique characteristic of Pakistan's
pan-Islamic jihadi groups operating in J&K and other parts of India. They too did not believe in
suicide terrorism before 1998; in fact, there was no suicide terrorism in J&K before 1998. They
started resorting to it only after they joined Osama bin Laden's International Islamic Front in 1 998.
Since then, there have been 46 incidents of suicide terrorism, of which 44 were carried out by bin
Laden's Pakistani supporters belonging to these organisations.

Non-religious terrorist groups in India have not resorted to hijacking and blowing up of aircraft.
Of the religious terrorists, the Sikh groups were responsible for five hijackings, the indigenous
JKLF for one and the Pakistani jihadi group, the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (which is a member of the
IIF), for one. The Babbar Khalsa, a Sikh terrorist group, blew up Air India's Kanishka aircraft off the
Irish coast on June 23, 1985, killing nearly 200 passengers and made an unsuccessful attempt the
same day to blow up another Air India plane at Tokyo. The IED there exploded prematurely on the
ground. The Kashmiri and the Pakistani jihadi groups have not tried to blow up any passenger
plane while on flight. However, the JKLF had blown up an Indian Airlines aircraft, which it had
hijacked to Lahore in 1 971 , after asking the passengers and crew to disembark.

All terrorist groups - religious as well as non-religious - have resorted to kidnapping hostages
for ransom and for achieving other demands. The non-religious terrorist groups have targeted only
Indians, whereas the religious terrorist groups target Indians as well as foreigners. The Khalistan

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The Indian Journal of Political Science 558

Commando Force, a Sikh terrorist group, kidnapp

The J KLF kidnapped some Israeli tourists in J&K in
five Western tourists in 1995 and is believed to ha
escape. Sheikh Omar, presently on trial for the k
Pearl in Karachi in January last year, had earlier
They were subsequently freed by the police.

Non-religious terrorist groups in India have not c

Territory. Of the religious terrorist groups, a Sikh o
coast and unsuccessfully tried to blow up another
prime minister Rajiv Gandhi during his visit to t
Federal Bureau of Investigation), attacked the Indi
1991 , and carried out a number of attacks on pr
abroad. The JKLF kidnapped and killed an Indian d
1970s, the Anand Marg had indulged in acts of ter

None of the non-religious terrorist groups ad

Mass Destruction. Of the religious groups, the Sik
did/do not advocate the acquisition and use of
the Pakistani pan-Islamic groups, which are memb
bin Laden's advocacy of the right and religious o
protect their religion, if necessary.

The Sikh terrorist groups did not cite theirholy b

but the indigenous Kashmiri groups as well as th
the holy Koran as justification for their jihad agai

The Sikh and the indigenous Kashmiri groups pr

their respective state, but the Pakistani pan-Islam
to the whole of South Asia - namely the 'liberatio
of an Islamic Caliphate consisting of the 'Muslim
Bangladesh.

The Sikh terrorist groups demanded an independent nation on the ground that Sikhs constituted
a separate community and could not progress as fast as they wanted to in a Hindu-dominated
country. They did not deride Hinduism and other non-Sikh religions. Nor did they call for the
eradication of Hindu influences from their religion. The indigenous Kashmiri organisations, too,
follow a similar policy. But the Pakistani pan-Islamic jihadi organisations ridicule and condemn
Hinduism and other religions and call for the eradication of what they describe as the corrupting
influence of Hinduism on Islam as practiced in South Asia.

The Sikh and indigenous Kashmiri terrorist organisations believed/believe in Western-style

parliamentary democracy. The Pakistani jihadi organisations project Western-style parliamentary

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Addressing Frontier - Terorism - India Needs Global Counter - Terrorism Strategy 559

democracy as anti-Islam since it believes sovereignty vests in people and not in God.

Religious as well as non-religious terrorist groups have external links with like-minded terrorist
groups in other countries. Examples: The link between the Marxist groups of India with Maoist
groups of Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh; the link between the indigenous Kashmiri organisations
with the religious, fundamentalist and jihadi organisations of Pakistan; the link between organisations
such as the Students Islamic Movement of India with jihadi elements in Pakistan and Saudi
Arabia; and the link between the Pakistani pan-Islamic jihadi organisations operatinq in India with
bin Laden's AI Qaeda and the Taliban.

