Daily Editorial Analysis for 9th November 2022

United Nations Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee (UNSC-CTC)

GS Paper: 2 and 3- Issues related to security, terrorism and International organizations

Important for

Prelims exam: UN Security Council

Mains exam: Terrorism poses a serious threat to national security

Context

A recent special meeting of the UN Security Council’s Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC) was held in India to explore the use of drones in modern terrorism and the financing of terrorism through cryptocurrency.

• Since the UNSC-CTC was founded in 2001, this will be the first meeting of its kind to take place in India. The Chair of the CTC for 2022 is Ruchira Kamboj, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
• Theme: Preventing the use of new and developing technologies by terrorists.

About UNSC-CTC

• In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US, Security Council Resolution 1373, which was unanimously approved on September 28, 2001, formed it.
• All 15 members of the Security Council are represented on the Committee.
• China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States are among the five permanent members, and the General Assembly elects 10 non-permanent members to two-year terms.
• The Committee was tasked with overseeing the implementation of resolution 1373, which demanded that nations take a variety of steps to strengthen their institutional and legal capacity to combat terrorism both domestically and abroad.
• This entails taking action to make it illegal to fund terrorism, freezing any funds connected to individuals involved in terrorist acts, rejecting all forms of financial support for terrorist organisations, suppressing the provision of a safe haven, food, or support for terrorists, and sharing information with other governments about any organisations committing or planning terrorist acts.

Highlights of the meeting

India provided the CTC with five points for evaluation.

• A concerted effort to stop the financing of terrorism.
• Coordinating the UN’s normative efforts with other bodies like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
• Make sure that political factors do not render the Security Council’s sanctions regime ineffective.
• Critical requirements include international collaboration and concerted efforts to combat terrorists and their financiers, including the destruction of terrorist safe havens.
• Recognize these connections and step up international efforts to break the link between transnational organised crime, such as the trafficking of weaponry and illicit drugs, and terrorism.

Challenges

• The use of new technology to propagate terror is a subject that worries people all over the world more and more.
• The principal conspirators and organisers of the 26/11 assaults continue to enjoy protection and immunity from prosecution, despite the fact that one terrorist from the attack was apprehended alive and found guilty by the Indian Supreme Court.
• The Security Council’s ability to act is sometimes weakened as a result of China repeatedly delaying UNSC sanctions on terrorists operating out of Pakistan.
• Terrorist organisations have diversified their sources of finance over time. In order to raise money and manage finances, they have also started to take use of the anonymity offered by new and emerging technologies like virtual currencies.
• In June 2018, Pakistan was included to the FATF’s ‘grey list’ due to its insufficient anti-money laundering and anti-terror financing policies. At the plenary in October 2022, Pakistan was expelled from the FATF after more than four years.
• Pakistan was delisted from last year’s list during a time when terrorism strikes in Kashmir were on the rise.

What is Terrorism? Any individual who commits a crime with the intent of intimidating a population or compelling a government or international organisation to take a certain action or refrain from taking a certain action which causes: Death or serious bodily harm to any person; Serious damage to public or private property, including a place of public use, a State or government facility, a public transportation system, an infrastructure facility, or the environment; or A large economic loss has occurred or is projected to occur as a result of damage to property, locations, facilities, or systems. Initiatives to combat terrorism Several actions were taken to streamline the security setup after the terror assault. The Navy, Coast Guard, and marine police are in charge of ensuring coastal security, which was given first priority. The National Investigation Organization, a specialised agency created to address terrorist offences, began operating in January 2009. A suitable database of security-related data has been established by the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID). To ensure quick response to terrorist assaults, the National Security Guard has established four new operating centres. The activities of the Multi-Agency Centre, which reports to the Intelligence Bureau, have been increased and enhanced. A Joint Operations Center was established by the Navy to monitor India’s extensive coastline. Global efforts A comprehensive UN strategy to prevent and combat terrorism and violent extremism is led and coordinated by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT). Under UNOCT, the UN Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) encourages global collaboration in the fight against terrorism and assists the Member States in putting the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy into practise. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) Terrorism Prevention Branch (TPB) is a key player in global efforts. It strives to support the Member States in their efforts to ratify, enact, and put into effect the global legal framework against terrorism. International standards are established by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global organisation that monitors money laundering and terrorist funding with the goal of preventing these illicit actions and the harm they do to society.

Way Ahead

• Effectively reducing terror finance is a key component of fighting terrorism.
• It is important to consider all recommendations for the listing of terrorist organisations, especially those that limit their access to financial resources.
• Overcoming political divisions, the world community must combat the threat of terrorism.
• In order to strengthen and complete the traditional approaches to border protection, technical solutions are required. They boost not just the border guarding forces’ capacity for observation and detection but also the effectiveness of the border guards in preventing cross-border crime and infiltration.’
• In order to combat international terrorism, India should move in the direction of specialization of military.
• The military should consider additional strategies, such as Precision Engagement Capability, to attack terror camps across the LoC and LAC.
• Better outcomes are probably possible when adequately trained manpower is combined with reasonably tested technology.
• The struggle against terrorism is a low-intensity conflict or localized war that cannot be waged without the full and unwavering support of society.

Conclusion

• The Indian experience with 26/11 has demonstrated that while the international community has been outspoken about combating terrorism, it has lagged behind in taking coordinated action.
• India must therefore take the initiative in this regard and continue to emphasise that terrorism continues to pose the greatest threats to humankind.

Question for Mains: The threat of terrorism poses a serious threat to national security. What remedies do you propose to stop this escalating threat? What are the principal funding sources for terrorism?