Round The World

New Delhi, 13 September 2011

10 Years After 9/11

DON’T POLITISE TERROR

By Monish Tourangbam

Research Scholar, School of International Studies (JNU)

Many countries including India have experienced the scourge of terrorism in its many facets. But no other act of terrorism struck so much fear and insecurity the world over as the 9/11 attacks that shattered super-power America’s security and made Osama Bin Laden a dreaded household name globally, whereby he became the face of international terrorism or “jihad”.

Unfortunately, terrorism globally is largely identified with Islam’s fundamentalist versions. From India to US, Middle Eastern countries to South-East Asia, various Islamic organisations have become the face of terror. Even in Pakistan, which is currently the epicentre of international terrorism, various Islamic terror groups are targeting the Pakistani State.

Undeniably, when Osama Bin Laden was killed by US forces in Abottabad, many heaved a sigh of relief. But, can we deny that even in his death he became a martyr for many, who gave his life for Islam’s cause// Can we refute that his name and violent acts justified in the name of a skewed version of Islam, would serve as a legacy for many “jihadis” in future?

Recall, the 9/11 attacks and Taliban’s refusal to hand over Osama Bin Laden led to the ‘War on terror’ starting with an US invasion on Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. But, did it spell the end of Taliban there? No. As America went on to an ill-advised and highly unpopular war against Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, gradually Taliban came back with a vengeance.

Now, the Taliban refuses to die down, and the Afghan President with all the western assistance just cannot handle Afghanistan. Corruption is sky-high, the drug menace is sapping the country with the American-led western forces looking for a safe-way out.  True, since 9/11, America has not faced another attack but many other cities around the world, including London, Madrid, Mumbai and New Delhi have confronted major terrorist attacks.

Importantly, the Taliban has become some kind of an accepted presence in Afghanistan, with power sharing talks being held with of its some sections. The Iraq war has winded down, the civil war that threatened to engulf the nation has been controlled but complete normalcy and security is still a distant gaol in this Middle East country.

Indeed, the Iraq invasion is often viewed as the spoiler in the ‘War on terror’, having diverted attention and resources from a more legitimate campaign against the Taliban in Afghanistan. Also, the false premise of finding weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in Iraq greatly discredited Washington.  Its war was labelled a battle against Islam in many Islamic nations whereby even efforts by Obama’s Administration to engage the Islamic world failed to close the gap between the west and it.

Moreover, the continued use of drone attacks in Pakistan while helping target dreaded terrorist leaders nevertheless alienated the people as many civilians were killed in the collateral damage.

Hence, in Pakistan, a crucial partner of the US in its war against terror, anti-Americanism is higher than ever before in history. In fact, since Osama’s killing Washington-Islamabad ties has got strained with Pakistanis accusing Americans of infringing their sovereignty while many US officials blame the Pakistani Establishment of playing a double game.

Round The States …2

“I'm very pessimistic,” said Bruce Reidel, a former CIA analyst and a major architect of President Obama’s Afghanistan-Pakistan policy. “We're on a downward slide towards a more hostile relationship. Obama wants to save it, but our interests don't coincide.”

Significantly, at this juncture total victory in the war on terror seems implausible. As the terrorism issue is much more complex and its sources and roots vary, making the fight all the more difficult. The cause-effect relationship is something not easy to decipher. Although the act of terrorism itself is deplorable and easy to criticize, the issue does not end just with catching the culprits.

President of US think-tank Council on Foreign Relations Richard Haass asserts, “…Pakistan remains a sanctuary for Al Qaeda and some of the world's other most dangerous terrorists. A mixture of instability, Government weakness and ideology in countries such as Yemen, Libya, Somalia, and Nigeria are providing fertile territory for terrorists to organise, train, and mount operations, much as they did in Afghanistan a decade ago. New groups constantly emerge from the ruins of old ones.”

True, India-US engagement in various fields is today better than at any other time in its history. The convergences that were cemented during the Bush years have to a large extent been continued during Obama’s Administration. Also, Washington has come around to acknowledge the threats that India encounters emit from terror groups trained and nurtured in on Pakistani soil.

Furthermore, combined with insecurity US forces in Afghanistan face from terror plans hatched inside Pakistan, there is a welcome consensus in how Americans and Indians perceive the threat from terrorism. The coming days should see more efforts from New Delhi to use this understanding to achieve more dividends and Washington’s support in its fight against terrorism.

This apart, normal diplomatic relations with Islamabad should continue and the resumption of India-Pakistan talks since Mumbai’s 26/11 attacks are a welcome step. But, the international community, particularly US should pressurize a nuclear-armed Pakistan to start confronting its darker side and ask uncomfortable questions regarding the state of its insecurity that looms large over the country.

Clearly, attacks on major Government installations pose serious questions over the level of infiltration by various fundamentalist elements in Pakistan’s various military branches. Unless this is assiduously taken up, no amount of aid poured into the beleaguered country can be of any help. 

Today, new technologies like the internet are being increasingly used by terrorists to carry out their sinister plans and most of the time, India’s security apparatus remain a few steps behind in tracking them.  New Delhi’s actions are more ad-hoc and reactive in nature, prone to slumber after the furor over an attack recedes, thus seriously impeding efforts to prevent the next attack.  

Needless to say, terrorism will continue in some form or the other akin to a cat and mouse game between the State and the terrorists. Hence, there is no single mantra to help end terrorism once and for all. However, bold and unpopular decisions should be taken when the situation demands, a consensus among parties created to fight terrorism which should translate to better re-organisation and coordination among various security agencies.

In sum, a sincere effort should be devoted towards analysing the various socio-economic causes that serve terrorist recruiting cells especially in diverse nations like India. Undoubtedly, terrorism different fault-lines need to be identified and efforts made to address them, devoid of political mileage.  ---- INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)