Terrorist organizations in India :

Table-1

Organisations listed as Terrorist groups in India

Region No. of groups amo of the Terrorist Groups

North î lästern India 7 National Socialist Council ofNagaland-

Isak-Muivah (NSCN-I.VI)
Naga National Council-Federal (NNCF)
National Council of Nagaland-Khaplang
United Liberation Front of Asom
People's Liberation Army
Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL)
Zomi Revolutionary Front

North India 17 BabbarKhalsa

Bhindranwala Tigers F
Communist Party of India(Maoist)
Deshmukh Regiment
International Sikh Youth Federation
(ISYF)
Kam aga ta Maru Dal of Khalistan
Khalistan Ann ed Force
Khalistan Liberation Force
Khalistan Commando Force
Khalistan Liberation Army
Khalistan Liberation Front
Khalistan Liberation Organisation
Khalistan National Army
Khalistan Guerilla Force

Khalistan Security Force

Khalistan Zindabad Force
Shaheed Khalsa Force

Kashmir 8 Lashkar-e-Toiba
Jaish-e-Mohammcd
líi.zbuJ.Mlãabijdeen.
Harkat-ul-Mujahideen
Farzandan-e-Milat
^Ini.tedJjhadÇpunciJ
Al -Qaeda
Students Islamic Movement of India

( entrai India 4 People's war group

B albir militias
Naxals
Ranvir Sena

South India 4 PWG Maoists, Biack Tigers, LTTE,

Tamii Tigers.

Source: Wikipedia, the free Encyclopaedia,

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The Indian Journal of Political Science 560

Table-1 gives details about the organizations lis

many as forty organizations spread to all parts of
North Eastern India there are 7, North India 17, K

Table-2

No. of Terrorist, Insurgent and Extremist Groups in India

S.No. State No. of Groups

1 Assam 36

~2 J & K 36

3 Manipur 39

4 Meghalaya 04

5 Nagaland 03

6 Punjab 1 2

~7 Tri pura 30

8 Mizoram 02

9 Arunachal Pradesh 06

10 Other states 09

Source : Wikipedia. the Free Enclycolpaedi

Table -2 shows that there are as m

India, of which 36 are in Assam and
Nagaland, 1 2 in Punjab, 30 in T ripur
states in India.

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Addressing Frontier - Terorism - India Needs Global Counter - Terrorism Strategy 561
Table-3

Annual Fatalities in Terrorist Violence

1988-2009

Incidents Civilians Security Terrorists Total

Force
Personnel

1988 390 29 1 1 31

1989 2154 79 13 0 92

1990 3905 862 132 183 1177

1991 3122 594 185 614 1393

1992 4971 859 177 873 1909

1993 4457 1023 216 1328 2567

1994 4484 1012 236 1651 2899

1995 4479 1161 297 1338 2796

1996 4224 1333 376 1194 2903

1997 3004 840 355 1177 2372

1998 2993 877 339 1045 2261

1999 2938 799 555 1184 2538

2000 2835 842 638 1808 3288

2001 3278 1067 590 2850 4507

2002 NA 839 469 1714 3022

2003 NA 658 338 1546 2542

2004 NA 534 325 951 1810

2005 NA 521 218 1000 1739

2006 NA 349 168 599 1116

2007 NA 164 121 492 777

2008* NA 69 go 382 541

2009* NA 0 7 22 29
Total 47234 14511 5846 21949 42287

* Data till February 2, 2009

Note : Compiled From News Reports and are Provisional

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The Indian Journal of Political Science 562

Table -3 shows the gravity of disastrous incid

to terrorist violence in different places in India
occurred and 1451 1 civilians, 5846 security fo
people lost their lives.

