Issues in International Politics (TYBA- PAPER VI):Terrorism

Terrorism

The non-traditional conceptions- both human security and global security- focus on the changing nature of threats to security. Terrorist’s activities have been posing a great threat to human and global security. Terrorism is a global issue. The country like India is facing it on various levels since last 2-3 decades. Countries like Russia, China, Srilanka, Israeli etc are victims of it. Since 11^th September, 2001 when terrorists attacked the World Trade Centre in America, other governments and public have paid more attention to terrorism, though is not new.

Terrorism refers to political violence that targets civilians deliberately and indiscriminately. Terrorist groups seek to change a political context or condition that they do not like, by force or threat of force. Civilian’s targets are usually chosen to terrorize the public and to use the unhappiness of the public as a weapon against national governments or other parties in conflict.

The classic cases of terrorism involves hijacking planes or planting bombs in train, cafes, markets and other crowded places.

Terrorism is weapon of the weak conducted by a minority of individuals who promote an extremist ideology; it often fails to create political change.

Terrorism is characterized first and foremost by the use of violence. Historically, the term ‘terrorism’ described state violence against citizens during the French Revolution. Over the past half century, however, terrorism has come to mean the use of violence by small groups to achieve political change. Technologies associated with globalization have improved terrorist capabilities.

As with other forms of irregular warfare, Terrorism is designed to achieve political change for the purposes of obtaining power in order to right a perceived wrong.  Terrorism, however, is the weakest form of irregular warfare with which to alter the political landscape.

·         The reason for this weakness is that terrorist groups rarely possess the broader support of the population that characterizes insurgency and revolution.

·         Terrorist groups often lack broader support for their objectives because their goals for change are based on radical ideas that do not have widespread appeal.

Definition/Meaning:

Terrorism is relatively hard to define. It has been described variously as both a tactic and strategy; a crime and a holy duty; a justified reaction to oppression and an inexcusable abomination (outrage), depends on whose point of view is being represented.

Terrorism can be defined as ‘the use of violence by sub-state groups to inspire fear, by attacking civilians and / or symbolic targets, for purposes such as drawing widespread attention to a grievance, provoking a severe response or wearing down their opponents moral resolve, to effect political change.’

Labeling a particular act as a terrorist act is confusing exercise. Part of this is due to the use of terror tactics by actors at all levels in the social and political environment. Thus, the distinctions of size and political legitimacy of the actors using terror influences as to what is and is not terrorism.

The concept of moral equivalency, which often broadens and blurs the definition of terrorism as well, argues that the outcome of an action is what matters, not the intent. Collateral or unintended damage to civilians from an attack by uniformed military forces on a legitimate military target is the same as a terrorist bomb directed deliberately at the civilian target with the intent of creating that damage. Therefore any military action is simply terrorism by a different name. This is the reasoning behind the famous phrase "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter". It is also a legacy of legitimizing the use of terror by successful revolutionary movements.

The United States Department of Defense defines terrorism as “the calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological.”

Within this definition, there are three key elements—violence, fear, and intimidation (threats)—and each element produce terror in its victims.

The FBI uses this: "Terrorism is the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives."

Nature

·         Violence is undertaken primarily for political reasons. In fact, terrorism has been considered uniquely political in nature

·         The second element of terrorist action is that violence or the threat of violence is present: Terrorism is a form of psychological warfare that generate fear among people.

·         For political violence to be known as terrorism there must be an identifiable organization.

·         The terrorist actions are used to improve the power situation of the organization that is using this form of political violence.

A terrorist group commits acts of violence to -

·         Produce widespread fear

·         Obtain worldwide, national, or local recognition for their cause by attracting the attention of the media

·         Harass, weaken, or embarrass government security forces so that the government overreacts and appears repressive

·         Steal or extort money and equipment, especially weapons and ammunition vital to the operation of their group

·         Destroy facilities or disrupt lines of communication in order to create doubt that the government can provide for and protect its citizens

·         Discourage foreign investments, tourism, or assistance programs that can affect the target country’s economy and support of the government in power

·         Influence government decisions, legislation, or other critical decisions

·         Free prisoners

·         Satisfy vengeance (revenge)

The most common types of terrorist incidents include-

·         Bombings, Kidnappings and Hostage-Takings, Armed Attacks and Assassinations, Arsons and Fire bombings, Hijackings and Skyjackings.

