India gets ASEAN to counter World Wide Web of Terror

The perils of radicalisation through cyber world came to light during the terror attack in the heart of Dhaka’s diplomatic enclave in July. India is getting together with ten member countries of ASEAN for the first time to hold a cyber dialogue to counter radicalisation.

Terrorist groups like the self-proclaimed Islamic State have become increasingly sophisticated at creating dense, global networks of support online, networks that are helping these groups run virtual circles around governments and communities. This was highlighted during the Dhaka terror attack where not only one Indian lost a life, another Indian - Islamic Evangelist Zakir Naik- had been instrumental in radicalisation of the young Bangladeshis, who belonged to the elite class of the country.

“We agreed to cooperate towards addressing traditional security challenges, including in areas of de-radicalisation, prevention of violent extremism and cyber crimes. ASEAN leaders looked forward to the convening of the first ASEAN-India dialogue,” sources said. The dialogue will take place in late 2016 in New Delhi. Zakir Naik’s sermons promoting fundamentalist strain of Islam are very popular in Malaysia and Indonesia. India has also launched a probe in the role of Zakir Naik and his organisation; and the probe is being watched closely by these countries.

The internet is playing an increasingly prominent role in radicalisation, extremism and terrorism.  Terrorists use websites as sources of ideological inspiration, to contact each other and for practical purposes, such as finding manuals on how to make explosives. The Islamic State has proven relentless in its violent campaign to rule and has aggressively promoted its hateful message, attracting like-minded extremists.

India has been seeking a concerted effort to counter terrorism and radicalisation at all international platforms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was in Laos to attend the ASEAN summit, also tried to impress upon the member states on the threat posed by terrorism.

The countries have acknowledged terrorism as a significant threat to peace and stability in the region and have lent support to India’s efforts to have a universally accepted definition of Terrorism at the United Nations. “In addition, ASEAN and India support the early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) currently under negotiation at the UN,” sources said. India has revived its two decade old proposal of CCIT and will be pushing for its adoption at the UN General Assembly this month.

India is said to have completed a draft taking into account objections of the three main opposition blocs: the US, the Organisation of Islamic Countries and the Latin American countries. The original draft that was tabled in 1996 and discussed until April 2013 will give a universal definition of terrorism, will make it imperative for all 193-members of the UNGA to adopt it in their own criminal law, and clamp down on all terror groups camps without distinction between good and bad terrorists.