Moral support and Funding :

The terrorist groups in all countries includin

including material assistance from within as we
non-religious terrorist groups draw moral sup
Diaspora. The Khalistan movement was initially
and Canada and spread from there to Punjab in
material assistance from the large number of
the Mirpuris, who have settled in Western cou
Marxist elements in the overseas Indian commu
insurgent groups in India are through :clandes
Intelligence, contributions from religious, fun
Pakistan, contributions from ostensibly charit
contributions from trans-national criminal gro
who operates from Karachi, Pakistan, extortio
collections - voluntary or forced - from the p
narcotics smuggling. The funds are normally tr
informal hawala channel. Rarely are funds tran
the religious terrorist organisations have their m
while non-religious terrorist organisations look
non-religious terrorist groups also operate fro
sanctuary in Nepal.

GLOBAL EFFORTS TO COUNTER TERRORISM :

The International Organizations like the United Nations Organizations is striving to make its
efforts to counter terrorism since 1960s. Since then member states have had 13 international
conventions on different aspects of terrorism. Now they have been discussing the way to adopt
comprehensive convention against international terrorism.15 On these lines, the United Nations
General Assembly on September 8th, 2006 adopted Global counter Terrorism Strategy and a
Member States gave their signatures was a unique global instrument that will enhance national,
regional and international efforts to counter global terrorism. This was the first time that all the
member states have agreed to a common strategy approach to fight terrorism not only sending a
clear message that terrorism was unacceptable in all its forms and manifestation but also resolving
to take practical steps individually and collectively to prevent and combat it. Those practical steps
include a wide array of measures ranging from strengthening state capacity to counter terroris
threats to better coordinating United Nations System's counter terrorism activities. The Member
States have resolved to consistently, unequivocally and strongly condemn terrorism in all its form
and manifestations, committed by whomever, wherever and for whatsoever purposes, as it constitutes
one of the most serious threats to international peace and security. The United Nations General

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Addressing Frontier - Terorism - India Needs Global Counter - Terrorism Strategy 563

Assembly also resolved;

to take immediate action to prevent and combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations
and, in particular:

1 . to consider becoming parties without delay to the existing international conventions and
protocols against terrorism, and implementing them, and to make every effort to reach an
agreement on and conclude a comprehensive convention on international terrorism;

2. to implement all General Assembly resolutions on measures to eliminate international

terrorism, and relevant General Assembly resolutions on the protection of human rights and
fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism;

3. to implement all Security Council resolutions related to international terrorism and to

cooperate fully with the counter-terrorism subsidiary bodies of the Security Council in the
fulfillment of their .tasks, recognizing that many States continue to require assistance in
implementing these resolutions and

4. to recognize that international cooperation and any measures that we undertake to prevent
and combat terrorism must comply with our obligations under international law, including
the Charter of the United Nations and relevant international conventions and protocols, in
particular human rights law, refugee law and international humanitarian law.16

Measures to prevent and combat terrorism :

The Member States of UN General Assembly also resolved to undertake the following
measures to prevent and combat terrorism in particular by denying terrorist access to the means
to carry out their attacks, to their targets and to the desired impact of their attacks. These member
states decided to follow-17

1 . to refrain from organizing, instigating, facilitating, participating in , financing, encouraging or

tolerating terrorist activities and to take appropriate practical measures to ensure that our
respective territories are not used for terrorist installations or training camps, or for the
preparation or organization of terrorist acts intended to be committed against other States
or their citizens,

2. to cooperate fully in the fight against terrorism, in accordance with every nations obligations
under international law, in order to find, deny safe haven and bring to justice, on the basis of
the principle of extradite or prosecute, any person who supports, facilitates, participates or
attempts to participate in the financing, planning, preparation or perpetration of terrorist acts
or provides safe havens,

3. to ensure the apprehension and prosecution or extradition of perpetrators of terrorist acts,

in accordance with the relevant provisions of national and international law, in particular
human rights law, refugee law and international humanitarian law,

4. to intensify cooperation, as appropriate, in exchanging timely and accurate information

concerning the prevention and combating of terrorism,

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The Indian Journal of Political Science 564

5. to strengthen coordination and cooperation a

be connected with terrorism, including drug traff
particular of small arms and light weapons, inc
money laundering and smuggling of nuclear, ch
potentially deadly materials,

