Exploration of the significance of South Asia in the U.S.-led international coalition against terrorism.

Contents: (1) The Rise of Islamist Militancy in Southeast Asia: Overview; The Rise of Al Qaeda in Southeast Asia; (2) The Jemaah Islamiya (JI) Network: History of JI; JI¿s Relationship to Al Qaeda; JI¿s Size and Structure; (3) Indonesia: Recent Events; The Bali Bombings and Other JI attacks in Indonesia; The Trial and Release of Baasyir; (4) The Philippines: Abu Sayyaf; The MILF; The Philippine Communist Party; (5) Thailand: Southern Insurgency; Current Government¿s Approach; Little Evidence of Transnational Elements; (6) Malaysia: Recent Events; A Muslim Voice of Moderation; Maritime Concerns; Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism in Malaysia; Terrorist Groups in Malaysia; Malaysia¿s Counter-Terrorism Efforts; (7) Singapore: U.S.-Singapore Coop.

Following The Terrorist Attacks In New York And Washington, D.C. On 11 September 2001, South Asia Emerged As The Epicentre Of The War Against Terrorism, With The Involvement Of The American And Coalition Forces Against Al Qaeda In Afghanistan. The Development Brought Into Focus Not Only The Spectre Posed By The Threat Of Global Terrorism, But Also The Dangers Which Terrorism Poses Within And Among The Countries Of The Region. In South Asia, There Is A Consensus That Terrorism Has A Negative Impact On Economic Development, But The Assessment Differs Significantly Depending On The Experience Of Individual Countries. There Is, Therefore, A Need To Develop A Common Methodology To Calculate The Costs Of Conflicts Which Should Be Able To Demonstrate, Among Other Things, That Conflicts Are Responsible For The Economic Ills Of Countries. Such An Exercise Would Be Incomplete Without A Better Understanding Of The Economy Of Terrorism, Including The Sources And Methods Of Its Financing And Its Economic Networking. Similarly, There Is Also A Consensus In The Region That Terrorism Undermines And Weakens The Democratic Structure Of Countries, But It Is Not Yet Fully Clear How That Is Done. Most Papers In The Present Volume Have Attempted To Address Both The Causes And Consequences Of Terrorism, And Strongly Underscore The Need For Case-By-Case Study Of Individual Terrorist Groups To See How They Have Impacted On The State Structure

The advent of two nuclear powers in South Asia, discoveries of nuclear trafficking, and insurgencies and terrorism that threaten important U.S. interests and objectives directly have transformed the region from a strategic backwater into a primary theater of concern for the United States. The United States, to a great extent free of the restrictions of earlier sanction regimes and attentive to the region's central role in the global war on terrorism (GWOT), has engaged the states of South Asia aggressively with a wide variety of policy initiatives. Despite the diversity of policy instruments, few are very powerful; indeed, only the U.S. military seems to offer many options for Washington to intensify further its security cooperation and influence in the region. This monograph highlights key factors in the region that imperil U.S. interests, and suggests how and where the U.S. military might play an expanded, influential role. The report notes that the current U.S. military force posture, disposition, and lines of command may not be optimal, given South Asia's new status in the U.S. strategic calculus, and suggests seven key steps the military might take to improve its ability to advance and defend U.S. interests, not only in South Asia, but beyond it, including the Middle East and Asia at large. Beyond the specifics, however, the broader message arising from this analysis is straightforward: the region's salience for U.S. policy interests has increased dramatically. It is therefore prudent to intensify Washington's involvement in the region and to devote the resources necessary to become more influential with the governments within the region. Given the area's potential for violence, it is also prudent to shape a part of the U.S. military to meet the potential crises emanating from South Asia, just as the United States once shaped its military presence in Western Europe for the contingencies of the Cold War.

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.