·         In addition to these acts of violence terrorist groups conduct maiming (damage) against their own people as a form of punishment for security violations, defections, or informing.

·         Terrorist organizations also conduct robberies and extortion when they need to finance their acts and they don’t have sponsorship from sympathetic nations.

·         Cyber terrorism is a new form of terrorism that is ever increasing. Cyber terrorism allows terrorists to conduct low risk operations. It also provides terrorists an opportunity to disrupt or destroy networks and computers. The result is interruption of key government or business-related activities. 

Historically, terrorist attacks using nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) weapons have been rare. Due the extremely high number of casualties that NBC weapons produce, they are also referred to as weapons of mass destruction (WMD). In the future terrorists will have greater access to WMD because unstable nations or states may fail to safeguard their stockpiles of WMD from accidental losses, illicit sales, or outright theft or seizure; or through covert independent research efforts or by hiring technically skilled professionals to construct the WMD.

Forms of Terrorism:

Nation-states often resort to violence to influence segments of their population, or rely on coercive use of state institutions. Some critique equates any use of government power or authority versus any part of the population as terrorism.

Sometimes national governments get involved in terrorism, or utilize terror to accomplish the objectives of governments or individual rulers. Most often, terrorism is equated with "non-state actors", or groups that are not responsible to a sovereign government. However, internal security forces can use terror to aid in repressing dissent, and intelligence or military organizations perform acts of terror designed to further a state's policy or diplomatic efforts abroad. Such act on the part of the State Governments can be labeled as state-sponsored terrorism.

The definition of state-sponsored terrorism is controversial.

According to the United States Code:

1) The term "international terrorism" means terrorism involving citizens or the territory of more than one country;

(2) The term "terrorism" means premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against non-combatant targets by sub national groups or clandestine agents; and

(3) The term "terrorist group" means any group practicing, or which has significant subgroups which practice, international terrorism.

In connection to above mentioned definitions the United States Country Reports on Terrorism 2006 defines a state sponsor of terrorism as a state that "repeatedly provide[s] support for acts of international terrorism."

Forms of State Sponsored Terrorism

Three different ways that states can engage in the use of terror are:

a)      Governmental or "State" terror: Sometimes referred to as "terror from above", where a government terrorizes its own population to control or repress them. These actions usually constitute the acknowledged policy of the government, and make use of official institutions such as the judiciary, police, military, and other government agencies. Changes to legal codes permit or encourage torture, killing, or property destruction in pursuit of government policy. E.g. official Nazi policy, Stalin's "purges" of the 1930s, Saddam Hussein’s use of chemical weapons on his own Kurdish population. The methods he used included such actions as rigged show trials of opponents, punishing family or friends of suspected enemies of the regime, and extra-legal use of police or military force against the population.

b)      State involvement in terror: These are activities where government personnel carry out operations using terror tactics. These activities may be directed against other nations' interests, its own population, or private groups or individuals viewed as dangerous to the state. In many cases, these activities are terrorism under official sanction, although such authorization is rarely acknowledged openly. Historical examples include the Soviet and Iranian assassination campaigns against dissidents who had fled abroad, and Libyan and North Korean intelligence operatives downing airliners on international flights.

Another type of these activities is "death squads" or "war veterans": unofficial actions taken by officials or functionaries of a regime (such as members of police or intelligence organizations) against their own population to repress or intimidate. While these officials will not claim such activities, and disguise their participation, it is often made clear that they are acting for the state. Keeping such activities "unofficial" permits the authorities deniability and avoids the necessity of changing legal and judicial processes to justify oppression. This is different than "pro-state" terror, which is conducted by groups or persons with no official standing and without official encouragement. While pro-state terror may result in positive outcomes for the authorities, their employment of criminal methods and lack of official standing can result in disavowal and punishment of the terrorists, depending on the morality of the regime in question.

c)      State sponsorship of terrorism: Also known as "state supported" terrorism, when governments provide supplies, training, and other forms of support to non-state terrorist organizations. One of the most valuable types of this support is the provision of safe haven or physical basing for the terrorists' organization. Another crucial service a state sponsor can provide is false documentation, not only for personal identification (passports, internal identification documents), but also for financial transactions and weapons purchases. Other means of support are access to training facilities and expertise not readily available to groups without extensive resources. Finally, the extension of diplomatic protections and services, such as immunity from extradition, diplomatic passports, use of embassies and other protected grounds, and diplomatic pouches to transport weapons or explosives have been significant to some groups.

