India-Japan Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism

Context

Recently the 6th Meeting of the India-Japan Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism was held in New Delhi.

 Key Highlights

• Both sides exchanged perspectives on the terrorist threats in their respective areas, including State-sponsored cross-border terrorism within the Asian region.
• The two sides assessed counter terrorism demanding situations, including the use of new and emerging technology via terrorists, misuse of the net for terrorist functions, radicalisation and terror financing.
• Countering terror financing, prepared crime and narco-terror networks had been also mentioned in the assembly.
• Both aspects emphasized the significance of strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation through replacing data, potential constructing, training programs & sporting activities, and cooperation on the multilateral fora, which include the United Nations, Financial Action Task Force, and QUAD.

What is Terrorism?

• Terrorism encompasses a variety of complex threats: prepared terrorism in battle zones, overseas terrorist opponents, radicalized ‘lone wolves’, and assaults using chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive substances.
  • It generally includes the deliberate focus on civilians and it aims to create a sense of terror. 
  • It’s a complicated and multifaceted phenomenon, often rooted in socio-political grievances, extremism, or radical ideologies.

Challenges in Tackling Terrorism

• Use of Evolving Techniques: Terrorist groups constantly evolve their techniques, techniques, and approaches to stay away from detection and perform attacks.
  • There has been a notable growth in use of drones for cross-border trafficking of arms and drugs as well as launching terror assaults.
• Transnational Nature: Terrorism regularly transcends national borders, making it hard for individual countries to address the hazard efficiently. 
• Root Causes: Addressing the root causes of terrorism, including poverty, inequality, political grievances, and extremist ideologies, demands long-time period strategies that go beyond traditional security features. 
• Civil Liberties and Human Rights Concerns: Balancing security features with the safety of civil liberties and human rights offers a significant mission.
  • Measures which include surveillance, detention without trial, and restrictions on freedom of speech increase ethical concerns.
• Cyberterrorism: The net gives a platform for terrorist propaganda, recruitment, and coordination.
  • Addressing online radicalization and countering terrorist narratives in our on-line world demands collaboration between governments, tech corporations, and civil society groups.
• Financing and Resources: Tracking and disrupting terrorist financing networks may be hard because of the use of casual channels, cash laundering strategies, and valid financial institutions.
• Lone Actors: The upward push of homegrown terrorists and lone actors offers a challenge for counterterrorism efforts.
  • These people won’t have direct connections to installed terrorist corporations, making them tougher to detect and prevent.

Global Measures Taken to Combat Terrorism

• United Nations Counterterrorism Framework: The UN Security Council has adopted several resolutions that offer a felony framework for counterterrorism actions, together with measures to prevent terrorist financing, stem the flow of foreign fighters, and improve border security.
• Financial Action Task Force (FATF): FATF is an intergovernmental organisation that sets standards and promotes rules to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.
  • Member countries enforce FATF guidelines to strengthen their anti-cash laundering and counterterrorism financing regimes.
• Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF): GCTF is a multilateral discussion board that allows cooperation and capacity-constructing initiatives to reinforce counterterrorism efforts worldwide. 
• Intelligence Sharing and Cooperation: Bilateral and multilateral intelligence-sharing agreements allow countries to trade information on terrorist threats, suspects, and activities.

India’s policy on tackling Terrorism

• Amendment in UAPA :The Central Government amended the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in August 2019 to include the provision of designating an individual as terrorist. Prior to this change, handiest organizations may be designated as terrorists.
• Policy of Zero-Tolerance Against Terrorism:  India demands zero-tolerance against terrorism and specializes in developing a not unusual strategy to minimize it.
• National Investigation Agency: It is India’s counter-terrorist undertaking pressure and is empowered to cope with terror-associated crimes across states without special permission from the states.
  • It was set up after the 2008 Mumbai terror assault.
• Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System: It improves the functionality of Border Security Force (BSF) in detecting and controlling the cross border crimes like illegal infiltration, smuggling of contraband items, human trafficking and pass border terrorism, etc.
• India’s motion plan at UNSC: In 2021, at the twentieth anniversary of the UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1373, India presented an eight-factor movement plan to address the scourge of terrorism.

Conclusion

• Countering radicalization and addressing socio-economic and political grievances are critical additives of complete counterterrorism efforts.
• Collaboration on cybersecurity is essential for combating cyberterrorism and preventing terrorist use of the internet for recruitment and propaganda. 

Source: The NewsonAIR

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Q. The scourge of terrorism is a grave challenge to national security. What solutions do you suggest to curb this growing menace? What are the major sources of terrorist funding? (2017)

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