India made significant efforts to tame terror outfits: US report

The Indian government has made significant efforts to detect, disrupt and degrade the operations of terrorist organisations, the US Bureau of Counter-terrorism has said in a report. Terrorist tactics showed a shift toward attacks on civilians and greater reliance on IEDs, including an explosives attack using drones on an air force base, according to its 'Country Reports on Terrorism 2021: India'.

Terror incidents in 2021

In 2021, there were 153 terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir alone, causing 274 deaths that included 45 security personnel, 36 civilians and 193 terrorists. Other notable attacks included an attack on November 1 in Manipur, in which the People's Liberation Army of Manipur and Naga People's Front killed seven persons in an ambush, including an Army officer and his wife and minor son.

There were no changes in terrorism-related legislation in 2021 and expanded the number of State-level Multi-Agency Centres to strengthen sharing of intelligence among State and federal agencies, it noted.

"India implements UNSCR 2396 by using watchlists, implementing biographic and biometric screening at ports of entry, and prioritizing information sharing. Pursuant to a bilateral arrangement, the US and Indian governments have committed to collaborating on improving border security and information-sharing capabilities. The US government is still to take a decision on an offer from the Government of India to collaborate on watchlisting assistance, the report read.

India promptly responds to US' requests

The report claims that India responds promptly to US' requests for information related to terrorism investigations and makes efforts to mitigate threats in response to US information. Collaborative efforts to disrupt terrorist travel continue, and alerts are issued to US authorities for possible threats in the US and against US interests.

India shares counter-terrorism information with Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka. India's defense relationships with Canada, France, the United Kingdom and Russia extend to counter-terrorism issues. India's military exercises with most countries, especially with neighbours such as Nepal, incorporate counter-terrorism elements. In November, as part of the Quad with the US, Australia and Japan, India hosted a Counter-terrorism Tabletop Exercise that addressed international counter-terrorism responses.

"Indian law enforcement, including border security forces, face budgetary, staffing and equipment constraints. Capacity to patrol and secure extensive maritime and land borders is improving but not adequate, given India's extensive coastline," the report stated.

How India is countering terrorism?

India did not adopt any new strategies or programs for countering terrorist radicalization and recruitment. The Ministry of Home Affairs is the lead agency for CVE. There is no national CVE policy or national CVE coordinator. State governments have the lead on CVE and deradicalization strategies. Media reports and security experts claim donations from private groups in western countries and the Middle East earmarked for religious institutions, social organizations, and schools in India contribute to radicalization to violence.

India collaborates with the United States on implementing UNSCR 2309 and is implementing dual screen X-raying for cargo screening at airport locations.

India is a member of FATF, the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering, and the Eurasian Group. India's Financial Intelligence Unit-India is part of the Egmont Group. The NIA investigated nine cases of possible terror funding, according to the US report. The Indian Army runs schools, training courses, recruitment drives, medical camps, and emergency services in Jammu and Kashmir to prevent "radicalization".

As per the report, in 2021, terrorism affected the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the northeastern States and parts of central India. Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujahideen, ISIS, al-Qaida, Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh are the major terrorist groups active in India.