6 . to take appropriate measures, before granting

asylum seeker has not engaged in terrorist acti
purpose of ensuring that the refugee status is no
set out in the resolutions,

7 . to encourage relevant regional and sub-regional

terrorism mechanisms or centers,

8. to step up efforts and co-operation at every lev

manufacturing and issuing identity and travel
alteration or fraudulent use, while recognizing
so, and

9. to step up all efforts to improve the security and protection of particularly vulnerable targets
such as infrastructure and public places, as well as the response to terrorist attacks and
other disasters, in particular in the area of civil protection, while recognizing that States may
require assistance to that effect.

Suggestions to uproot terrorism- Global Level :

In order to uproot terrorism at the global level the following strategies are needed to be
followed by all nations in the world.18

Dissuasion :

Implementing a global strategy requires us to dissuade people from resorting to terrorism or

supporting it, by driving a wedge between terrorists and their potential constituencies. There is
need to launch a global campaign of Governments, the UN, Civil Society and the Private Sector,
with the message that terrorism is unacceptable in any form, and that there are far better and more
effective ways for those with genuine grievances to seek redress. One of the clearest and most
powerful ways we can do that is by refocusing our attention on the victims. It is high time we took
serious and concerted steps to build international solidarity with them, respecting their dignity as
well as expressing our compassion.

Denying :
Denying terrorists the means to carry out an attack means denying them access both to
conventional weapons and to weapons of mass destruction. That will require innovative thinking
from every body about today's threats - including those which States cannot address by themselves,
such as bioterrorism. Similarly, it will mean working together to counter terrorists' growing use of
the Internet. We must find ways to make sure that this powerful tool becomes a weapon in our
hands, not in theirs.

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Addressing Frontier - Terorism - India Needs Global Counter - Terrorism Strategy 565

Deterring :

The efforts in deterring States from supporting terrorism must be rooted firmly in the
international rule of law - creating a solid legal basis for common actions, and holding States
accountable for their performance in meeting their obligations. This work is intimately linked with
the need to develop State capacity to defeat terrorism.

Developing :

There is an urgent need to build state capacity, and to strengthen the UNO's work in this
field. The UN system has a vital contribution to make in all the relevant areas - from promoting the
rule of law and effective criminal justice systems to ensuring countries to have the means to
counterthe financing of terrorism; from strengthening capacity to prevent nuclear, biological, chemical,
or radiological materials from falling into the hands of terrorists, to improving the ability of countries
to provide assistance and support for victims and their families.

Defending :

Finally, defending human rights runs like a scarlet thread through the report. It is a prerequisite
to every aspect of any effective counter-terrorism strategy. It is the bond that brings the different
components together. That means the human rights of all -- of the victims of terrorism, of those
suspected of terrorism, of those affected by the consequences of terrorism.

States at global level must ensure that any measures taken to combat terrorism comply
with their obligations under international law, in particular human rights law, refugee law and
international humanitarian law. Any strategy that compromises human rights will play right into
the hands of the terrorists.

The present United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki-moon in his recent visit to New Delhi,
while responding to questions in an exclusive interview conducted by the Editor-in Chief of 'The
Hindu' stated that 'Terrorism under whatever reasons and grievances cannot be justified. That
should be addressed in the name of humanity and eradicated in the name of humanity' . He also
stated that the United Nations has been leading this effort to address and eradicate and fight
against international terrorism. He opined that when the 9/1 1 terrorist attack on WTO happened
that was the most appropriate time for the international community to reach a deal on this issue.
'But we missed the opportunity. Now as we have seen in Mumbai, this really gives us some
resolve, strengthens our resolve to work on this comprehensive international convention against
terrorism. I would once again urge this and I will work towards that end' he said.

