Raagini Sharma
(RIEAS Senior Analyst & Former Research Coordinator
at Global Counterterrorism Council)
Copyright: Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 21 February 2021
Note: The article reflects the opinion of the author and not necessarily the views of the Research Institute for European and American Studies (RIEAS)
“Hatred will not cease by hatred, but by love alone. This is the ancient law.”
- The Buddha “the awakened”
Terrorism cannot be ignored; the physical and emotional damages inflicted by terrorists are painful, harsh and inhuman, and in several cases, the wounds and scars cannot be healed. Terrorists use violence to create fear in the minds of common folks and spread chaos in society. Citizens are terrorised with violence and are intimidated by inflicting pain; the terrorists exploit media to fan hatred and gain popularity using carefully chosen themes. A mockery is made of state authorities to make them look vulnerable, weak and defenceless. On the other hand, security forces are given a strict mandate by the nations to avoid collateral damages at any cost that ties them down with one hand at their back. States are thus left with limited options to counter the terrorism and have to make well thought through decisions to take on the militants. They need to uphold tactics and strategies to avoid any collateral damage and not invite any human rights violations and wean away supporters and sympathisers in the native population to the causes of terrorists....Read more