Counterterrorism Blog

This column is another in the ongoing series on the terrorist threat to India and the surrounding region by Frank Hyland and Animesh Roul.

Realizing the benefits that accrue to nations that operate within a large, active international “web” of Counter-Terrorism (CT) relationships, India is taking a number of steps to improve the way it combats terrorism. The steps are an acknowledgement that terrorism has morphed into a quite different phenomenon than the indigenous groups largely confined to remote redoubts that have plagued India over the decades since its independence, and the new form of terrorism neither knows nor respects boundaries. India, therefore, has been adding to its list of partnerships of late. In addition, the Indian Government reportedly is planning to establish a national-level CT organization to act as a central repository for relevant data, mirroring the structure of many other nations, including the US and the UK. The moves, accompanied by a number of public statements by high-ranking members of the Indian Government, are also a recognition by India that its attempts to increase international trade and tourism are inextricably linked in today’s world with its successes in reducing the threat of terrorist attacks. Already bordered by a nation that India has blamed for a large share of terrorist attacks, India now faces another potentially growing problem with the recent electoral success of Maoists in neighboring Nepal.

As India’s top officials travel the globe, they are careful to include explicit and specific mention of terrorism in the agendas of their meeting with other nations, along with the obligatory economic trade and diplomatic initiatives. Mid-way through her 12-day long tour to Brazil, Mexico and Chile, in meeting her Chilean counterpart, President Michelle Bachelet, earlier this month, India's President Pratibha Patil, made specific reference to the fight against terrorism. India's Minister of External Affairs, Pranab Mukherjee, has also been accumulating frequent flier miles at a great rate in recent months. In the same timeframe, Mukherjee visited with Saudi King Abdullah, following on the King’s visit to India. Again, along with trade, cultural, and diplomatic initiatives, specific mention of terrorism was made. The case for an enhanced relationship with Saudi Arabia obviously makes much sense in the context of India’s long-festering problems with Islam-based terrorism: Although some distance apart both culturally and geographically, Saudi-funded NGOs dot the region and are, in effect, only an e-Mail apart; India shares a border with Pakistan; India, itself, has a large, restive Muslim population; yesteryear’s groups, such as the infamous Abu Nidhal Organization (ANO), have carried out attacks on Indian soil; it is notable that India is the fifth largest trading partner of the Saudis. In the longer term, an important reason for reaching out to a Muslim nation is that that Muslim nation (in this case, Saudi Arabia) can then reach out to another Muslim nation such as Pakistan on behalf of India.

India is now reaching out to the “easier” nations and should be encouraged to continue doing so. The tougher row to hoe in this regard will be nations such as Pakistan.