What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
The recent surge in terror activities in the Indian subcontinent and the region around has resulted in a huge loss of infrastructure and human resources. It has brought governments to stand still and struck terror in the minds of the masses. Among various causes, it can rightly be stated that the radicalization of youth via propaganda is one of the major factors. However, the traditional security setup has, by and large been able to counter cross-border terrorism but the terror activities involving radicalized citizens or cyber terrorism cannot be brought under control by the same method. Governments have taken various steps to counter this menace in its new avatar. Cooperation at bilateral, multilateral forums, counter-terrorist (CT) exercises, and policies have also been explored.
Ever since independence India has been through a lot due to all forms of terrorist activities whether it is cross-border terrorism, state-sponsored terrorism, or radicalization of young innocent civilians. Indian radicalized youths have been radicalized to travel to countries like Syria, Yemen, and Iraq to join several terror-related modules. Local support for these foreign soil-based terrorist outfits has grown. Even local branches have also come up recently. Some of them also have some support in certain pockets of the country. This demands strong policies.
Numerous laws have been enacted, institutions established, and agencies formed to ensure the safety of citizens from such threats. The landmark in India’s CT institution building was the attacks of 26/11. Successive governments took steps to boost India’s CT capabilities.
The premier agency for CT operations in India is NIA formed in 2008, receiving orders from the Ministry of Home Affairs which makes it truly federal. NIA has also been able to hinder the growing radicalization. Four regional hubs of the National Security Guard (NSG) were opened in India for quick response to such terror attacks. Cooperation of Western countries with information sharing on a real-time basis, modernization of the Police Force, and an amendment to the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act broadening the definition of terrorism among others were results of the attacks of 26/11.
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Recently steps have also been taken to strengthen mechanisms to prevent radicalisation of youth via content available on the internet. The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, is a step in this direction. These rules outline guidelines and obligations for digital intermediaries to curb the dissemination of content that could pose threats to national security, public order, or the integrity of the nation.
The case of Maldives is peculiar for its economy is highly vulnerable and dependent on tourism which can flourish only in peaceful domestic conditions. But in recent years the attack on foreign nationals shows the contrary state of affairs. The first case of radicalized youth travelling to Syria to join Jabhat al-Nusra (a local group of militants in Syria affiliated with Al Qaeda) came back in 2013 when three Maldivians were arrested at the airport. Since then there have been hundreds of such cases involving mostly youths. The use of social media has played a crucial role in radicalizing. Bilad al-Sham Media (BASM), a social media platform which is operated by Maldivians from Syria in Maldives casing the glory of those Maldivians who have died fighting for Jabhat al-Nusra. The purpose of BASM is to radicalize citizens of Maldives to join them in Syria.
There is also another sort of radicalization that leads to an attack on tourists coming to Maldives. In 2017 there were threats issued to tourists, especially from Western countries, and also support for Daesh in some parts of the archipelago. From two 2020-2023, attacks on tourists have led countries to issue safety advisory notices to tourists visiting Maldives. In 2022 attack on a Yoga event organized by the Indian Cultural Centre in Male was also an attack on foreign nationals. The attackers who were radicals stated that yoga is against the basic tenets of Islam. The Maldivian authorities responded quickly and charged 38 people on various grounds including terror. The Maldives also has gained notoriety for having the highest per capita production of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) joining Al Qaeda and ISIS, reflecting the concerning magnitude of radicalization within the country. In light of recent events, the government of Maldives started to take initiatives to strengthen its CT operations.
According to the Government of Maldives, the root cause of terrorism is racism, xenophobia, and hate speech. To secure a peaceful domestic scenario Maldives has recently enacted the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2014, the Prevention of terrorism act, 2015, and the National Counter Terrorist Centre (NCTC), 2016.
The NCTC activities adhere to the principles outlined in the “National Strategy on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism” and the “National Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism 2020-2024.”.
Apart from strengthening laws and institutions at their domestic level, India and Maldives have also developed a strong mutual commitment towards CT operations. A Joint Working Group (JWG) focusing on Counter-Terrorism, Countering Violent Extremism, and De-Radicalisation was convened between India and the Maldives in New Delhi in 2021. Subsequently, the second edition of JWG was held in Male in 2023. The JWG is focused on enhancing cooperation between both these countries in the field of shared security concerns mentioned. Another step is Exercise Ekuverin between the defence forces of two. The 12th edition of Ekuverin was conducted in Uttarakhand in 2023. The exercise is aimed at enhancing interoperability in Counter Insurgency/ Counter Terrorism Operations under the UN mandate among other objectives. They also focus on boosting information sharing and increasing coordination and cooperation between both forces at the tactical level as a major component.
India and Maldives are two important players in the South Asian region who have condemned terrorism in all forms. Both of them have been through the negative impacts of terrorism. Geographic proximity and cultural cohesion make it more challenging and complex to develop a foolproof mechanism to counter-terror. Any spread of terror in one of these countries has a bearing on the other. If one of them fails to put a check on such activities it certainly boosts such modules in the other. The Maldives located in the Indian Ocean is instrumental in stalling any growth of terror modules in the region from the Southern side and spreading such via sea route whereas India hinders the same from the northern side of the subcontinent and land route.
Dr. Vikash Kumar Thakur is a research scholar from the School of International Studies, at Jawaharlal Nehru University and has a specialization in International Relations.
