We have been spared of some unfortunate news of terrorist attacks in the recent past, however, it would be mistake to discount the threat posed by the terrorist organisations especially when we consider the backdrop of Doha Accord. The article deals with the threat of terrorism.

Declining support

• Terrorist organisations like Taliban, al-Qaeda, Islamic State, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) have been dormant during a pandemic.
• This is partly explained by the fact that open terror attacks have been reducing, presumably because:
• 1) Terror outfits lack resources.
• 2) Because of temporary loss of support from those normally hostile to the non-Islamic world and tolerant Muslims.
• However, given their past resilience, they continue to pose threats to modern society, especially to India and its neighbourhood.

But threat persists

• These terrorist organisations continue to be attractive to misguided youth in India whose loyalties are extraterritorial.
• Their numbers may not be formidable, but they can cause a ripple effect that cannot be underestimated.
• Terrorist cells are probably engaged in the quiet process of collecting resources for future lethal assaults against India and other countries in the neighbourhood.
• Once the pandemic eases, we may see a resurgence of terror.
• The aggravation of poverty in developing nations due to COVID-19 could offer a fertile ground for recruitment.
• The al-Qaeda and the Islamic State are carrying out their recruitment undiminished by the problems posed by the pandemic.
• Only these two outfits have an impressive global reach backed by global ambitions.

What are the implications of Doha Accord?

• The Doha Accord signed this year between the Taliban and the U.S., which has brought about an improved relationship between the two.
• The U.S. has agreed to a near-total withdrawal of its troops in return for the Taliban’s promise to preserve peace in Afghanistan.
• The Taliban and the al-Qaeda need each other in many areas.
• Both are friendly towards Pakistan and could pose a problem or two to India in the near future.
• Many recent raids by the National Investigation Agency point to an al-Qaeda network in India.
• Once the situation gets better, the al-Qaeda, in cahoots with other aggressive Islamic outfits in and around Pakistan, is bound to escalate the offensive against India.
• This is one factor that makes the al-Qaeda and other terror outfits still relevant to India’s security calculus.

Consider the question “What are the implications of Doha Acord for India’s security architecture?”

Conclusion

The threat posed by the changing geopolitical landscape is bound to increase in the coming days and hence India should prepare itself to tackle the challenge.

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