The Mumbai attack in India led to the change of the counterterrorism approaches used in the country. The attack led to the establishment of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which was given the power to deal with terror incidents by the central government. The agency has the power to investigate suspected terrorist activities and offenses across all states without requiring permission from them. According to Machold (2017), in 2009, Maharashtra’s government authorized the creation of commando units that would be used to respond to terror attacks. India has also established an inter-agency collaboration to enhance its ability to gather intelligence. This was aimed at ensuring that suspected terror activities were dealt with before causing harm to the residents.
Arguments for the Counterterrorism Approach
The inter-agency collaboration established by India has been of great help in reducing terror attacks in various urban centers. Various agencies have gathered intelligence and enabled strategies to counter planned terror activities. Despite the country promoting inter-agency collaboration, the coordination between agencies and security personnel is limited (Desai & Bhatt, 2019). Lack of proper collaboration makes it challenging to conduct intelligence monitoring and response to suspected activities. The agencies assigned the role to address terror activities also do not have adequate resources which they can use to respond to reliable intelligence.
Effectiveness of the Counterterrorism Approach
The counterterrorism approach applied in India currently is not effective since the nation has experienced several terrorist activities even after the changes initiated in response to the Mumbai attack. In 2019, India faced terrorist attacks in Jammu, Kashmir, and other states located in the northern region. On February 14, forty Indian soldiers were killed in a suicide bombing from a terror group popularly known as Jem (United States Department of State, 2019). On May 1, about fifteen of Maharashtra’s commando unit members were killed in a terrorist attack that used landmines. The various terrorist attacks experienced in India after the one in Mumbai indicate that the nation is yet to achieve effectiveness in counterterrorism.
Alternative Counterterrorism Approach
One of the possible alternatives to the current counterterrorism approach used in India is having cyber security experts analyze information shared on various social media platforms. The cyber-world has allowed terrorists access to sophisticated weapons. The cyber-world also enables terrorists to have secure communications and facilitates the flow of financial resources (Ahluwalia, 2020). Terrorist groups have also turned to social media in recruiting new members. In this case, it is necessary to have cyber security experts analyze information shared on various platforms and identify possible terrorist threats. This can play a significant role in informing response strategies to possible threats.
Long-Term Impact
Focusing on enhancing cyber security will help prevent planned terrorist activities from taking place hence protecting the public from various dangers. Cybersecurity is likely to allow law enforcement officers to access important information that can help ensure that intelligence activities bear positive fruits. Law enforcement officers can also keep track of terrorists and prevent them from engaging in activities that endanger civilian lives. This will help to prevent many of the negative consequences associated with terrorist attacks. Cyber security will maximize the detection of planned terrorist activities and will greatly benefit the public. This can also help to inform defense strategies that can demotivate terrorists from engaging in various offenses. Enhancing cybersecurity will also help to minimize information sharing between members of a terrorist group, hence establishing limits to planning such activities.
References
Ahluwalia, G. (2020). Terrorism and successful counterterrorism in India. Vision of Humanity. Web.
Desai, D. D., & Bhatt, P. (2019). Securing India’s cities: Remembering 26/11, learning its lessons. Observer Research Foundation, Special Report, (92). Web.
Machold, R. (2017). Militarising Mumbai? The ‘Politics’ of Response. Contexto Internacional, 39, 477-498. Web.
United States Department of State. (2020). Country reports on terrorism 2019: India. United States Department of State. Web.