Suggestions to Counter Terrorism in India :

Terrorism constitutes the single most ominous threat to nation-making in the developing
countries like India. It is very necessary for the national policy makers to recognize it as a
menace, and no confusion or ambiguity should shake firmness of belief in this regard. The terrorists
are 'brain-washed' people, misguided persons, and the problem is to be tackled at several levels
as on a broad front. The security forces must plunge themselves into action to curb terrorism, but
its social, economic and cultural dimensions must also be attended to. Secondly, an all-out

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The Indian Journal of Political Science 566

attack should be directed towards terrorism.

Attack on terrorists should be swift, all-round and with crippling effect. Intelligence system
of the country must remain efficient and reliable, and there must remain effective liaison between
the security forces of the country and its intelligence agencies. In other words, the state should
never let go an impression that it has a weakened will power to repulse terrorism. Simultaneously,
the policy of 'carrot' should be pursued but without weakening the security action. Many groups of
people have become marginalized over the years as a consequence of both democracy and
development, and they have to be brought back to the national mainstream. Educational and
employment opportunities must be provided to them. It is common knowledge that mainly
unemployed youth are lured to terrorism, for these people are alienated and frustrated. While
making every effort to restore them to the national mainstream, the sanctity of the country's
constitutional framework must not be allowed to be questioned. At the same time, there should be
the effort on the part of the state to keep the terrorists isolated and deprived of common people's
sympathy. Terrorists always want that the local society be subjected to maximum state harassment
and hardship so that people at large begin to get disillusioned with the government, causing a
feeling of alienation.

It has been proved that terrorism is, today, actively encouraged by a foreign power, and its
eradication demands state action on a wider front. This menace thrives because some other
country instigates or encourages it. Terrorism therefore cannot be combated without solid international
co-operation.19

India should take some strict and solid actions against the terrorist organizations and the
countries sponsoring or helping them to deal with the increasing number of terror attacks. India
should put some international pressure on the countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh
to counter the cross border terrorism. All the peace talks should not be resumed as well as they
should be warned of scrapping all present relations if those countries don't take any strict action
against the organizations operating from their grounds against India. The security should be tightened
through out the nation as well as new technology should be provided to the security personnel's to
counter these terror attacks. Along with this the communication system through CC TV cameras
so widely witnessed in European countries should be adopted in our country mainly as a
precautionary measure for the terrorist attacks to be identified easily, rather than punishing the
non-culprits when the incidents occur. Through awareness programmes should be organized in
schools, colleges and other institutes to teach students the aspects of helping security bodies
against these terrorists. Also India should provide some restricatory powers to security bodies of
India to handle with these terrorist and their organizations. But for this all the political parties of
India should get united tò fight against terrorism because they are our representatives and their
unity means the whole nation will get united.20

Though democracy provides legitimate avenues for redressai of grievances, it is, paradoxically,
this form of polity which seems to be most amenable to terrorism. It is more than a coincidence
that nearly all European democracies are subject to terrorist attacks- England, France, West
Germany, Italy and so on. It appears that liberal laws and a lenient criminal justice system, so
characteristic of democracies, make it difficult to punish the crime-doers. In such permissivism,

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Addressing Frontier - Terorism - India Needs Global Counter - Terrorism Strategy 567

terrorism survives most naturally. These apart, the very democratic ideology makes it look weak
and wobbling in the eyes of terrorism-at least in the initial phase of its zeal and fervour. Democracy
believes in negotiations which are perceived as a sign of weakness.
NEED FOR FEDERAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY :

The Indian Constitution entrusts the task of maintaining internal security to the States. T
existing powers and equipment with the State police forces were adequate for the tasks in the
early years. But they were not equipped to combat terrorist violence. Efforts were made to strength
the police forces. Whenever the situation goes out of control, the States request the Cen
Government for additional forces. In many cases the damage would have been done, before th
Central forces arrive on the scene.

Besides strengthening the police organizations in different States, it is necessary to

strengthen the intelligence set up. In combating adversaries of the country, the intelligence
organizations have had an important role. The Indian intelligence organization has been rated as
one of the best in the world. But to prevent terrorist incidents occurring in different parts of the
country, the need has been felt for a Federal Intelligence Agency. As of now, the Intelligence
Bureau has no authority over the state intelligence organizations. After every terrorist incident,
usually allegations are traded accusing the Centre of not having informed the States about the
possibility of the incidents.

