Counter Terrorism
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  • About Centre

    Counter Terrorism

    As the origins, scope and impact of terrorism and violent extremism extend beyond conventional security and military paradigms — covering religious, political, socio-economic, demographic and at times historical vectors— the onus for developing effective and comprehensive counter-terrorism and counter-radicalization campaigns falls within the purview of eminent research institutes like the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA).

    It is for this reason that the MP-IDSA has established the Counter Terrorism Centre, which will look into various aspects of terrorism as well as ways of developing effective counter-terrorism strategies and campaigns. In addition to studying the complexities involved in the process of terrorism, the centre would seek to develop counter radicalisation and counter terror financing strategies and programmes.

    The Purpose

    The purpose of MP-IDSA’s Counter Terrorism Centre is four-fold:

    1. Collect, collate and build database of terrorism-related activities and incidents, covering radicalization, terror financing and cyber-terrorism domains for empirical analyses and research at the provincial, national and international levels.
    2. Devise, develop and test counter-terrorism measures, programmes and policy initiatives, covering counter-radicalization, terror financing and cyber-terrorism campaigns at the provincial, national and international levels
    3. Build synergies by developing networks with relevant provincial, national and international experts, officials, institutions, forces, initiatives and campaigns involved in activities related to counter-terrorism.
    4. Teach, disseminate and build general awareness of security forces, national and international institutions, academic centers and the general population over issues related to terrorism and counterterrorism measures and operations.

    The Mission

    To be the premier counter-terrorism center of the country in terms of research and analyses, for developing policy studies and campaigns through enhanced connectivity and network with relevant institutions, forces, experts and officials at the regional, national and international levels. 

    Terror Tracker New Digest

    Terror Tracker is a newsletter that zeroes in on recent terrorism-related activities and issues unfolding around the world. It even tracks and analyzes various counter-terrorism measures and campaigns at the international level. With particular focus on the South Asian region, the newsletter seeks to inform and update policy makers, security forces as well as the general public about the changing contours of the highly elusive, yet ever lurking global threat.

    Members

    Political Islam: Parallel Currents in West Asia and South Asia

    • Publisher: Pentagon Press
      2023
    This book deals with the history of Muslim political thought from the time of the Prophet to early 21" century in `West Asia` (an Indian alternative to the `colonial` term Middle East) and South Asia. Although Islam does not present nor recommend any political philosophy or state-like system per se, Muslim scholars and theologians have over the centuries recommended ways for establishing an ideal Islamic polity based on Quranic inferences, precedents of the Prophet and some early Caliphs. Although Political Islam strictly refers to only a century-old religious-political revivalist movement, this book covers historical concepts and developments that serve as political antecedents for contemporary Political Islam in the two regions.
    • ISBN: 9788195189458 ,
    • Price: ₹ 1995/-
    • E-copy available
    2023

    Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan: Origin, Evolution and Future Portents

    • Publisher: KW Publishers
      2021
    This volume is a result of an abiding interest in the phenomenon of radical Islamist terror that haunts Pakistan today. The research questions that it seeks to answer are: Why do the tribal areas remain a problem for rulers and administrators throughout history? How and why did radical Islam embed itself in the terrain?

    Was it influenced by the overall emphasis on Islam in Pakistani state politics? What is the role of history and politics in fuelling religious passions in the area? What has led to the survival of TTP despite humongous efforts of the Pakistan Army to decimate it? What are the future portents of such a movement? What impact is it likely to have on Pakistani society and politics?

    The volume makes an attempt to understand the context in which Pakistani Taliban or TTP, as it is called now, came into being, the enabling factors that made the growth of TTP possible, the formation and growth of TTP as a militant organisation, its leadership and its activities over the years, its ideological orientation and its worldview, its aims and objectives, its relationship with other militant groups in and outside Pakistan and the efforts of the Pakistani establishment to come to terms with such a phenomenon. There is an attempt to analyse the process and study its implications for Pakistan and the region.

    • ISBN: 978-93-91490-02-7 ,
    • Price: ₹. 880/-
    • E-copy available
    2021

    Countering The Radical Narrative

    • Publisher: KW Publishers
      2020
    Terrorist groups are driven by extremist political ideologies or distorted religious discourses, which they then propagate through traditional and modern means of communication to wean more recruits to their diabolic designs.

    The indoctrination of these extremist ideologies lead to transformation of law-abiding citizens into violent extremists, a process known as radicalisation. This book proposes ways and techniques for reversing this process of radicalisation by taking the fight to the terrorists in the ideological domain. It proposes ways for developing and launching counter-narrative campaigns against radicalisation in order to drain the ideological swamp from which terrorist organisations continue to rear their ugly heads. This book specifically provides conceptual insights into developing counter-narratives against jihadist organisations, like Al Qaeda, ISIS and Pakistan-based terror groups.

