It is unfair and inaccurate, however, to point the finger just at South-West Asia that it descends into terror's vortex whereas terrorism has indeed become a global menace, and today no nation or region or community is totally immune from terrorist violence or from its effects.
But, as in recent times, nearly 70 per cent of terrorist attacks took place in Asia, mostly in South-West Asia; we probably can't oppose Admiral Mike Mullen's recent comment that there is growing realisation that South Asia has become the crucible of terrorism. Defending President Barack Obama's decision to send 30,000 more combat troops to that war-torn South-West Asian nation, Adm. Mullen said that cost of failure in Afghanistan would be grave and would escalate militancy in the whole South-West Asia region. "It is the location from which the 9/11 attacks on America were planned and driven," he added.
The great landmass of South-West Asia once was the home of one of the world's oldest and most influential civilisations. It was really well-developed in comparison with other civilisations in the world. At the same time there was hardly any crime and people were rich and their lives were full of joy and happiness. But the euphoria started dissipating when the region experienced a long history of conflict, war and terrorism due to political instability, rampant corruption, and civil conflict.
Including Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, the South-West Asia is one of the world's most populous regions, where multiple forms of conflict and violence traverse territorial frontiers, linking domestic politics with foreign policy and complicating the search for peace and security in south-west Asia and beyond. The region encompasses deeply contested territories, histories and ideologies; rapid economic growth and profound poverty; democratic polities and authoritarian regimes; an aspiring great power and failing states.
Now terrorism is a top issue in this region. It has seen an escalating pace and scale in terrorism over the past few years. The security and stability of South-West Asia affect the continent as a whole, and even the rest of the world. Already terrorism plagued, South-West Asia experienced more tragedy in 2008 as terrorists expanded their operations and networks across the region and beyond. Hundreds of terrorist attacks were conducted throughout South-West Asia in 2008, but the year was accentuated by several high-profiles and immensely destructive acts of terrorism, including the July 7 bombing of the Indian embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, the November 26 attacks in Mumbai, India and the September 20 bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Pakistan is continuing to suffer from rising militancy and extremism. International terrorist organisations, including al-Qa'ida (AQ) and its supporters, are continued to operate and carry out attacks in Pakistan. In addition, violence stemming from Sunni-Shia sectarian strife, ethnic tensions, and militant sub-nationalists also claim civilian lives very often. And in latest, on 4 December, 40 persons, including 17 children besides serving and retired Army officers and personnel, were killed and over 86 others injured, when a Friday congregation at the Parade Lanes mosque in Rawalpindi was attacked by a group of terrorists.
India is ranked among the world's most terrorism-afflicted countries. As of 2006, at least 232 of the country's 608 districts were afflicted, at differing intensities, by various insurgent and terrorist movements. In August 2008, National Security Advisor M K Narayanan said that there are as many as 800 terrorist cells operating in the country. Including 2008 Mumbai attacks, terrorist attacks claimed more than 700 civilian lives and thousands of injuries since March 12, 1993 when a series of 13 bomb explosions that took place in Bombay, Maharashtra and killed 257 lives.
Leading up to the national elections on December 29, 2008, Bangladesh's caretaker government attempted a crackdown on those accused of terrorism and criminality. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stated that her government would not hesitate to take stringent measures to curb militancy in the country in her question-answer session in the ninth Parliament on January 28. 2009. But Jamaatul Mujahedin Bangladesh (JMB), the banned domestic Islamic extremist group responsible for a wave of bombings and suicide attacks in late 2005, still remained a threat despite their proscription and the arrest of a number of their cadres.
In its effort to combat terrorism, the Bangladesh government on October 22, 2009, banned the Hizb-ut-Tahrir in the interest of public security. Despite the government's counter-terrorism efforts there is evidence that international Islamist organisations are regrouping across the country.
The Sri Lankan government's offensive against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), killed more than 7,000 people and displaced many thousands more. In 2008, there were at least 70 attacks attributed to the LTTE while Nepal experienced no significant acts of international terrorism in recent times. In the wake of the Mumbai terrorist attacks, India's parliament introduced bills to restructure its counterterrorism laws and proposed a new agency, the National Investigative Agency, to create national-level capability to investigate and potentially prosecute acts of terrorism. On April 20, 2009, the Bangladesh government formed a 17-member 'National Committee on Militancy Resistance and Prevention' to tackle militancy in the country and mobilise public opinion against extremist activities. And both countries announced the finalisation of three pacts, including one on jointly combating terrorism on December 2, 2009. But SAARC that could be more effective for its geopolitical relationship with surrounding countries and emerge as regional strength can act as one to combat terrorism.
South Asia, which had experienced very low levels of organized terrorism until the early 1980s, has undergone a dramatic transformation to become the scene of the bloodiest terrorist violence in the world. South Asia is a region where terrorists are displaying increasing sophistication in their strikes, not only in weaponry but also in ways of carrying out attacks. Combating terrorism has now become the biggest political challenge to the national leadership in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, or other South-West Asian countries.
(The writer is a freelancer based in New York)