An example of state sponsorship is the Syrian government's support of Hamas and Hizballah in Lebanon. Syrian resources and protection enable the huge training establishments in the Bek'aa Valley. On a smaller, more discreet scale, the East German Stasi provided support and safe-haven to members of the Red Army Faction (RAF or Baader Meinhof Gang) and neo-fascist groups that operated in West Germany. Wanted members of the RAF were found resident in East Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

Causes of Terrorism:

Terrorism has become a global phenomenon with increasing and rather well identifiable links between different terrorist groups and organizations.

They use-

·         each other's areas for recruitment and training,

·         exchange of illegal weapons,

·         engage in joint planning and ventures and

·         also provide administrative and other logistic support.

This type of terrorist activities show a new dimension due to circumstances characterized by the advancement of science, technology and diverse social, economic, political and historical reasons conditioning it.

The development of computer science, satellite and mobile links have also affected the modernization of terrorist activities. This further facilitated by support of states/ governments unfavorable to each other.

An element of international terrorism comes into the picture when specific persons of the nation are designed as targets by the members of another group outside that nation. It is, therefore, described as warfare without territory. It is warfare without neutrals and with few or no by standards.

There cannot be any single cause of terrorism. Causes of terrorism may range from socio-economic and political conditions to theories based on the personality and environment of the terrorist. Terrorism is motivated by a variety of inner drives ranging from financial gains to revenge, from fundamentalism to deprivation, political frustration, regional disparities, marginalization of sub-national groups, extremism, despair, injustice, discrimination, resentment against the existing regime, feeling of insignificance, intervention into personal freedom, weak government, separatism and oppression, inequality etc.

Political Injustice & Faith in Violence:

All terrorist acts are motivated by two things:

• Social and political injustice: People choose terrorism when they are trying to right what they perceive to be a social or political or historical wrong—when they have been stripped of their land or rights, or denied these.
• The belief that violence or its threat will be effective, and usher in change. Another way of saying this is: the belief that violent means justify the ends. Many terrorists in history said sincerely that they chose violence after long deliberation, because they felt they had no choice.

This explanation of the causes of terrorism may be difficult to swallow. It sounds too simple, or too theoretical. However, if you look at any group that is widely understood as a terrorist group, you will find these two elements are basic to their story.

• Zionists who bombed British targets in 1930s mandate Palestine felt they must do so in order to create a Jewish state.
• The IRA (Irish Republican Army) bombed English targets in the 1980s to make the point that they felt their land was colonized by British imperialists.
• In the 1960s and 1970s, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine felt that armed attacks in Israel were a justifiable response to the usurpation of their land.
• Osama bin Laden's declaration of war on American interests in the 1990s stemmed from his belief that U.S. troops stationed in Saudi Arabia represented an abomination to the kind of Islamic state he believed should exist in the Arabian peninsula.
• Uighur separatists in China today feel that Chinese religious repression (the Uighur Chinese are Muslims) justifies their terrorist tactics.

People who choose terrorist tactics are also convinced that violence, or the threat of violence, is effective.

Terrorism occurs both in the context of violent resistance to the state as well as in the service of state interests. If we focus on terrorism directed against governments for purposes of political change, we are considering the premeditated (intentional) use or threat of symbolic, low-level violence by conspiratorial organizations. ‘Terrorist violence communicates a political message; its ends go beyond damaging an enemy's material resources.'

The study of terrorism can be organized around three questions: why terrorism occurs, how the process of terrorism works, and what its social and political effects are.

Terrorism as a form of political behavior results from the deliberate choice of a basically rational actor, the terrorist organization. A comprehensive explanation, however, must also take into account the environment in which terrorism occurs and address the question of whether broad political, social, and economic conditions make terrorism more likely in some contexts than in others. What sort of circumstances lead to the formation of a terrorist group?

Permissive or contextual causes

v  First, modernization produces an interrelated set of factors that is a significant permissive cause of terrorism, as increased complexity on all levels of society and economy creates opportunities and vulnerabilities.

