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Shri DC Pathak, Former Chairman, JIC and former Director, Intelligence Bureau, delivered a talk at the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) on the theme, ‘Handling Radicalisation – a Prime Threat’.

In his opening remarks, Shri Pathak, giving an overall security perspective of radicalisation, highlighted the rapid growth of Islamic radicalisation and its emergence as a prominent geopolitical challenge worldwide. He outlined in historical chronology, of some significant events such as Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, disintegration of the USSR, emergence of Taliban, various activities facilitated by Pakistan, etc., and emphasised that the situation changed dramaticly after the brazen attack of 9/11 in the US.

Defining terrorism as ‘use of violence to achieve a political objective’, the speaker that there can be different reasons behind the movements, yet ideological inspiration behind all these remained consistent. For better understanding of the phenomenon of faith based radicalisation, there was urgent need to study religious texts and interpret its true spirit rather than adopt a selective outreach which resulted in propagation of extremist ideology. In the Indian context, the rise of Wahabi extremist, he contended, emerged in pre and post British rule, and continues till date. It remains at the core of terrorist activities of all radical groups including the likes of Lashkar-e- Taiyyaba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Harqat-ul-Mujahedeen etc.

The rise of terrorism in Kashmir and its wider spread across India after 1993 Bombay serial blasts highlights the fact that militancy that was being fought earlier on political platform in J&K could be easily turned into a religious Jihad. This shift brought in external radical elements in encouraging religious sentiments to perpetrate violence.

While recommending measures to deal with radicalisation, Shri Pathak suggested a judicious mix of kinetic approach and with various tried and tested processes of de-radicalisation, duly fine-tuned to suit Indian conditions with major emphasis on the role of families and the larger community leaders. This in his view will stabilise the society and this comprehensive approach will keep security establishment updated on all nuances of the emerging threat profile.