Essays

Terrorism is global. In recent decades it has acquired new dimensions and there seems no end to it. The way it has grown and spread beyond limits during the last few years is a matter of great concern for all of us. Though it has been condemned and denounced by leaders in international forums and on platforms yet it is on increase by leaps and bounds and is in evidence everywhere. The trigger happy terrorists and extremists use all sorts of weapons and strategies to terrorise their adversaries.

They explode bombs, use rifles, hand-grenades, rockets, ransack houses, loot banks and establishments, destroy religious places, highjack people, buses and planes, indulge in arson and rape and do not spare even the children. Consequently, the world is becoming a totally unsafe, insecure, dangerous and fearful place day by day. In retaliation there is more terrorism, violence and blood-shed and use of weapons of destruction.

This ruthless chain of action and reaction full of horrifying violence is much too dangerous to be ignored or taken lightly. Terrorism, violence, blood- shed, killings etc. have become the order of the day. India, Pakistan, the whole of the Middle East, Afghanistan, parts of Europe, Latin America, Sri Lanka etc. all seem to be in the grip of this ubiquitous and many headed monster.

Terrorists aim at achieving political power by over- throwing and destroying the democratic and lawful governments. They try to create disturbance and unstable conditions on a vast scale to achieve their own political ends. They are trained, inspired and financed by very powerful national and international vested interests. They receive deadly weapons and ammunition from these powers and create havoc.

This ugly and dangerous sociopolitical phenomenon called terrorism knows no limits of land, time, race, religions or creed.

It is world-wide and is becoming more and more popular among the politically frustrated groups, religious fundamentalists and misleads factions in the society. They indulge in all sorts of anti-social and anti-government activities to achieve their narrow, sectarian and unholy aims. Sometimes, the terrorists may have very good objectives but then they resort to violences and armed upsurge as they are unable to participate in the democratic process because of their various inherent weaknesses.

Terrorism in India is not new, but it has increased very rapidly after our independence. Terrorism in India should be looked upon as an integral part of our colonial legacy. The Britishers followed the policy of 'divide and rule' and ultimately divided the subcontinent into two nations which later grew into three after the emergence of Bangladesh.

Post-independence and post-partition violence and terrorism was unprecedented. This partition on   the basis of religion, faith and community has such seeds of hatred, violence, terrorism, separatism and communal divide as would go on growing, flowering and fruition for many centuries to come.

The rise of extremism and terrorism in our north-eastern states of Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur, Assam etc. is also part of our colonial legacy. The long colonial rule never attempted to bring the tribals of these states into the main stream of the nation. Rather a feeling of hatred, alienation and disharmony was created in their hearts. Consequently, they felt neglected after independence and could not take part in the democratic process of the country. They, mislead by a false sense of losing their ethnic identity and independence, decided to take to terrorism and violence.

They were helped in their futile armed struggle and terrorism by neighbouring countries, who never liked to see India a united, powerful and a successful democracy. This emergence of terrorism in our north-eastern states also reflects the lack of will and proper efforts on the part of our political leaders and the government to bring these big groups of tribals into the main national stream and the democratic process.

Besides socio-political and economic aspects there are involved such other aspects as psychological, emotional and religious in the problem. All these create a strong feeling and extremism. The unprecedented spate of terrorism in recent past in Punjab can be understood and appreciated only in this background.

The demand for a separate Khalistan by these alienated sections of the society, at one point of time became so strong and powerful that it put our unity and integrity under much strain. But ultimately the good sense prevailed both on the government and the people and electoral process was started in which the people participated whole-heartedly. This involvement of the people in the democratic process coupled with strong measures adopted by security forces helped us wage a successful battle against terrorism in Punjab and so finally peace and sanity returned.

Terrorism, as a means to achieve socio-political aims in Punjab, got much support from Pakistan by way of supply of arms and ammunition, training and finance. The people in power in Pakistan have ever been hostile to India because of their own political compulsions. They have been trying their level best to destabilize and disturb the society in India. They train and equip the terrorists with arms and then smuggle them into the country. Poverty, unemployment, lack of education etc. among the people further worsen the situation.

Under various political, communal and economical pressures they succumb to the temptations and discard democratic process finding it unsuitable for improving their miserable lot. Terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir is of this nature. Wide-spread poverty, unemployment, neglect of youth, peasants and working class and emotional alienation are some of the main reasons of extremism in the province. The hostile forces across our borders also helped it a lot. The emergence of Bangla Desh as an independent state with the help of India was too much for Pakistan to tolerate. Starting under this humiliation the leaders of Pakistan spare no pains to destabilize and disturb peace in the India sub-continent.

The series of bomb-blasts in Bombay and other cities of India were planned in Pakistan and then executed with their financial help. Pakistani sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir has caused death of thousands of people including innocent civilians, defence and security personnel during the last five years. It also caused loss of property worth several crores of rupees in the state. In spite of loud and vociferous denouncement of terrorism and extremism in various international Forums by Ms Benezir Bhutto the Militants, Fundamentalist and terrorists are being trained there in secret and well-established camps run by ISI and such other groups and agencies.

These extremists have found a very safe sanctuary there. It has been established beyond any shadow of doubt that Pakistan trained militants and extremists had their hand in the 1993 bombing of the U.S. World Trade Centre in New York. But terrorism certainly boomerangs and now Pakistan itself is in a solid grip for terrorism. During the year (1994) more than one thousand people had been killed in terrorist activities in the city of Karachi alone. The communal, fundamentalist and sectarian clashes, violence and militancy among the mujahidin’s, Sunnis, has and such other groups are now very common there. The roots of organized and large scale terrorism and violence in Pakistan are quite deep and widespread.

Terrorism is a global problem and as such it cannot be solved in isolation. What is needed is international co-operative efforts to fight against this global menace, all the world governments should simultaneously and continuously crack down on militant and terrorists. The global menace can be reduced and eliminated only by close co-operation between various countries. The countries where militancy springs farm should be clearly identified and declared as terrorist states. It is very difficult for any terrorist activity to thrive for long in a country unless there is strong external support to it.

The easier it is understood the better that terrorism achieves nothing, solves nothing. It is sheer madness and an exercise in futility. In terrorism there cannot be a victor or a vanquished. If terrorism ecomes a way of life the leaders and heads of states of the various countries alone are to blame. This vicious circle is their own creation and their combined and pooled efforts only can check it. Terrorism is a crime against humanity and so it should be dealt with an iron hand and the forces behind it should be exposed well. Terrorism affects adversely the quality of life and hardens attitudes.

In the ultimate analysis all terrorist groups are criminal. They do not distinguish between good and evil, neither do they spare anybody not even women and children. For example, Al Qaida, world over and Harkatual Answer, a terrorist outfit, active in Kashmir has been most ruthless and rapacious. It began as a support organisation for Afghan Mujahideen in the beginning of 1980's. It is now operating world-wide. Their professed aim is to establish Islam throughout the world through jehad. They train their cadres in making bombs, explosives, hurling grenades and using light and heavy weapons. They have a large number of hideouts in the valley of Kashmir. The men, who blew off the New York Twin Trade Centre, belonged to Al Qaida. They find the whole world, including India, a fair game for their terrorist acts.