This book examines the crime-terror nexus in South Asia, focusing in particular on the activities of non-state actors that operate out of Pakistan, and challenges the conventional wisdom that the Pakistan Taleban (TTP) and Al-Qaeda are Pakistan’s most serious security threats. Much research has focused on the policies of India and Pakistan towards Kashmir. But surprisingly little attention has been paid to several notable Pakistan-based non-state actors who are increasingly operating on their own, and who have the potential to greatly inhibit, if not derail, the peace process there. These groups blur the line between terrorism and organized crime with serious implications for policy in the region. India and Pakistan can engage in confidence-building measures, but if criminal actors such as Lashkar-i-Taiba (LeT) and D-Company cannot effectively be controlled, a lack of trust between both sides will remain. Although the role of regular military forces is not to be discounted, many of the non-state actors in Indian-Held Kashmir, such as LeT, are not confined by the same restraints as state forces, thus allowing them engage in more violent actions without fear of reprisal. In order for lawmakers, security personnel, and others to develop sound, comprehensive policies, these forces and their potential to undermine political initiatives must be fully appreciated. This book explores the dynamics of the relationship between Pakistan, D-Company, and LeT and how it affects strategic thought, decision-making, and security interests in the region and explains the triangular relationships between states, terrorist groups, and organized criminal syndicates in general, and in India and Pakistan in particular. This book will of much interest to students of South Asian politics, terrorism, organised crime, war and conflict studies, and Security Studies in general.

Papers presented at the International Workshop on International Terrorism in Southeast Asia and its Likely Implications for South Asia, held at New Delhi, 28-29 April 2004.

Terrorism is a kind of war, which is launched from hideouts by employing speed, surprise and indiscriminate violence. Assassinations, killing of innocent people including women and children, and invisibility, are at the heart of the strategy of the terrorists. It is an organized system of intimidation and coercion by use of violence that does not obey the rules of war to achieve political or religious ends. This book brings out the terrorist groups involved in South Asia in detail and India in particular. Terrorist affected areas in South Asia and the effect of Terrorism has also been discussed in detail. The Naxal movement in India has also been covered in detail. In the last chapter the author has also recommended some Counter Terrorism measures and strategy for South Asia as well as for India.

Webs of Corruption is an innovative study demonstrating that terrorist and criminal activity intersect more narrowly than is widely believed. Mariya Y. Omelicheva and Lawrence P. Markowitz analyze the links between the drug trade and terror financing in Central Asia, finding that state security services shape the nexus of trafficking and terrorism.

Published in association with Regional Centre for Strategic Studies, Colombo Even though South Asia had a long and diverse experience of dealing with terrorism, post 9/11 a sense of urgency and seriousness has been reinforced with regard to it at the global level. The focus in this timely volume is on the strategic evolved by the South Asian states in responding to the challenge of terrorism. It is inevitable, however, that while looking at the strategies, essential characteristics of terrorism are also understood and explained as the nature of terrorism faced in each of the South Asian countries has its own specific aspects. The study is divided into two sections. In the first section, the way in which each of the South Asian states have responded to terrorism. Has been studied carefully. In the second section, some of the comparative aspects of the region perspective, such as the role of civil societies, consequences of strategies pursued, role of the third parties, and political economy of terrorism and responding strategies have been taken up for discussion and analysis. There is also a data paper on South Asian terrorism included at the end. Contributors include Ajay Sahni, Samina Ahmed, Abul Kalam, Ayesha Siddiqa, Deepak Thapa among many others.

Terrorism Is Now An Over-Defined Concept With The State, Intellectuals, Dissenters, And Anti-State Activitivists Constantly Battling Out Its Meaning. The Understanding Of Terrorism In South Asia Cannot Remain Immune From The Global Discourse Of Violence And Terror. The Authors Of This Volume, Albeit In The Light Od Their Own Scholarly Pursuits, Have Tried To Make Sense Of The South Asian Situation By Going Beyond The Statist Discourses Of Our Time. Contributors Include Nira Wickramsinghe, Ranabir Samaddar, Jehan Perera, Shahedul Anam Khan, Sanjoy Hazarika Among Many Others.