ISLAMIC STATE
THE PIONEER
COLUMNISTS
DIMINISHED
BUT DANGEROUS
Islamic
State's influence in Iraq and Syria has largely been eradicated but its
venomous ideology is still intact. Hence, global communities should be united
to strike at the very roots of the terrorist outfit and exterminate it
SPOTLIGHT
Baghdadi’s elimination does not mean the end of Islamist terrorism
Baghdadi announced he had become "Caliph" in the Great Mosque of al-Nuri in Mosul, Iraw in July 2014 and, since then, his followers recognised him as the political and religious leader of the whole Muslim world. Large numbers of terrorist outfits - including in South Asia - accepted him as their leader, writes Jai Kumar Verma for South Asia Monitor
NOV 2, 2019
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US President Donald Trump disclosed in a televised address on October 27 that Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, head of Islamic State, had been killed in a raid by special Forces in the Idlib region of northwest Syria. Trump also said that Baghdadi committed suicide by detonating an explosives-laden vest when he was trapped in a tunnel with his three children. The Baghdadi-led Islamic State (IS) has been responsible for numerous beheadings and mass killings.
The removal of Baghdadi was the result of a successful intelligence operation launched by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in conjunction with Iraqi intelligence. The intelligence agencies got the break in February 2018 when Turkish authorities handed over Ismael al Ethawi, a close associate of Baghdadi, to Iraqi intelligence. Ethawi, a PhD in Islamic Sciences, was one of Baghdadi’s five top aides and was involved in the selection of Islamic State commanders. Although Ethawi fled to Syria in 2017, when IS collapsed, he was spotted by intelligence agencies in Idlib five months ago. The CIA then tracked Baghdadi through satellite and drones.
Baghdadi also encountered strong opposition from local groups in Syria, especially from Hayat Tahir al-Sham, earlier known as the Nusra Front, which has a strong presence in Idlib. All anti-IS forces joined hands to remove Baghdadi and they succeeded.
While Baghdadi’s death was widely welcomed, leaders and analysts cautioned that it did not mean the end of Islamic State. Joe Biden, former US vice president now contesting for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination for 2020, as well as Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, said that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) will remain a potential danger to the American people and its allies; hence the US must ensure that IS does not regroup or become powerful again.
The Iranian government spokesperson said that the US had killed its own creation, but that would not end Daesh (Islamic State) nor its ideology, which will continue to get financial assistance from regional powers. Iran, a Shia dominated country, is an important foe of IS, which follows Salafi ideology. IS does not consider Shias as true Muslims and wants them annihilated.
Baghdadi was not only ruthless, he had leadership qualities. He took charge of Islamic State in Iraq in 2010 and soon made the outfit so powerful that large areas of Syria and Iraq came under his control. IS has a large number of dedicated followers all over the world and their number is not decreasing. Baghdadi announced he had become "Caliph" in the Great Mosque of al-Nuri in Mosul, Iraq in July 2014 and, since then, his followers recognised him as the political and religious leader of the whole Muslim world. Large numbers of terrorist outfits - including in South Asia - accepted him as their leader.
Even when IS lost Iraq and Syria and Baghdadi went into hiding, a loyal worldwide IS following remained. Terrorists who perpetrated the Easter Sunday attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka owed allegiance to IS. There are numerous cases of a 'lone wolf’ attack, where a disenchanted Muslim youth attacked and killed numerous persons and later claimed affiliation to IS. The next person who claims the mantle of IS leadership may not have widespread recognition among Islamic terrorists and is unlikely to get much support from many terrorist outfits.
Baghdadi’s successor will have to demonstrate unique characteristics to diverse terrorist outfits before being accepted as their "Caliph". It is possible that IS may now be divided as there are ideological differences between various leaders. Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of Al-Qaeda, will also try to emerge stronger and try to get IS leaders and workers to defect to Al Qaeda.
