Globalization of terrorism

Columnist SOBIA NISAR sees the excalation of global terror.

The globalization of terrorism has been a much talked about subject after the September 11 attacks, and it is now coming to be realized that the international reach of terrorists is extending further and beyond the control of governments.
The deadly weapon of human bombs is becoming increasingly popular with the armed resistance movements among the Muslims to inflict damages on the opponents in various parts of the world. Although it is Israel where these killings have become almost a routine occurrence. Yet Pakistan too has experienced such attacks in recent days. While there are many among Muslims who sympathize with the suicide killers and their cause, there are others who reject these killings as acts of plain and simple terrorism. Both the groups - the sympathizers and the critics of suicide killings - have valid arguments in favour of their respective stands.
The supporters of suicide attacks argue that the perpetrators of these suicide killings do so as a matter of last resort. Quoting the case of Palestinians, they put forward the logic that the Palestinians have tried and tested all possible peaceful options with no avail.The indifferent attitude of the world's power blocks have now forced them to opt for these deadly tactics.
Whatever arguments one brings forward in support of suicidal killings, the fact remains that these acts cannot be condoned. No religion of the world allows the killings of innocent civilians.
The fact is that there has been a blurring of the international borders and in many respects it is difficult to draw the line between the internal and external. What might be internal today could become external tomorrow and vice versa. Classification can be a tricky business. A summit of the world's industrial powers took place on June 26, 2002 under cloudless Canadian skies but in the shadow of global conflict, with unrelenting security against possible terror attacks and pre-empting talks focused on a new initiative by US President George Bush for the Mideast conflict. The heads of the state of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and United States joined him. Thousands of Canadian police and soldiers surrounded Kananaskies, armed with laser guided anti-aircraft missiles, tanks, helicopters and automatic weapons to guard against any terrorist threat. An agenda was set up by Chretien focused on terrorism and the world economy.
In addition, Iran's national security chief Hassan Rowhani held talks on 24th June with the Indian leadership on Terrorism and India's tension with Pakistan possibly due to the fact that Iran cannot remain indifferent towards the tension between India and Pakistan because insecurity will effect border countries including the countries of the region as whole.
Islamabad has never regarded those who cross the Line of Control in Kashmir to fight the Indian forces not just in the Valley but also beyond as infiltrators, as external terrorists. In the post-September 11 era, the very same elements have been branded as terrorists, when they operate in Afghanistan. The doctrine is that barely a few months ago these very "terrorists" when they were operating just beyond the Durand Line were said to be waging jihad and constituted a pillar of Pakistan's security.
In the changed circumstances of today, all acts of violence and terror have an external dimension. This is clear if we recognize the fact that the premises which formed the basis of state structures yesterday, are fast disappearing. It is time we understand the new paradigms within which international relations need to be conducted and security and economic policies formulated. This is an age when the nation state is on the retreat, though this has not been admitted formally.

