Threats from non-traditional sources a challenge

Sanjeev Tripathi

Jan 14 2015 

WE are clearly living in an increasingly dangerous security environment. While border and other issues related to Pakistan and China are continuing concerns, new dangers from jihadi militants and cyber terrorism are engaging our attention even more lately. India and China need to work to clearly define the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as there are several pockets of dispute. We should focus on finalising the LAC on priority and the strengthening of bilateral economic and trade relations.

We should work to enhance our own military capabilities and accelerate the pace of development along the border. Pakistan has taken the covert route to inflict injuries on us. The involvement of Pakistan's ISI in such activities is well known. While we should continue to expose Pakistan's nexus with terrorist groups and take other counter-measures, responding through overt action will not be prudent. Any escalation of war will not be in our large national interest. The possibility of engagement with Pakistan should always be explored. Of external threats emanating from non-traditional sources, radical Islam or jihadi militants pose the most serious threat to our national security. In the present environment of global Islamic radicalisation, they may get support from within the country too. 

We need to focus on learning more, and in greater depth, about activities of such groups operating in different parts of the world, their inter-linkages, objectives, strengths and weaknesses, rivalries, areas of operations, their global agenda, intentions in India, etc. Noticing the global influence of the Islamic State even in the Indian subcontinent, particularly after a few Indian Muslims travelled to Syria to join it, Al-Qaida has indicated its intention to strengthen itself in the region and has announced the formation of its subcontinental arm, the Qaida Jihadi. 

The last couple of years have seen mercy propaganda in Pakistan about Ghazwa-e-Hind, according to which any jihadi in India will be tantamount to going for jihad along with Prophet Mohammed himself, and thus of great religious sanctity.

Tackling threats

The war against radical Islam or jihadi militancy has to be fought on the ground and at the ideological level. For tackling it on the ground, we need an effective anti-terrorist legal framework. We earlier had the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, thereafter Prevention of Terrorism Act, but both were repealed. We have the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, which needs to be made much more stringent. 

Secondly, the national intelligence apparatus has to be strengthened. For effective counter-measures against jihadi elements, precise intelligence is required. Various intelligence agencies will have to work in clear coordination to cover their activities, including foreign linkages. To counter covert activities or adversaries, our counter-intelligence capability has to be strengthened. In addition to the leading intelligence agencies, the Intelligence Bureau and Research and Analysis Wing, there are a number of other intelligence agencies like the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) and Aviation Research Centre (ARC), apart from intelligence wings of the armed forces and Central Armed Police Forces. The lack of coordination sometimes leads to inter-agency rivalries, which adversely impact effective collection and dissemination of intelligence. There is an urgent need for an effective mechanism for oversight, coordination, and accountability of intelligence agencies. 

Thirdly, the creation of the National Counter Terrorism Centre is a must. All counter-terrorism related inputs from various intelligence agencies would be gathered and analysed. Information for necessary action would be passed on to the central or state security agency through the Intelligence Bureau, which would function as the link between the NCTC and central and state security agencies. It would also function as a databank of all counter-terrorism related information. Similarly, confronting radical Islam or jihadi militancy at the ideological level would require action both on the ground and in cyberspace. Preventing the radicalisation of the Muslim society and stopping Muslim youth from being influenced by the jihadi propaganda at a stage when they are still in the process of getting radicalised has been overlooked. As this is largely happening online, an alternative has to be present on the Internet.

To combat jihadi ideology in cyberspace, we need to encourage progressive Muslim leaders and organisations to open websites, giving progressive interpretation of religious edicts and countering the propaganda in the literature of jihadi websites. At times, the media, particularly electronic, goes overboard on some issues. While media freedom is an integral part of our democratic functioning and has to be safeguarded, the media must be responsible and vigilant about the larger security interest of the country.