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07 May 2025 : The fragmentation in the global fight against terror

Editorial 1: ​The fragmentation in the global fight against terror

Context

Gone are the days of a unified stance and 'zero tolerance' towards terrorism; a different standard is now applied in the case of India, a nation that continues to be a victim of state-sponsored terror.

 

Introduction

The Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 has once again revealed the disunity in the global fight against terrorism and highlighted Pakistan’s tendency to use terror when it fears a return to normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir. Although several countries condemned the attack, many also urged both India and Pakistan to show restraint. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio even called on both sides to “work towards … a responsible resolution that ensures long-term peace and regional stability in South Asia.” U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance expressed “hope” that India’s response would not escalate into a broader regional conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized resolving differences through political and diplomatic channels, while the EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallasstopped short of even labeling the incident a “terror attack.”

 

Diminishing Global Commitment to Counter-Terrorism

  • The era of “zero tolerance” for terrorism is over.
  • There is no longer a global consensus on holding perpetrators accountable.
  • Some countries now demand proof from India regarding Pakistan’s involvement in terrorism, ignoring:
    • Pulwama Attack (2019)
    • Mumbai Attacks (26/11, 2008)
  • Instead of confronting the perpetrators, these nations urge India—the victim—to exercise restraint.

 

Changing Global Dynamics and Their Implications for India

  • Reduced Global Appetite for Conflict in Asia: Ongoing wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and West Asia have made countries wary of new flashpoints.
  • Stability in Kashmir Seen as a Threat by Pakistan: Successful elections and booming tourism in Jammu & Kashmir worry Pakistan.
  • Erosion of Post-9/11 Global Counter-Terrorism Unity: The consensus after 9/11 for a unified global fight against terror has collapsed.
    • The world is reverting to a divisive stance: “my terrorist” vs “your terrorist.”

 

Selective Concern Among Global Powers

  • Europe: Focused primarily on right-wing extremism and domestic threats.
  • United States (under President Joe Biden): Prioritized REMVE (Racially and Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremism).
  • Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC): Uses Islamophobia as a justification to overlook terrorism.
  • Canada: Dismisses threats to India from its soil as “freedom of expression.”
    • Implies no action will be taken unless a terrorist act actually occurs.
  • China:
    • Blocked India’s 2022 proposals at the UN to blacklist Pakistan-based terrorists under UNSC Resolution 1267.
    • With Pakistan now a non-permanent member of the UNSC (2025–26), further progress will be stalled.

 

Neglect of Rising Terror Threats in Africa and Asia

  • Asia and Africa Blindsided:
    • Global powers are ignoring the surge of terrorism across these regions.
  • Explosive Growth of Terror in Africa:
    • Terrorism has spread from the Sahel to Mozambique.
    • The Global Terrorism Index 2025 identifies the Sahel as the epicentre, responsible for over half of global terrorism-related deaths.
  • International Community’s Response:
    • Continues to dismiss African terror as a regional issue: “your terrorists, not mine.”
    • This selective approach is undermining global counter-terror efforts and short-changing Africa.

 

A different yardstick for India

Theme

Key Points

Different Yardstick for India

- India, the biggest victim of state-sponsored terror from Pakistan, faces a different global standard.
- Focus is shifted from counter-terrorism to “regional stability” due to Pakistan’s successful use of the “nuclear war” bogey.
- While the West encourages Ukraine’s resistance against nuclear Russia, it fears escalation between India and Pakistan.

Modi’s Nuclear Peace Appeal

- PM Narendra Modi urged Russian President Vladimir Putin not to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
- This call was acknowledged and thanked by the U.S. and others, yet India is still urged to show restraint.

Pahalgam Terror Attack and Religious Targeting

- In Pahalgam, tourists were attacked based on religion; a Muslim pony operator was shot while saving them.
- The Resistance Front (a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba) initially claimed the attack, then retracted.
- Objective: Foment communal tension in India.

Global Silence on Hinduphobia

- While there’s loud condemnation of Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, and Christianophobia, there is silence on Hinduphobia.
- Western discourse labels protests on university campuses as religiously motivated, ignoring contextual factors like the Gaza conflict.
- Vivek Ramaswamy faced religious slurs during his U.S. presidential campaign.

Rare Recognition by Western Official

- A shift came with U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard calling the Pahalgam attack a “horrific Islamist terrorist attack.”
- She explicitly recognised Hindus as the targets.

Extradition Progress

- Tahawwur Rana was extradited to India from the U.S. for the Mumbai attacks.
- David Headley, however, remains in the U.S.

Pakistan at the UNSC

- Pakistan used its UNSC seat to call for an emergency closed-door session on the “deteriorating regional environment.”
- Similar to 2019's UNSC meeting (after Article 370 abrogation) initiated by China, the session produced no outcome document.
- The P-5, except China, views Kashmir as a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan.

Indus Waters Treaty and Global Parallels

- India’s decision to put the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance was flagged by Pakistan at the UNSC.
- India is expected to block any UNSC statement, drawing parallels to how the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam issue was handled between Ethiopia and Egypt (2021).
- Any single UNSC member can prevent the issuance of an official statement.

 

Way forward: The path ahead

  • Accountability from Strategic Partners: If the world is concerned about India not using kinetic options to fight terrorism at its source, should India’s strategic partners not hold Pakistan accountable, instead of substituting rhetoric for real action or calling for tension defusal?
  • Strengthening Gulf Allies’ Role: To deter Pakistan, India’s Gulf allies, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, need to step up in their efforts, especially as they undergo socio-religious reforms.
  • International Community’s Responsibility: The international community must act to sanction Pakistan, not just respond sporadically. If not, India will act unilaterally.
  • Planning Ahead for Strategic Options: India must think beyond the current strategic options and plan ahead.
  • Ongoing Fight Against Terrorism: With a strong international framework against terrorism, the world must continue its fight, especially against state-sponsored terrorism.
  • Leading the Fight Against Religio-Phobia: After raising the issue at the UN General Assembly in 2022, India has another chance to lead the fight against religiophobia against non-Abrahamic religions.
  • Expanding Campaign Beyond the UN: India should take this campaign beyond the UN, addressing it bilaterally with host countries.

 

Conclusion

All of this indicates one clear message — India must not only carve out geopolitical space through its strategic autonomy and multi-alignment policy, but also be ready to exercise that space when it truly counts. There is no doubtthat such diplomatic engagements are already underway.