Time to Define Terrorism

The most alarming factor against humanity is terrorism. Mumbai, Delhi, New York, Paris, London, Stockholm and almost all the cities of the western countries are being attacked and bombed by the terrorists. People are getting killed every day. Still, the world is divided into the definition of terrorism. It looks weird and explains the Machiavellian understanding of terrorism. That is why Indian Foreign Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj reminded the world and expressed deep concern about it. Swaraj told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that Pakistan’s charge about India shying away from talks is not justified, and it is impossible to speak to a nation where terrorist Hafiz Saeed roams around freely proclaimed. Sushma Swaraj cited the manner in which al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden was provided “haven” in Pakistan to allege its duplicity in fighting terror. “America declared Laden as its most dangerous enemy and launched a worldwide search. But he took sanctuary in a country that America believed was its friend and ally. The American intelligence found the truth about Pakistan, but it continued to behave as nothing had happened,” she said.

 

 

Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj addressing the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, on September 29, 2018 

 

She went on to lament how various measures to curb terrorism, including a draft document on the CCIT (Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism) proposed by India in 1996, have gone in vain. “Till today, that draft has remained a draft because we cannot agree on a common language. We want to fight terrorism on the one hand, but on the other, we cannot define it,” the Union Minister said, adding that the United Nations should come out with a unanimously accepted definition of terrorism to combat the menace.

 

The United States (US) and Russia have been divided on the ISIS role in Syria. Their agendas are entirely different. Chinese understanding of terrorism is confined to its domestic constituency of Xinjiang and Uighur populace. The west also has different connotations of terrorism. India has been saying for long the motherboard of all kinds of terrorism lies in Pakistan. The US ignored Indian appeals for many years. When twin towers were attacked, the US got over on its feet to realise the truth. Now China is doping and skipping India’s concern. China once again safeguarded Hafeez Saeed by using its veto in the UN Security Council. China explained a technical reason which did not support Hafeez Saeed as a terrorist. Indian Foreign Minister said categorically, ‘If we cannot agree to define our enemy, how can we fight together? If we continue to differentiate between good terrorists and bad terrorists, how can we fight against the evils?”

 

Army Chief of Pakistan stated, “A large number of people are radicalised, armed and empowered politically and ideologically. They cannot be wished away just because we do not like them anymore. Pakistan is harvesting what we sowed 40 years back. It means the current regime of Pakistan under Imran Khan is going to cultivate more terrorists with the help of the Pakistani Army. Therefore rightly, India has termed Pakistan as ‘Terroristan’. If Pakistan is serious on its commitment to control terror groups emanating from its soil, then its first action should be to close its terror factories, regarding Madrassas, which support and breed terrorists, by brainwashing them. Unless it takes this step, there would be no end to producing brainwashed terrorists. Pakistan’s Deep State has never realised that supporting terror groups can never settle disputes, especially as far as India and Afghanistan are concerned. India would never commence dialogue, Pakistan would never succeed in bleeding India to the level it desires, nor would there ever be a Kashmir uprising.

 

Pakistan’s main support line is China. China like the US is also playing with fire. After the Soviet attack on Afghanistan, the US donated huge money to Pakistan to defeat Soviet forces, which were turned to be the breeding ground for Taliban and al-Qaeda. China is repeating the same mistake in Pakistan. For its safety of CPEC China has a double and hypocritical understanding of terrorism. The breeding lot can move to Afghanistan and from there to its largest province of Xinjiang which is a Muslim dominated province. Islamic State (IS) has already given warning to China of spreading river of blood in Beijing.

 

China’s main interests concerning international terrorism are ensuring domestic stability in its ethnically troubled Xinjiang region, promoting regional stability in crucial resource and export markets, and protecting its citizens and businesses abroad. Beijing’s primary response to international terrorism has been to strengthen its domestic counterterrorism capabilities by passing and implementing new national security and counterterrorism laws, increasing policing and social control in Xinjiang, and engaging in bilateral and multilateral counterterrorism efforts.

 

Beijing is concerned that Uighurs will join transnational terrorist organisations such as IS and al-Qaeda and return to China radicalised and ready to disturb the social order. They are also worried that external funding will be funnelled to Islamic insurgency groups within China by sympathetic outside groups. Although China’s fears of domestic terrorism, insurgency, and potential, its Belt and Road Initiative—a development strategy focusing on cooperation with Eurasian countries—will expand China’s involvement in many regions where it is already a target of international terrorism, including Central, South, and Southeast Asia as well as the West Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

 

The world needs to heed the appeals of India. What Indian Foreign Minister said in the UN is relevant for all. The most important task for the world community is to rein terrorist outfits of Pakistan. It is the main link between all kinds of terrorists’ activities. The US and others are ready. China has a different opinion. If China changes its posture and understanding of terrorism, it will help the world in fighting against the terrorism.