Dealing with growing radicalisation in South Asia

“If a society’s practice of tolerance is inclusive of the intolerant, intolerance will ultimately dominate, eliminating the tolerant and the practice of tolerance with them,” Karl Popper said in The Paradox of Tolerance in the 1940s.

South Asia is a complex and volatile region characterised by its cultural diversity, religious affinity, political instability, marred history, and ideological fault lines. Home to over a quarter of the world’s population, it has the world’s largest population of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, and Zoroastrians, besides 35 million Christians and 25 million Buddhists.

Ironically, the rise of Islamist forces has posed an escalating threat to the region’s peace and stability. The spread of toxic Islamist ideology of hate and its boom have marred the region with intolerance and violence, destabilising it. India, being the most populous nation with diverse religions and ideologies today, faces “the paradox of tolerance” as this fundamentalist zeal manifests across its landmass.

Global Spread of Islamist Radicalism

Islamist radicalism has left its footprints all across the globe. According to the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2023, deaths attributed to Islamist radical forces increased by 10 per cent globally from the previous 12 months, with over 18,000 fatalities recorded. The report highlights that areas, which include the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of South and Southeast Asia, are in particular affected. In the Middle East and North Africa, organisations like ISIS and Al-Qaeda pose substantial threats, irrespective of the setbacks. Sub-Saharan Africa has seen an upward thrust in terrorism, with Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab expanding their operations.

In Southeast Asia, the presence of Islamist radicals in the Philippines and Indonesia poses a threat. The GTI report also notes a trend of radicalisation among diaspora groups in Western Europe and North America, mainly due to sporadic, however deadly, lone-wolf assaults. These global footprints underscore the pressing need for international collaboration to combat the spread of Islamist radicalism successfully.

Genesis in South Asia

Islamist fundamentalism in South Asia has deep historical roots, intertwined with periods of significant violence and forced conversions. In India, it started with invasions of rulers like Mahmud of Ghazni and Muhammad Ghori and got more institutionalised under the Sultanate rule.

The Mughal Empire, known for its administrative skills and periods of relative tolerance under rulers like Akbar, also experienced intense violence and coercion, particularly under Emperor Aurangzeb, who sought to impose stricter Islamic practices. The decline of the Mughal Empire and the subsequent British colonial rule exacerbated communal tensions and marginalisation, leading to the violent upheavals of the 1947 partition, which intensified religious identities and partition based on a religious divide.

The 1980s Afghan-Soviet War further fuelled Islamist fundamentalism as international support for Mujahideen groups, many with extremist agendas, spread these ideologies into South Asia. The rise of militant groups like the Taliban and various factions in Pakistan, driven by a desire to impose strict Islamic Sharia laws, has led to significant violence and instability, reflecting the complex legacy of historical violence and forced conversions in the region.

The Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba has framed the prophecy of Ghazwa-e-Hind as one in which India is defeated and united with Pakistan, unifying the South Asia subcontinent under Muslim rule. This has also been the ideology of Jamaat-e-Islami. The spread of Islamist ideology has manifested in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Maldives, which were erstwhile parts of Hindustan and its rulers. The balanced nations of India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Nepal are seeing a demographic change. This change can be attributed to conversions, cross-border infiltration, disproportionate population increase, and indoctrination through social media and education in Madrasas. In particular, there is the challenge of distinct demographic change in the border townships.

Country-wise Analysis
Pakistan:
Pakistan is the fountainhead of Islamist radicalisation in South Asia. Terror organisations such as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) have carried out numerous attacks within and outside Pakistan. According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), Pakistan experienced over 1,500 terrorism-related incidents in 2022, resulting in more than 800 fatalities. The country’s tribal regions and urban centres have both been hotspots for radical activities. The government’s complex relationship with these groups, often oscillating between covert support and military crackdowns, has further complicated efforts to curb their influence. As a state policy, Pakistan has been breeding proxy war in India based on the Islamist ideology of terror.

As per SATP assessment, domestic terrorism continues to thrive in Pakistan within a broader environment that the Establishment has created to facilitate the operations of foreign-oriented terrorist formations, both directed against neighbours as well as wider global formations, and sectarian (anti-Shia) terrorist groups, as well as armed proxies — hit squads —that are deployed against dissident and rebel elements, particularly in Balochistan. Significantly, the binding ideology of all these groups is Islamist extremism.