When Baghdadi was killed, many of his associates were arrested by security forces and a lot of material, including future plans of IS, was captured. The security forces will aim to demolish IS safe houses and arrest its adherents.
The IS has already placed a lot of pro-terrorist, anti-democratic literature on the internet which can radicalise and pollute Muslim minds. The material on the internet criticises all other religions and emphasises that the world should be ruled through Sharia, the Islamic canonical law. This hate material appeals to disillusioned Muslims all over the world and they indulge in terrorist activities. Hence the intelligence organisations of countries that are working against IS should cooperate with each other so that maximum damage can be done to IS. The killing of Baghdadi is a definite achievement, but neither is Islamic State finished nor it is the end of Islamist terrorism in the world. It is a fact that Baghdadi’s killing will not end the ideology of IS and the global fight against terrorism will have to continue.
NOV 2, 2019
US President Donald Trump disclosed in a televised address on October 27 that Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, head of Islamic State, had been killed in a raid by special Forces in the Idlib region of northwest Syria. Trump also said that Baghdadi committed suicide by detonating an explosives-laden vest when he was trapped in a tunnel with his three children. The Baghdadi-led Islamic State (IS) has been responsible for numerous beheadings and mass killings.
The removal of Baghdadi was the result of a successful intelligence operation launched by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in conjunction with Iraqi intelligence. The intelligence agencies got the break in February 2018 when Turkish authorities handed over Ismael al Ethawi, a close associate of Baghdadi, to Iraqi intelligence. Ethawi, a PhD in Islamic Sciences, was one of Baghdadi’s five top aides and was involved in the selection of Islamic State commanders. Although Ethawi fled to Syria in 2017, when IS collapsed, he was spotted by intelligence agencies in Idlib five months ago. The CIA then tracked Baghdadi through satellite and drones.
Baghdadi also encountered strong opposition from local groups in Syria, especially from Hayat Tahir al-Sham, earlier known as the Nusra Front, which has a strong presence in Idlib. All anti-IS forces joined hands to remove Baghdadi and they succeeded.
While Baghdadi’s death was widely welcomed, leaders and analysts cautioned that it did not mean the end of Islamic State. Joe Biden, former US vice president now contesting for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination for 2020, as well as Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, said that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) will remain a potential danger to the American people and its allies; hence the US must ensure that IS does not regroup or become powerful again.
The Iranian government spokesperson said that the US had killed its own creation, but that would not end Daesh (Islamic State) nor its ideology, which will continue to get financial assistance from regional powers. Iran, a Shia dominated country, is an important foe of IS, which follows Salafi ideology. IS does not consider Shias as true Muslims and wants them annihilated.
Baghdadi was not only ruthless, he had leadership qualities. He took charge of Islamic State in Iraq in 2010 and soon made the outfit so powerful that large areas of Syria and Iraq came under his control. IS has a large number of dedicated followers all over the world and their number is not decreasing. Baghdadi announced he had become "Caliph" in the Great Mosque of al-Nuri in Mosul, Iraq in July 2014 and, since then, his followers recognised him as the political and religious leader of the whole Muslim world. Large numbers of terrorist outfits - including in South Asia - accepted him as their leader.
Even when IS lost Iraq and Syria and Baghdadi went into hiding, a loyal worldwide IS following remained. Terrorists who perpetrated the Easter Sunday attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka owed allegiance to IS. There are numerous cases of a 'lone wolf’ attack, where a disenchanted Muslim youth attacked and killed numerous persons and later claimed affiliation to IS. The next person who claims the mantle of IS leadership may not have widespread recognition among Islamic terrorists and is unlikely to get much support from many terrorist outfits.
Baghdadi’s successor will have to demonstrate unique characteristics to diverse terrorist outfits before being accepted as their "Caliph". It is possible that IS may now be divided as there are ideological differences between various leaders. Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of Al-Qaeda, will also try to emerge stronger and try to get IS leaders and workers to defect to Al Qaeda.