Sophisticated networks of transportation and communication offer mobility and the means of publicity for terrorists.

·         Expansion of commercial air travel (gave terrorists unprecedented mobility)

·         Availability of televised news coverage (expanding audience)

The technological advances associated with globalization have improved the capabilities of terrorist groups to plan and conduct operations with far more devastations and coordination than their predecessors could have imagined. In particular, technologies improved the capability of groups and cells in the areas like: coordination, security, mobility and lethality.

The terrorists of Narodnaya Volya would have been unable to operate without Russia's newly established rail system, and the Popular Front for the Liberaton of Palestine could not indulge in hijacking without the jet aircraft. Today we fear that terrorists will exploit the potential of nuclear power, but it was in 1867 that Nobel's invention of dynamite made bombings a convenient terrorist tactic.

v  Social "facilitation," which Gum found to be extremely powerful in bringing about civil strife in general, is also an important permissive factor. This concept refers to social habits and historical traditions that sanction the use of violence against the government, making it morally and politically justifiable and even dictating an appropriate form, such as demonstrations, coups, or terrorism. Social myths, traditions, and habits permit the development of terrorism as an established political custom.

An excellent example of such a tradition is the case of Ireland, where the tradition of physical force dates from the eighteenth century, and the legend of Michael Collins in 1919-21 still inspires and partially excuses the much less discriminate and less effective terrorism of the contemporary Provisional IRA in Northern Ireland.

v  The most salient political factor in the category of permissive causes is a government's inability or unwillingness to prevent terrorism. The absence of adequate prevention by police and intelligence services permits the spread of conspiracy. Inefficiency or leniency can be found in a broad range. For many governments, however, the cost of disallowing terrorism is too high.

Direct Causes:

v  The first condition that can be considered a direct cause of terrorism is the existence of concrete grievances among an identifiable subgroup of a larger population, such as an ethnic minority discriminated against by the majority. A social movement develops in order to redress these grievances and to gain either equal rights or a separate state; terrorism is then the resort of an extremist faction of this broader movement.

In the colonial era, nationalist movements commonly turned to terrorism.

This is not to say, however, that the existence of a dissatisfied minority or majority is a necessary or a sufficient cause of terrorism. Not all those who are discriminated against turn to terrorism, nor does terrorism always reflect objective social or economic deprivation.

In West Germany, Japan, and Italy, for example, terrorism has been the chosen method of the privileged, not the downtrodden.

Some theoretical studies have suggested that the essential ingredient that must be added to real deprivation is the perception on the part of the deprived that this condition is not what they deserve or expect, in short, that discrimination is unjust.

An attitude study, for example, found that "the idea of justice or fairness may be more centrally related to attitudes toward violence than are feelings of deprivation. It is the perceived injustice underlying the deprivation that gives rise to anger or frustration." The intervening variables, as we have argued, lie in the terrorists' perceptions. Moreover, it seems likely that for terrorism to occur the government must be singled out to blame for popular suffering.

v  The second condition that creates motivations for terrorism is the lack of opportunity for political participation. Regimes that deny access to power and persecute dissenters create dissatisfaction. In this case, grievances are primarily political, without social or economic overtones. Discrimination is not directed against any ethnic, religious, or racial subgroup of the population. The terrorist organization is not necessarily part of a broader social movement; indeed, the population may be largely apathetic.

In situations where paths to the legal expression of opposition are blocked, but where the regime's repression is inefficient, revolutionary terrorism is doubly likely, as permissive and direct causes coincide. An example of this situation is tsarist Russia in the1870s.

v  Context is especially significant as a direct cause of terrorism when it affects elite, not the mass population: Terrorism is essentially the result of elite disaffection (estrangements); it represents the strategy of a minority, who may act on behalf of a wider popular constituency who have not been consulted about, and do not necessarily approve of, the terrorists' aims or methods.

            Many terrorists today are young, well-educated, and middle class in background. Such students or young professionals, with prior political experience, are disillusioned with the prospects of changing society and see little chance of access to the system despite their privileged status. Much terrorism has grown out of student unrest; this was the case in nineteenth century Russia as well as post-World War I1 West Germany, Italy, the United States, Japan, and Uruguay.