Afghanistan:
Afghanistan’s political landscape has been dramatically altered by the resurgence of the Taliban, which regained control of the country in 2021. The Taliban’s victory has emboldened other Islamist groups in the region. The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) has also gained a foothold, posing a direct threat to regional stability. In 2023, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported over 1,200 civilian casualties due to terrorist attacks, with ISKP responsible for a significant portion. The Taliban’s governance, marked by strict Sharia implementation and suppression of dissent, has created a fertile ground for radical ideologies to thrive.

India:
A recent report drawing on demographic data from the Association of Religion Data Archive (ARDA from 1950 to 2015), observes a 43.15 per cent rise in the Muslim population in India, increasing from 9.84 per cent to 14.09 per cent. Conversely, the Hindu majority’s share decreased by 7.82 per cent, from 84.68 per cent to 78.06 per cent. The Christian population grew by 5.38 per cent, from 2.24 per cent to 2.36 per cent, while the Sikh population saw a 6.58 per cent rise, going from 1.74 per cent to 1.85 per cent. The Buddhist population experienced a significant increase from 0.05 per cent to 0.81 per cent, though the report does not explicitly quantify this growth rate.

Overall, the report suggests that the rise in minority populations in India reflects their improved well-being, despite global concerns about declining religious freedom in the country.

Yet the rise of Islamist forces and the change in demography, particularly border states, is a matter of grave concern. India faces the challenge of Islamist radicalisation across its entire landscape. Groups like the Indian Mujahideen (IM) and the resurgence of the Kashmir insurgency by Pakistan have kept security forces on high alert. The infiltration of radical ideologies through social media and online platforms has further exacerbated the problem. Additionally, India’s and South Asia’s vast and diverse Muslim population has been targeted by both domestic and international radical groups aiming across the canvas to recruit and radicalise youth through indoctrination at blooming madrasas and social media handles.

Bangladesh:
Bangladesh has witnessed an upward trajectory in radical Islamist activities, especially with the emergence of groups like Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT). The 2016 Dhaka café attack, which claimed 29 lives, highlighted the potent threat. According to the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS), there were over 100 radicalisation-related arrests in 2022, indicating an ongoing security challenge.

The recent revolt in Bangladesh was marked by widespread violence, human rights violations, and the destruction of religious institutions. Radical Islamist groups like Jamaat-E-Islami (JEI) exploited the chaos, targeting minorities, thereby attempting to establish their influence in the power vacuum. This could pose a serious threat to the nation and the region.

Nepal:
Nepal essentially remains dormant from Islamic terrorism**.** Yet an assessment states rampant conversion drives by Islamic religious groups remain a major problem in Nepal despite anti-conversion provisions. Due to poor implementation of money laundering and anti-terrorism finance laws, religious groups like DeI and TJ hold frequent congregations and indoctrination programmes with the support of foreign funding. Nepal also remains a transit point for Islamist terrorists and radicals. Thus a potential threat other than Maoist looms at large.

Sri Lanka:
The 2019 Easter Sunday bombings by the National Thowheeth Jama’ath (NTJ), which claimed over 250 lives, showed the looming shadows of terrorism. This incident underscored the capacity of radical Islamist groups to exploit ethnic and religious tensions in the country. The bombings highlighted the vulnerabilities in the kingdom’s safety equipment and the capability of radical corporations to incite large-scale violence. Sri Lankan authorities have since then intensified their counter-terrorism efforts, but the risk remains.

The Maldives:
While the Maldives has recently been incident-free, the threat of radicalisation remains significant. The robust Islamist and anti-India sentiments of cutting-edge political leadership can additionally create an environment conducive to the resurgence of radical Islamist forces. The Maldives has a record of vulnerability to radical organisations like Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Lashkar-e-Taiba, as seen in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami.

Bhutan:
Bhutan has largely persisted as the only fortunate exception in an otherwise violence-torn South Asia. The last low-intensity bomb blast was on 20 January 2008, though IEDs and bombs being placed thereafter have been detected. United Revolutionary Front of Bhutan (URFB) claimed responsibility for these blasts. The character of low-level violence is essentially attributable to the Maoist, not Islamist, movement.