When Baghdadi was killed, many of his associates were arrested by security forces and a lot of material, including future plans of IS, was captured. The security forces will aim to demolish IS safe houses and arrest its adherents.
The IS has already placed a lot of pro-terrorist, anti-democratic literature on the internet which can radicalise and pollute Muslim minds. The material on the internet criticises all other religions and emphasises that the world should be ruled through Sharia, the Islamic canonical law. This hate material appeals to disillusioned Muslims all over the world and they indulge in terrorist activities. Hence the intelligence organisations of countries that are working against IS should cooperate with each other so that maximum damage can be done to IS. The killing of Baghdadi is a definite achievement, but neither is Islamic State finished nor it is the end of Islamist terrorism in the world. It is a fact that Baghdadi’s killing will not end the ideology of IS and the global fight against terrorism will have to continue.
THE PIONEER
COLUMNISTS
DIMINISHED
BUT DANGEROUS
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Islamic
State's influence in Iraq and Syria has largely been eradicated but its
venomous ideology is still intact. Hence, global communities should be united
to strike at the very roots of the terrorist outfit and exterminate it
India is home to approximately
172 million Muslims, which is about 10.9 per cent of the world's total Muslim
population. India has the third-largest Muslim population after Indonesia and
Pakistan. By and large, Indian Muslims are peaceful. Only a miniscule
proportion of the population is radicalized but the effort to attract them to
radical ideologies has been gaining momentum for a while now. Many have also
joined terrorist organisations like the Islamic State (IS), which is also known
as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or the Islamic State of Iraq and
the Levant of Khorasan Province (ISIL-KP) or Daesh. Few reports also mention it
as ISKP instead of ISIL-KP.
In the last few years, reports have poured in that the IS has been
strengthening its base in a few States, especially in Kerala, Uttar Pradesh,
Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal,
Gujarat, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. The lackeys of the Inter-Services
Intelligence (ISI) have been waving flags of Pakistan and the Islamic State
during demonstrations and stone-pelting in the Kashmir Valley. However, reports
suggest that young Kashmiri students, who raised IS flags, were not IS
supporters but were paid agents of the ISI.
The announcement of the formation of the Islamic State of Iraq and
the Levant, Khorasan Province (ISIL-KP) was a strategic act on the part of the
IS as it claimed to establish an Islamic Caliphate which will be ruled
according to the Sharia Law. The IS also extolled the benefits of the
establishment of the ISIL-KP, which appealed to immature and disenchanted
Muslim youths. The IS also declared that non-Muslims, Shias and liberal
Muslims, who are opposed to the philosophy of IS, would be eliminated. The IS
uploaded brutal videos of the torture and killing of persons of other faiths
which satisfied the desire for 'revenge' among immature,misguided young Muslims
all over the world.
ISIL-KP comprises of countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan,
Bangladesh and few parts of India, especially Kashmir. The ISI, under a
well-nurtured plan, has radicalised the Valley and, hence, the influence of IS
is increasing in the Valley. After the creation of the IS, terrorists of
diverse outfits and crestfallen Muslim youths joined it because they were
convinced that all their problems would be over once the ISIL-KP came into
existence.
The name Islamic State is to
attract misguided Muslim youths through the Internet. At present, the IS is
opening new modules at different places in India. These modules are controlled
from abroad while a few unit heads are from different Islamic terrorist outfits
like the Lashkar-e-Tayyeba, Hizbul Mujahideen and the Students’ Islamic
Movement of India. The IS has uploaded inflammatory, radical literature,
speeches of fanatic clerics who praise the Wahabi/Salafi form of extremist
Islam and copies of the magazine Dabiq(now
with a changed name of Rumiyah)
on jihadist websites
to brainwash young Muslims. Analysts claim that most Indian Muslim youths are
being drawn to the IS ideology through the internet while some are also being
radicalised through their social circle — friends and relatives.