The observation that terrorism is a weapon of the weak is hackneyed but apt. At least when initially adopted, terrorism is the strategy of a minority that by its own judgment lacks other means. When the group perceives its options as limited, terrorism is attractive because it is a relatively inexpensive and simple alternative, and because its potential reward is high.

v  Dramatic failure of alternative means of obtaining one's ends may also fuel a drive toward terrorism.

The Arab defeat in the 1967 war with Israel led Palestinians to realize that they could no longer depend on the Arab states to further their goals. In retrospect, their extreme weakness and the historical tradition of violence in the Middle East made it likely that militant nationalists should turn to terrorism. Since international recognition of the Palestinian cause was a primary aim (given the influence of outside powers in the region) and since attacks on Israeli territory were difficult, terrorism developed into a transnational phenomenon.

Weakness and consequent restriction of choice can stem from different sources. On the one hand, weakness may result from the regime's suppression of opposition. Resistance organizations that lack the means of mounting more extensive violence may then turn to terrorism because legitimate expression of dissent is denied.

Lack of popular support at the outset of a conflict does not mean that the terrorists' aims lack general appeal. Even though they cannot immediately mobilize widespread and active support, over the course of the conflict they may acquire the allegiance of the population. For example, the Algerian FLN used terrorism as a significant means of mobilizing mass support.

On the other hand, it is wrong to assume that where there is terrorism there is oppression. Weakness may mean that an extremist organization deliberately rejects nonviolent methods of opposition open to them in a liberal state. Challengers then adopt terrorism because they are impatient with time consuming legal methods of eliciting support or advertising their cause, because they distrust the regime, or because they are not capable of, or interested in, mobilizing majority support.

Most terrorist groups operating in Western Europe and Japan in the past decade illustrate this phenomenon. The new millenarians lack a readily identifiable constituency and espouse causes devoid of mass appeal. Similarly, separatist movements represent at best only a minority of the total population of the state.

Thus, some groups are weak because weakness is imposed on them by the political system they operate in, others because of unpopularity.

v  Terrorism is an attractive strategy to groups of different ideological persuasions who challenge the state's authority. Groups who want to dramatize a cause, to demoralize the government, to gain popular support, to provoke regime violence, to inspire followers, or to dominate a wider resistance movement, who are weak vis-a-vis the regime, and who are impatient to act, often find terrorism a reasonable choice. This is especially so when conditions are favorable, providing opportunities and making terrorism a simple and rapid option, with immediate and visible payoff.

Terrorism: the impact of Globalization

Terrorism is not new phenomenon but what is new that it has become globalised one.

·         Cultural Explanations:

The social changes associated with globalization and spread of free market capitalism appears to overwhelm the identity or values of groups who perceive themselves as the losers in the new International system. In attempt to preserve their threatened identity and values, groups actively distinguish themselves from despised ‘others’. At the local level, this cultural friction may translate into conflicts divided along religious or ethical lines to safeguard identity.

            Where individuals perceive their own civilization to be weak, insecure or stagnant and interaction is high between weak and strong civilizations, conflict may be inevitable.

Western secular, materialistic values are increasingly rejected by those seeking to regain or preserve their own unique cultural identity.

·         Economic Explanations:

Not everyone agrees that defence of culture or identity is the primary motivation for globalised terrorist violence. Others see economic aspects as crucial motivating factor in the use of violence to effect political change. Although globalization provides access to a world market for goods and services, the net result has also been perceived as a form of Western economic imperialism.

The United States and the post-industrial states of Western Europe form the global North or economic ‘core’ which dominates international economic institutions such as the World Bank, sets exchange rates, and determine fiscal policies. The actions and policies can be unfavorable to the underdeveloped countries, or global south, that comprise the periphery or gap.  Political decisions by the leaders of underdeveloped countries to deregulate or privatize industries to be competitive globally may lead to significant social and economic upheaval. The citizenry may shift loyalties to illegal activities such as terrorism if the state breaks its social contract with them (Junaid  2005)

Terrorist violence is motivated by inequalities of the Global economy. Therefore terrorist attacks against the World Trade Centre in 1993 and 2001 were not reactions against the policies of the United States per se, but rather a blow against an icon of Global capitalism.

Rising standard of living and greater access to educational opportunities associated with globalization may lead to increased expectations. If those expectations are unrealized, individuals can turn to extreme political views and against ‘the system’ that denies them the opportunity to realize their ambitions.

