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? (UPSC MAINS GENERAL STUDIES2017)
Terrorism is a systematic use of strategy and force to threaten a population or a government for bringing about political, religious and ideological change. Terrorism has struck almost all nations of the world in form or another. India has been hit by terrorism for a long time, like, 1993 Bombay blasts, attack on Parliament in 2011, the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Pathankot attacks etc.
- State-sponsored terrorism: many nations are resorting to use of terrorism to achieve strategic or diplomatic goals.
- It creates an environment of fear and insecurity among people.
- It leads to increased expenditure on state security machinery diverting precious resources from social and economic development.
- Countries struck by menace of terrorism fail to attract foreign investors and their domestic economy to faces decline.
- Technology used: Terrorist groups such as ISIS, Al-Qaeda are becoming more sophisticated with time adopting social media, cryptocurrency, ransomware to further their agenda.
Solutions to curb the growing menace of terrorism
- Stability in government: It is often seen that regions with unstable government become fertile ground for terrorist groups. Example Iraq came under ISIS control after the civil war in Syria.
- Acknowledge and address the circumstances which lead to the spread of terrorism, make the best use of UN strategies of conflict prevention, negotiation, peacekeeping, promotion of dialogue among civilisations.
- Cooperation between intelligence and security agencies of different nations,
- Countries should agree on “UN-backed Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism” as soon as possible.
- Countries should refrain from supporting any rebel or terrorist activity or create any proxies to effect regime change in other nations.
- Empowering and engaging with civil society and local communities can help in countering radicalization and to stop the spread of violent extremism.
- Enhancing security presence along the international boundaries and seal the porous borders.
- Terrorist organizations have successfully taken advantage of the Internet and social media. Hence, countering radicalization on digital media must be given priority.
Major sources of funding for terrorist activities are:
- NGO, charities and donations collected in the name of religious appeal, coercion or fears of victimization.
- Collaboration of terrorist groups with organised crime and arms smuggling.
- Drug financing is also a major source of terrorism financing.
- Counterfeiting of Indian currency not only funds terrorism but, more importantly, it is used as a tool by neighbouring states to destabilize the Indian economy.
- Extortion is another important tool for financing terrorist activities.
Steps taken to curb terror
- FATF – Financial Action Task Force is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1989 on the initiative of the G7 to develop policies to combat money laundering.
- RATS – Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
Terrorism is increasingly becoming a global menace for the internal security of nations. There is an urgent need for global collaboration to curb the fundamental causes giving rise to terrorism.
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