Cross-border terrorism refers to terrorists entering India from across our borders to cause violence and harm. India faces severe threats of cross-border terrorism from Pakistan.

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Fig: India’s Bordering Countries 

Background

Cross-border terrorism is a big security problem in India. India has a long border with Pakistan, and that border experiences lots of illegal crossings. Terrorist outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad operate freely from the soil of Pakistan, and they send terrorists into India.

• The security forces of India regularly catch and kill terrorists who entered India from Pakistan to cause attacks. Many times terrorist training camps have also been busted inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir that train terrorists for attacks in India. Cross-border terrorism has been responsible for many deaths in India.
• The terrorists who enter India from across the border mainly target civilian areas by causing bombings and shooting attacks. The goal of cross-border terrorism is to create fear and unrest in India. Terrorists target public places like markets, tourist attractions, and transport hubs.
• Many attacks on Indian security forces have also been orchestrated by terrorists that cross over from Pakistan. Indian army and police bases near the India-Pakistan border see frequent attacks by cross-border terrorists. These attacks aim at weakening India's control near the international border.
• The most notorious attacks of cross-border terrorism in India include the 2001 attack on the Indian parliament, the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the 2016 Pathankot air force base attack, and the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing. These deadly attacks led to many deaths of Indian security personnel as well as civilians.
• Top leaders of terrorist groups that operate from the soil of Pakistan are wanted by India. These include Hafiz Saeed of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Masood Azhar of Jaish-e-Mohammad. But, Pakistan has failed to take action against them. It shows Pakistan's support for cross-border terrorism against India.
• India has taken several measures to counter cross-border terrorism and prevent illegal infiltration from Pakistan. The security forces of India regularly retaliate by killing terrorists trying to cross over or carrying out attacks. India also upgrades defenses near the India-Pakistan border.
• Though cross-border terrorism poses a big challenge, India's security forces have also seen success in countering it. There have been many successes against terrorist camps inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India recently carried out an air strike targeting a Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist training camp inside Pakistan in 2019.
• Cross-border terrorism affects the lives of common Indians and hampers India's internal security and economic growth. Only if Pakistan stops supporting terrorist groups and stops allowing its territory to be used for terrorism against India, this problem can end. In the absence of strong action by Pakistan, India has to rely on itself to counter cross-border terrorism with strength.

Causes Of Terrorism In Pakistan-India Border

Cross-border infiltration refers to terrorists entering India from across our borders to cause violence and harm. India faces severe threats of cross-border terrorism, mainly from Pakistan. There are several causes behind this terrorism against India.

• One major cause of cross-border terrorism is Pakistan's support for terrorist groups. Pakistan allows terrorist outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad to operate from its soil. These groups plan and carry out attacks in India with Pakistan's knowledge. Many terrorists caught in India have revealed that they were trained in Pakistan.
• Islamabad uses these terrorist groups as proxies to destabilize India. Pakistan aims to avenge its defeat in previous wars with India and to stop India's rising influence in the region. The Pakistani army and its spy agency ISI sponsor and control these terrorist groups despite being banned.
• Another key cause is the issue of Kashmir. Pakistan claims the region of Jammu and Kashmir, which is legally an integral part of India. Islamabad wants to internationalize the Kashmir issue using terrorist attacks in India. Many terrorists who sneak into India reveal that the goal of attacks is to create unrest in Kashmir. The aim is to show India in a bad light in the world.
• Pakistan's desire to gain strategic depth against India also acts as a reason for cross-border terrorism. Islamabad wants to 'bleed India through thousand cuts' by carrying out frequent small attacks. The goal is to keep India engaged within its borders and distracted by terrorism. This helps Pakistan make military gains against India.
• Also, groups like Lashkar and Jaish find support from extremist elements within Pakistani society. Many Pakistani citizens support the ideology of 'jihad' against India. Funds are easily available for terrorist activities. This encourages the creation and operation of terrorist groups on Pakistani soil.
• Religious extremism has grown significantly in Pakistan, especially after American support during the Soviet-Afghan war. Extremist forces gained power and started viewing India as an enemy because of religious differences. They believe that terrorists targeting India are 'freedom fighters and martyrs.'
• Differences in the political and economic systems between India and Pakistan also generate tensions. While India is a pluralistic democracy, Pakistan follows strict Islamic laws. Terrorists operating from Pakistan project India's secular system as a threat to Pakistan's Islamic ideology.
• In conclusion, the root cause of cross-border terrorism targeting India is Pakistan's policy of using terrorism as a tool against India. Islamabad needs to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and stop supporting groups like Lashkar and Jaish that target India. Only then can India hope to end threats of frequent cross-border terrorist attacks. India also needs to keep up diplomatic and economic pressure on Pakistan to force action against terror groups operating from its soil.