A prominent study suggests that a sense of alienation and lack of opportunity among some Muslim males is a contributing factor for their decision to turn to violence globally (Sageman 2004: 95-6).

·         Religious and ‘new’ terrorism:

The use of violence for political purposes, to change state ideology or the representation of ethnic minority groups, had failed in its purpose and a new trend was emerging. Postmodern or new terrorism was conducted by different reasons altogether. Motivated by promises of rewards in the afterlife, some terrorists are driven by religious reasons to kill as many of the non-believers and unfaithful as possible.

New terrorism, which some authors use to explain the global jihad, is seen as a reaction to the perceived oppression of Muslims worldwide and the spiritual bankruptcy of the west.

Secular terrorism has had as its goal the pursuit of power in order to correct flaws within society but retain overarching system. Religious terrorists, in contrast, do not seek to modify but rather replace the normative structure of society.

The ultimate purpose for modern militant Islamic violence is applied in obtaining political power in order to conduct political, social, economic and religious reform according to Shariat law.

Effects

Terrorism activities threaten fundamental nations' law and order, human rights and it is the enemy of mankind.

Terrorism is as old as the civilization of mankind itself and has existed in all ages in some form or other which might be known anarchists, revolutionaries, fundamentalist or dissidents against the established authority or even ruling tyrants having no tolerance or dissent. However, terrorism was not as widespread phenomenon as it is today in contemporary political system of the world.

Terrorism produces harmful effects in several ways. The consequences of terrorism can be disastrous for all countries, both rich and poor, and their people.

·         The normal social life gets totally disturbed and a large number of innocent lives go in vein.

·         Fear and terror haunt everybody and the productivity of people is miserably stalled.

·         Everything may come to a halt and the dream of leading a life of happiness and peace is shattered.

·         Economic and social development of the society cease to uncertainly.

Almost all become paralyzed amid terrorist incidents.

Beaks down the social, economic, political & legal structures:

Terrorism breaks down the social, economic political and legal structures of the affected countries and the entire process of development stops.

Socio-cultural medley goes to rack and ruin, and the economy of the country suddenly becomes a shamble.

The rule of law and human rights crumble and people suffer terribly.

For developing countries, terrorism is fatal to their development planning because they can hardly withstand the violent assaults of terrorism; their longing for a better and brighter future goes up in smoke. Moreover, terrorism not only weakens the established political authority but also brings about political instability. In that situation the maintenance of the rule of law and human rights become almost impossible.

Threatens Civilization:

Terrorism idealizes violence, does away with morality, distorts politics, promotes totalitarianism, subverts progress, and destroys the apparatus of freedom in democratic societies. In fact, it destroys the will of a civilized society to defend itself. It appears that everything the mankind strives for collapses like a house of cards. As a matter of fact, terrorism is war against civilization.

·         Adverse impact on National Productivity:

Resources that could have been used to enhance the productive capacity of the country are and will be used for security.

·         Oil supply and Prices: affected after 9/11.

·         Industry and Geographic Effects:

-Impact on investment in industries

-airlines, tourism and insurance

·      Foreign Policy:

It is true the Foreign policy of different countries were changed due to International Terrorism. Countries that help to expand international terrorism are ignored by the UN member countries.

Today, terrorism poses a great threat not just to human life, human rights, dignity and democratic values but to very existence of a civilized life. If the present trend continues, human civilization itself will be a casualty. That is why Jerusalem Conference on International Terrorism held in 1979 declared that ‘terrorism is a serious and growing threat to the people of all states which live under the rule of law, that it is no longer a national problem, but a global one; that it cannot be constrained, and eliminated, except by concerted international action; and that the case for such action is overwhelming and urgent’. (Jonathan Institute, 1979)

Combating Terrorism:

Terrorism, in one form or another, has been around for a long time, and there is no realistic prospect of its becoming extinct in the foreseeable future. All of those concerned with the effective combat of terrorism must be prepared for the long haul. There is no simple solution to terrorism.

The answer seems to be intensifying law enforcement, more vigilance along borders, depriving the criminals of their profits, assisting poor countries with their efforts at strict law enforcement by way of providing training to their law enforcement officers, providing necessary technology, harmonizing laws, sharing information, concluding international agreements to facilitate co-operation and co-ordination in law enforcement and more importantly, political will and commitment.