Suggestions to strengthen the intelligence set up have been recommended in the Status
paper on Internal Security prepared by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Administrative Reforms
Commission headed by Veerappa Moily has suggested positive proposals to strengthen the
intelligence machinery both its human intelligence system and the technical intelligence apparatus.
Nearly two years ago, a model Police Act was drafted, But nothing has materialized. India was
a unitary State when the British ruled it. When we attained freedom, our founding fathers drafted a
Constitution that was quasi-federal. The Congress party held office both at the Centre and the
States for nearly two decades after Independence. With coalition Governments holding office at
the center, the country is now more of a Federal State. It is time we set up a Federal Intelligence
Agency, if we want to bring down incidents of terrorist violence. It will only strengthen the States
rather than take away their authority. There is no need to amend the Constitution, as even after
creating such force, the law and order will continue to be the responsibility of the State Governments.

CONCLUSION :

India is facing the problem of terrorism from last two decades but still we failed to -zero it.
The intelligence gathering in India is notatali satisfactory. From Parliament to Judiciary, everything
in this nation is targeted and we swung into action after strikes take place and then get relax for
another to happen. Hence, there is a need at national level, of a high- level anti-terrorist squad,
which should have its branch in every state. Intelligence system of our nation requires a proper
overhauling.

There is also a need for a trained group/task force for handling the situation, which arises
after such blasts and strikes. It must consist of security personnel, doctors, nurses and they

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 The Indian Journal of Political Science 568

should always be on alert. Life can be saved if we

to assist the victims.

It is also necessary to have a centralized system of information gathering and disbursement.

There is a need for one or two toll free phone numbers, which any body can take information from
and about victims after such strike or in the case of natural calamity.

Fighting with terrorism should not only be the duty of government and role of civilians, and
civil society is equally significant. Firstly, strong movement is required against all fundamentalist
ideologies. And secondly every true citizen should act as a police man in civil dress to overcome
crime in our country.

Many times, it is noticed that police randomly pick people from minority community on
false charges; this need to be condemned and should be avoided at any cost. No Indian citizen
should feel insecure just for belonging to any religion, caste, or sect. The spirit of secularism and
unity in diversity must be championed by all and sundry.

References :

1. Address on the launch of uniting against Terrorism-The Secretary General UNO, New York, May2, 2006.

2. Siddhartha, Anti- terrorism Laws in India and the need for POTA, : Legal; Services.com, p. 1.

3. Johari, J. C. Indian Political System, New Delhi: Anmol, 1997, p. 307.

4. Chalmers-Johnson: 'Terror' in A.A.Said (ed), Human Rights and World Order, p. 48.

5. Hudson H. V. (ed). The Annual Register: A Record of World Events, 1977, vol. 219, pp-3-4.

6 Jenkins, B.M; The Study of Terrorism-Definitional Problems in Rural Paper Series, No. P. 6573, November
1980, p.1.

7. Johari, J.C. op. cit., p. 309.

8. Chalmers-Johnson, op. cit p. 51.

9. Raman, B, Counter Terrorism: The Indian Experience, Paper presented at a Regional Seminar on March
25, 2003.

10. Terrorism: India's Unending War. The Rediff Specials, p. 1.

11. All India assessment-2007 (http://www. sat p. org.)

12 http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/T srrorism-in-lndia, p. 2.

13. Raman B, Terrorism: India's unending war. The Rediff special, April 04, 2003, p.1.

14. India against Terror, $ & Efforts.com.

15. The Hindu (Daily) dated, February 7, 2009, p.1 5

16. UN General Assembly Resolution, Dated, September 8,2006 entitled * UN Action to counter Terrorism.

17. ibid, pp. 4-6

18. Address on the launch of uniting against Terrorism, op. cit.

19. Maheswari , S.R., Comparative Government And Politics. Agra : Lakshmi Narain Agarwal, 1998, p. 182.

¿0. Anish Kumar Singla, Terrorism Needs a Newtons Second Law of Motion, dated February 22, 2007.

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