Challenges and Causes of Radicalisation in South Asia

Root causes of radicalisation:
Islamic extremism flourishes in environments characterised by socio-economic unrest, discriminatory policies, and political grievances. Poverty, unemployment, and political instability create fertile ground for extremist ideologies. Addressing these roots is critical for sustainable fulfilment in countering extremism. The need is for regulations that promote economic equality, and foster political balance. Simultaneously, terrorism must have a universal definition and differentiate between one nation’s freedom fighter and another nation’s terrorist.

Online radicalisation:
The internet has become a powerful device for the dissemination of extremist ideologies. Social media platforms and online forums provide virtual areas for recruitment and radicalisation. Countering online radicalisation calls for a collaborative attempt among governments, tech corporations, and civil society to screen and combat extremist content effectively. Investment in content analysis and proactive measures to counter online recruitment strategies are crucial additives to this effort.

Indoctrination through toxic education:
Limited access to quality education contributes to the vulnerability of individuals to extremist ideologies. The flourishing of madrasas wherein toxic education is taught is the fountainhead of radicalisation. Investing in education, and ensuring that educational curricula are designed to instill values of tolerance, inclusivity, and critical reasoning is important.

Political and religious divides:
Political and religious polarisation can amplify the radicalisation of individuals who feel marginalised or oppressed. Building inclusive societies that are tolerant of diversity and defend minority rights is important for countering extremism at its centre. Governments should promote interfaith harmony and put in force rules that foster social harmony, emphasising shared values and common goals.

Foreign policy implications:
Global geopolitical events and foreign policy decisions can impact the rise of extremism. Addressing conflicts and promoting diplomatic solutions can help reduce the appeal of extremist narratives that exploit grievances related to foreign interventions. Refugee influx can be a source wherein radical elements may gain authority and subsequently be a destabilising factor in a moderate society.

Countering Radicalisation: Strategies and Challenges

Community engagement and empowerment:
Engaging local communities is important for countering extremism. Empowering community leaders and educators to challenge extremist narratives and promote tolerance can be significant in preventing radicalisation. Governments must aid grassroots projects that address community desires, fostering a sense of belonging and resilience against extremist influences.

Investment in education:
Governments need to prioritise education as the primary tool for countering the extremism of youth. Developing and implementing instructional packages that foster harmony, tolerance, and respect for diversity can assist societies. The imperative is to review and adapt the academic curricula devoid of toxic ideologies and promote values and culture conducive to harmony and tolerance.

Counter-narratives and media literacy:
Developing counter-narratives against extremist ideologies is an essential ingredient to prevent minds from being poisoned. Media literacy capsules can empower individuals to significantly authenticate, lowering susceptibility to online radicalisation. For counter-narratives to be effective, there is a need for a collaborative approach between governments, civil society, and the media in conveying counter-narratives that appeal to the masses, are plausible, and rubbish the toxic false narrative of the extremists.

Security measures and intelligence cooperation:
Strengthening collective security mechanisms and intelligence sharing in the international system is important for countering terrorism, which has no defined borders. Sharing statistics about capabilities and threats and coordinating efforts to dismantle extremist networks may be effective in countering extremism. However, counterterrorism efforts must not inadvertently exacerbate grievances or open space for radicalisation and thus require due diligence yet firmness.

Promoting inclusive governance:
Grassroots-level governance that addresses the concerns of citizens, regardless of their religion or culture is an important aspect of choking the space for radicalism. Protecting minority rights, promoting political participation, and addressing socio-economic inequalities reduces space for extremists.

International cooperation:
Islamic extremism is a challenge that requires global cooperation. Nations must collaborate on intelligence-sharing, countering the propagation of radical ideology, and diplomatic efforts to cope with the root causes of extremism. Initiatives just like the United Nations’ Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy should be strengthened, and nations ought to play a more proactive position in fostering cooperation among member states.

An ‘Iron Fist’ in an ‘Iron Glove’:
There must be a zero-tolerance policy to tackle this menace before it grows out of proportion. The important caution must be to differentiate between the moderate and extremist, thereby retaining the secular character of the nation. The nation needs a farsighted view of this menace to institute measures to address the roots, not just the events.

Conclusion

The spread of radical forces in South Asia poses a risk to nearby peace and balance. Addressing this challenge requires a comprehensive and collaborative effort from all nations in the region and the worldwide community. By focussing on protection, socio-economic improvement, education, digital tracking, and international cooperation, nations can mitigate the effect of radicalisation and build a more peaceful destiny.

Source » firstpost.com