Profits generated by organized crime far exceed those that legitimate business enterprises could make. The incentive for organized crime, whether local or transnational, is profit. If organized crime syndicates can be deprived of their profits, they will cease their activities – altogether. It will therefore be worthwhile to examine and explore the ways and means of depriving them of their profits. The most effective way to do this is confiscation of the proceeds of such illegal activity by judicial means or with sufficient safeguards, by administrative means.

A sine qua non in this direction is effective mutual legal assistance in the investigation and prosecution.

It has been found that certainty of detection and effective and expeditious disposal of cases is a deterrent to would be criminals. At present extradition procedures take a long time. Simplified extradition procedures will go a long way in expeditious disposal of cases.

·                     Need to respond individually and collectively to combat the phenomenon

·                     Passing Anti- terrorism laws

·                     Taking preventive security measures at airports

·                     Creating counter terrorism forces

·                     Development of a Global Counter-Terrorism Network (GCTN) of states to detect,  track and eliminate terrorist  threats, while non-military efforts to address the root causes of terrorism

·                     Cooperative international law enforcement efforts to arrests suspects and provide them with due process.

·                     Locating and isolating terrorists from their means and support

The most significant step in the direction of the prevention of transnational organized crime is the adoption of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. It has obligated states to act despite constraints of bank secrecy and also to extend co-operation in confiscating and seizing of assets obtained through corruption and transferred to different jurisdictions.
By the end of 72 hours 124 countries have signed the Convention. This is an indication of the enormity of the problem transnational crime poses to the world.

The following four protocols add muscle to the convention, namely,
Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, specially Women and Children,
Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants,
Protocol against trafficking in Firearms and
Protocol against Corruption

Combating terrorism at regional level is becoming effective and popular. The external support is often found in every operation of terrorist acts in any part of the world whether in the context of inter-connection between a group and its rival group, a group and its enemy state, or a state and its unfriendly state. It is here that regional cooperation can be an effective instrument for the suppression to terrorism.

In Europe, besides their individual national legal and institutional measures, a historic convention known as the “European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism, 1977” was signed and ratified. “South Asia Countries also recognized the importance of combating terrorism at regional level and consequently, signed a Convention titled the “Convention on Suppression of Terrorism, 1987” and ratified it.

The UN General Assembly also adopted the Convention against the Taking of Hostages in 1979 and the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel in 1994, and International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings in 1997.’

Despite all these Conventions adopted and ratified, declarations made, and resolutions passed against international terrorism within the UN system outside, terrorism has become a ubiquitous phenomenon in the contemporary international affairs, and continues to grow. Every state is supposed to refrain from organizing, instigating assisting or participating in acts of civil strife on terrorist acts in another state or involved in organized activities within its territory directed towards the commission of such acts as well as prosecuting and punishing the perpetrators of terrorist acts. A concerted action has to be initiated and sustained by all States whether they are affected or not in collaboration and co-operation with each other with strong determination and will to root out terrorism altogether from the world.

Of course, mutual agreement at the international, and regional levels have consolidated and strengthened co-operation between the countries in the fight against terrorism. Hard line policies against terrorism adopted by some countries have achieved success in this regard. But, it seems that combating of terrorist activities in a significant proportion will be possible only if terrorism is condemned and fought universally, unequivocally and effectively, by all the countries in the world.

Conclusion:-
            Terrorism has no respect for national boundaries, and the problem-taking place in any part of the world today will sure enough to become the problem of all tomorrow. Terrorism is a monster like Frankenstein’s creation that is too horrible and dangerous. It is even a threat to those countries that create or promote it. Therefore, terrorism is a phenomenon which must be condemned, fought, resisted, controlled and, eventually, eliminated at all levels-national, regional and international. Conditions necessary for wiping out terrorism must, accordingly, be cultivated and strengthened nationally, regionally and internationally, and unilaterally, bilaterally or multilaterally.

Terrorist acts confronted by a state cannot be eliminated by the affected States alone because of the international linkage of the terrorist groups. It is, therefore, clear that all the nations must form a common front to fight terrorism. If the much needed spirit of international cooperation in the required degree is not properly established, the world would become a dangerous place to live. It is for this reason that one nation’s peace and security will be determined by the success of all nations’ response to any kind of terrorism particularly for international terrorism.