    • ISBN: 978-938-913-771-2 ,
    • Price: ₹.1088/-
    • E-copy available Soon
    2020

    Iran’s Strategic Behaviour Against ISIS: Religio-Cultural Context of Shrines and Martyrdom

    The killing of Qassem Soleimani in 2020 again brought the religio-cultural significance of ‘martyrdom’ into limelight in Iran. He got recognized as the ‘Defender-Martyr of Holy Shrine’ given his role against ISIS in protecting the Shi’i holy shrines. This article analyses the relationship between ‘shrines and ‘martyrdom’ in Iran’s strategy against ISIS.

    January-February 2023

    Influence of Vedanta on Indian Strategic Culture

    While discussing the roots of strategic culture of any country, it is important to understand its core belief systems, enshrined in its spiritual, philosophical, political and military treatises that may have played a fundamental role in shaping its collective psyche and by extension, its patterns of perception and behaviour.

    July-September 2021

    Countering Islamic State Ideology: Voices of Singapore Scholars edited by Muhammad Haniff Hassan and Rohan Gunaratna, with a Foreword by Karen Armstrong

    People often complain that Islamic scholars do little more than condemn the inhuman acts of so-called jihadist groups and fall short of delivering strong, incontrovertible rebuttals against the vicious narratives of terrorist groups, like Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS). It has also been stated that the ever-rearing Hydra-like heads of terrorism will have to be endlessly severed until genuine Islamic scholarship drains the very swamp of irreligious radicalism from which the monstrosity continually raises new and ugly distortions.

    April-June 2021

    Jihadist Radicalisation in India: Internal Challenges, External Threats

    The Indian strategic community has for long debated aspects of jihadist radicalisation in the country—particularly over its origins, causes, extent, trajectory and possible counter-measures. This article posits that in the absence of clear perspectives, the incipient threat of jihadist radicalisation has the potential to metastasise and snowball quickly, as has been witnessed in other parts of the world in recent times.

    April-June 2018

    Countering the Threat of Radicalisation: Theories, Programmes and Challenges

    In recent years, rising instances of home-grown terrorism, lone-wolf operations and growing polarisation within societies have upstaged the global military struggle against major transnational terrorist organisations. As the dissemination of radical ideas and related violence increases, over 40 governments around the world have decided to develop their own counter-radicalisation and de-radicalisation programmes, in keeping with their socio-political and cultural particularities.

    April 2016

    Publications Counter Terrorism

    The ETIM Question: Taliban’s Moment of Truth

    The coming of Taliban to power in Afghanistan could upset the geopolitical applecart in Central Asia and adjoining regions. The growing association of radical Uyghur groups like the ETIM, with IS-K and the spread of jihadist operations in Central Asia could have significant implications for regional and international powers, particularly for China and its ambitious plans for Silk Road imperialism.

    November 29, 2021

    Malhama Tactical: Now Jihadists for Hire

    A conglomerate of elite jihadists called Malhama Tactical, a commercial enterprise driven by a for-profit agenda and not constrained by a specific ideology and defined enemies, has emerged as a serious threat as it can potentially connect and facilitate terrorist organisations worldwide.

    October 14, 2021

    Is the Threat of Islamic State Khorasan a Red Herring?

    The rising threat of Islamic State Khorasan (ISK) since the Taliban’s capture of Afghanistan could be a red herring as it seems to be overplayed by Pakistan to mainstream and help the Taliban regime.

    October 01, 2021

    Trial of the 2015 Attacks: France's Pre-emptive Counter Terrorism

    The 2015 terrorist attacks in France have seriously tested the nation’s faith in liberal and secular values as well as its tolerance for Political Islam. Taking a hands-on approach to combat terrorism, France has initiated what is being described as the “biggest trial” in its modern history.

    September 22, 2021

    Boko Haram and Female Suicide Bombers

    The reported death of Abu Bakr Shekau may herald the imminent end of Boko Haram, but the impact of its heinous atrocities, particularly its use of female suicide bombers, has set a dangerous precedent for other terrorist groups to adopt.

    September 06, 2021

    The Storming of Capitol Hill: Implications for US Polity

    The January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol by White Supremacists and members of far-right militias brought to stark attention the political divisiveness in the United States.

    March 25, 2021

    Jihadist Radicalisation in Tamil Nadu

    Greater attention needs to be focused on effectively countering threats of radicalisation affecting India from Southeast Asia.

    March 01, 2021

    Erdogan’s New Foreign Policy Volte Face

    It remains to be seen to what extent Turkish President Recep Tayyeb Erdogan’s recent efforts to mend broken regional ties and address concerns over domestic policies will succeed.

    December 23, 2020

    France Counters Islamist Radicalisation

    In the aftermath of Samuel Paty’s beheading, France is taking measures that seek to reverse the processes through which individuals become ‘terrorists’. If successful, other countries could emulate such policy interventions in their own counter-radicalisation efforts.

    December 04, 2020

    FATF: In Need of Darker Shades of Grey

    The three list categorisation of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)—white, grey, and black—has been largely ineffective when dealing with jurisdictions like Pakistan. There need to be more gradations between the grey and blacklists as it may increase policy options and leverage.

    October 12, 2020

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