Social media, especially Facebook and WhatsApp, also played
disastrous role in spreading the hate ideology of the IS. Several concocted
videos of atrocities on Muslims helped in converting peace-loving Muslims into
extremists.Abdul Rashid Abdullah, who escaped from Kasaragod, Kerala, to Syria
along with his wife and few accomplices, had sent a voice message in 2017. In
the message, he appealed to the Muslims of his country to join the IS and if it
is not feasible then they must donate liberally to the IS. The audio also
condemned other religions and dharmic traditions. Muslims all over India,
especially in Kerala, received voices messages purported to be sent by IS
operatives and, in these messages, appeals were made either to join the IS or
assist the IS. Security analysts say these messages were sent by ISI operatives
from Pakistan.
There are also reports that the ISI, which is already assisting
several terrorist outfits, is also taking advantage of rising influence of the IS
in Muslim-populated areas. The ISI, which wants to target India, is also trying
to convince Indian youths to join IS or ISIL-KP to carry out terrorist
activities in India. Few jihadists also joined the IS or ISIL-KP because they
felt that they were joining a powerful international terrorist outfit.
The IS may recruit cadres through the Internet and social media
but it lacks bases, explosives, arms and ammunitions, hideouts, and most
importantly, finance. On the other hand, the ISI has a large number of support
agents, reliable financiers and suppliers of weapons.
The combination of the ISI and the IS will be deadly for the
security of India as the IS works on a psychological and emotional level while
the ISI although it exploits religious sentiments also extends financial
assistance, guidance, training and weaponry.
The ISI will be more than willing to train new Indian recruits of
the IS in Pakistan if they are ready to carry out terrorist activities in
India. In fact, there is some evidence to suggest that few of terrorist
activities claimed by the IS were actually carried out by ISI agents.
Indian Muslims joining the IS include cases of around six Muslims
from Kalyan near Mumbai joining the IS in two batches; Shafi Armar of Karnataka
and; about 150 youngsters from Kerala and other places joining the terror
outfit. IS operatives were also recruited in Uttar Pradesh. Large number of
Kerala youths have direct or indirect links to West Asian countries and they
were radicalised from there.
The ISIL-KP will lure cynical Muslim youth not only from India but
also from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Approximately, at least one
million Rohingya Muslims are staying in Bangladesh in a pitiable condition.
These refugees can easily be radicalised as they are living a life with no
future in sight.
Indian security agencies should also be vigilant in dealing with
the 'lone wolves' as few disillusioned Muslim youths may try to take revenge
for perceived marginalization by society and may indulge in terrorist
activities. Several cases of lone-wolf attacks have already occurred in Europe.
On the one hand, Indian authorities should launch
de-radicalisation programmes, and on the other, enhancement of the drive to
radicalisation by IS/ISI should also be curbed. NGOs and religious preachers
should be requested to help the Government in the de-radicalisation drive.
Besides religious education, due importance should be given to the study of
science and technology in madrassas. Emphasis should be given on job-oriented
education so that the youth, after completion of education, get employment and
do not fall prey to religious fanaticism.
Indian security agencies must also be careful that the ISI, which
has already launched a low intensity war against India, should not take advantage
of rising radicalisation as well as influence of the IS on disillusioned Muslim
youth. There are also instances of the IS using mosques and madrassas for the
recruitment and radicalisation process. Political leaders and citizens need to
convince the misguided youth to leave the path of extremism and join the
mainstream and work for the development of the country. The Centre as well as
States must constitute special cells where Internet and social media experts
are employed so that they can effectively counter the online propaganda of the
IS and other terrorist outfits.
As for the Indians who went to Iraq and Syria to fight along with
the IS, the security forces must have a plan in place to deal with these
hardened religious fanatics when they return to India as they will try to
damage the secular fabric of the country. The danger of the IS is real. Its
influence in Iraq and Syria is eradicated but its venomous ideology is intact.
Hence, global communities should be united to strike at the very roots of the
terrorist organisation and exterminate it.
(The
writer is member, United Services Institute of India, and Institute for Defence
Studies and Analyses)
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