Cross-Border Terrorism In India By Countries Other Than Pakistan

While Pakistan is the major source of cross-border terrorism against India, other countries also pose threats.

• One country that supports anti-India terrorist groups is China. China gives funds, arms, and training to groups like the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) that operate against India from Myanmar. China aims to weaken India and increase its influence in India's northeastern states bordering China.
• China also gives shelter and support to leaders of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) that carried out terrorist attacks in Assam. China wants to use militant groups as leverage against India in border negotiations and issues like sharing of Brahmaputra river waters.
• Groups operating from Bangladesh also indulge in cross-border terrorism against India, though at a smaller scale. The banned Islamist organization Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) has targeted India multiple times. Members of JMB and other extremist groups easily sneak into India from Bangladesh.
• Poor border management and the presence of Bangladeshi immigrants illegally living in India provide support infrastructure to terrorists. Some terrorists from Pakistan also enter India through the India-Bangladesh border with the help of extremist groups in Bangladesh.
• India also faces threats of terrorism from groups based in countries like Afghanistan. Al-Qaeda and ISIS operate training camps in Afghanistan and aim to spread their extremist ideology among Indian Muslims. They encourage young Indian Muslims to join terrorist outfits and target India.
• Indian Mujahideen, a terrorist group with bases in Pakistan and Afghanistan, has carried out numerous bomb attacks against India. IM recruits Indian Muslims and trains them in terror camps in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It has targeted places like Mumbai, Hyderabad and Jaipur.
• India also needs to be vigilant of threats from terrorists based in countries like Sri Lanka. The Easter Sunday bombings of 2019 in Sri Lanka that killed 250 people showed how Islamic extremism had spread there. Groups operating from Sri Lanka may try to target India in the future.
• The presence of Indian workers in West Asian countries also makes India vulnerable to strikes by terror outfits based in the Middle East. Groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda based in Yemen, Iraq, and Syria often threaten India and incite Indian Muslims through online propaganda.
• In conclusion, though the major threat of cross-border terrorism comes from Pakistan, India needs to remain alert to threats from other neighboring countries as well. Poor border management and the presence of extremist groups provide a support infrastructure for terrorists to operate against India.

Steps Taken By India To Tackle Cross-Border Terrorism

To tackle this serious problem, India has taken many steps over the years.

• One of the first steps taken was strengthening border security forces. India has deployed more soldiers, surveillance technology, and fortifications along the border with Pakistan. The Border Security Force (BSF), which protects India's international border, was modernized and given more power.
• This has helped in detecting infiltrations and cross-border firing more effectively. The increased defensive deployment also acts as a deterrent for Pakistan's cross-border terrorism. India's border forces regularly kill terrorists trying to cross over from Pakistan.
• India has also carried out surgical strikes and air strikes targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan. In 2016, the Indian army conducted surgical strikes on terrorist launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after the Uri base attack. Similarly, the Indian air force carried out air strikes in 2019 targeting a major Jaish-e-Mohammad camp in Balakot, Pakistan.
• Such actions aim at imposing costs on Pakistan's policy of using cross-border terrorism against India. They send a message that India will retaliate with force against any terrorist attack sponsored by Pakistan. However, India prefers to avoid an all-out conflict with Pakistan.
• India has also tried to diplomatically isolate Pakistan internationally for sponsoring cross-border terrorism. India provided evidence of Pakistan's involvement with other countries and international organizations like the UN. India's diplomatic campaign has ensured that the world sees the problem as Pakistan's doing.
• On the economic front, India has stopped most bilateral trade with Pakistan to put pressure on Islamabad. India revoked the 'Most Favoured Nation' status given to Pakistan and increased customs duties on Pakistani goods. India also stopped the Indus Water Treaty for some time.
• Domestically, India has strengthened anti-terror laws to tackle infiltration and terror activities within India. Agencies like NIA and NSG have been given more powers to investigate and prevent terror attacks. India has also improved intelligence gathering and sharing between agencies.
• India has enhanced coordination and sharing of intelligence with other neighboring countries like Afghanistan, Iran, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. Cooperation with these nations helps in identifying terrorist hideouts and preventing the cross-border movement of terrorists.
• However, the biggest step to tackle cross-border terrorism will be for Pakistan to stop supporting terrorist groups like Lashkar and Jaish that target India. India has urged international pressure on Pakistan to dismantle terror infrastructure from its soil. But Pakistan has denied its role so far.

Conclusion

India must strengthen security and surveillance on all borders. Cooperation with countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Afghanistan is vital to cut off support for anti-India terrorist groups based in these nations. India also needs to counter extremist propaganda through educational and developmental work among minority communities.

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