The corporations whether be they arms manufacturers, media conglomerates or pharmaceutical companies, have emerged as the driving force behind the world economy. Against this backdrop, technology determines the pace of progress as well as the role of each member of the world community. It also determines the pace and intensity of communications between the governments and also between governments and people.
Globalization has given rise to a new phenomenon, namely, the statification of societies horizontally. With the concentration of wealth in every state, the division between the classes has grown. These classes straddle international borders and share common interests, irrespective of which countries they belong to. Even if this convergence of interests might not be articulated or defined very clearly, its presence is acknowledged and it determines relations between people at the transnational level and it is facilitated by the increased mobility of the people.
Another factor that has led to the diminishing of the states control over their future is the extensive migration which is taking place and the resultant presence of large foreign communities in every state. These immigrants have independent communication and financial links with their compatriots living in other states and they use these connections quite independently of state control.
The globalization of terrorism is not simply the existence of terrorist networks, which reach out to all parts of the world. Given the changes that have taken place in the pattern of interstate relations and in the power structures within states that have weakened their sovereignty and control over their own affairs, terrorists have almost come to enjoy an invincibility previously unthinkable.
The normal policy methods are now proving to be ineffective in a situation like this.The transnational terrorists organizations enjoy some inherent advantages. Since they are not bound territorially, they do not have rigid or hierarchical structures, and are not required to conform to the norms of transparency, the agents of terror appear to be winning the war that is being waged against them.
This appears to be true in Pakistan, where new and sophisticated security measures have not prevented the infiltration of terrorists, and therefore, the incidents of violence are going up.
To check the international terrorism is really important. If the world community's success in curbing hijacking is taken as a pointer, it is important that the states that are affected by terrorism should cooperate to eliminate this evil. Here a word of warning would be in order. International cooperation must not be allowed to militate against the interests of smaller states. If a big power unilaterally sets the agenda and formulates the strategy, it could actually hurt its smaller partner.
This is happening in Pakistan and Afghanistan where the US is calling the shots. This approach, could backfire by making the junior partners even more vulnerable to the ire of terrorists than before. The need of the hour is to draw up international conventions to lay down the framework of action as was done to check the spate of hijackings in the sixties and seventies. This would also have to address the issue of state terrorism. When governments become a party to, or the perpetrators of acts of violence against innocent civilians, they generate anger and hatred, which can drive some people to a state of utter desperation.
Hence, international cooperation to draw up strategies to fight terrorism must also take notice of such culprits, be they state governments as in Israel or local administrations as in Gujarat (India).
The world is being polarized between the irrational, extremist, fanatical and militant elements who are willing to resort to terrorism, and those who are tolerant, peaceloving and sensible. Paradoxical it may seem, the fact is that this division has thrown the Islamic militants, the protagonists of the Hindutva and the Zionists in Israel and America in the same camp. They may not be cooperating consciously among themselves but they are promoting each other's goals by attempting to destroy their common foes - the rationalists. They are also more determined and better organized.
It is a pity that the voice of the peace activists is muted. They have not even attempted to organise themselves and form a network with the likeminded people on the other side of the border. How many of them have tried to establish links with the forces of peace, say in Israel, India, etc? There are more Indians condemning the Gujarat massacres than the critics outside. Strong voices opposing Sharon's terrorism are being raised in Israel. But do we know of them? Governments which are genuinely committed to peace should be supporting these forces of sanity and peace.
Today, Palestinians are waging a kind of Jihad against the Zionist forces. They do so in retaliation of acts of violence and terrorism inflicted upon them by the Jewish Government. Quoting the helplessness of the Palestinians that spreads over half of the century, the Palestinians have no other options available to them but to struggle in order to survive and defend themselves. Same is the case with poor Kashmiri Muslims. Although they are regarded as terrorists by the Indian brutal forces, but there is no other choice left for them as in retaliation to the acts of violence, brutalities and terrorism inflicted upon the innocent Kashmiris they have to wage a jihad against the cruel Indian forces.
Today, the followers of our religion are seen with abhorrence in the western world. It is now misunderstood to such an extent that in the western world the words Islam, terrorism, extremism and fundamentalism are all considered synonymous. Well, one admits that US policies are biased against the Muslims and that September 11 attacks rocked whole of America but what happened in the end? United States absorbed the shock because of its might but the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan crumbled in the wake of events that followed those attacks. The US fought the war of terrorism with terrorism killing thousands of innocent Muslims that had nothing to do with September 11 US attacks.
Terrorism in the shape of suicidal killings is getting more and more common these days. The suicide killers not only lose their lives but bring agony and pain for those living behind them. For every Israeli killed in suicidal attack many Palestinians have to lose their lives in the brutal revengeful acts of Israeli forces. In this age of globalization, images of death and destruction caused by terrorism and suicidal killings are relayed to the whole world instantly tarnishing the image of Islam and its followers in the minds of those who are still haunted by the memories of September 11 attacks and mainly hold the Muslims responsible for those attacks.
Innocent civilians no matter to which nationality or religion they belong must not be targeted in the name of Islam and Muslim Ummah. The western world, whose apathy is largely to be blamed for these acts, must realise its responsibility.The Kashmir issue, the Palestine issue and other Muslim-related issues must be quickly resolved by the World Community. None should be pushed to such a limit where rational thinking stops and only blind revenge expresses itself as a suicide attack.