Impose Cost on Nations Backing Terror, Says PM

What’s in today’s article:

• News Summary

Why In News:

• PM Modi inaugurated the 3^rd No Money for Terror (NMFT) conference, which is being held in New Delhi.
• The NMFT conference started in 2018 as an initiative of the French government to specifically focus on cooperation between countries to choke terror funding.
• In 2019, the conference was held in Australia.
• The conference was to be held in India in 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic.

News Summary

Key highlights of the speech delivered by PM Modi

• Targets Pakistan, China
  • In remarks aimed at Pakistan and China, PM Modi said that while some countries support terrorism as part of their foreign policy, others do so by blocking action against terrorists.
    • China has repeatedly blocked several attempts by India and the US to blacklist Pakistan-based terrorists under the sanctions committee of the UN Security Council.
  • In this context, he urged the world to unite against such overt and covert backing of terror by imposing a cost on these countries.
    • Organisations and individuals that try to create sympathy for terrorists must also be isolated.
• Obliquely criticised the West
  • PM Modi also obliquely criticised the West for being focussed on terror groups with global outreach.
  • The reaction to a terror attack cannot vary based on where it happens, he called for a uniform, unified and zero-tolerance approach.
  • He further said that the International organisations must not think that the absence of war means peace. Proxy wars are also dangerous and violent.
• Emphasised the need to strike at the root of terror financing
  • He flagged organised crime as one of the sources of terror funding.
    • Organised crime should not be seen in isolation and these gangs often have deep links with terrorist outfits.
    • The money made in gun-running, drugs and smuggling is pumped into terrorism. These groups help with logistics and communication too.
    • At times, even activities like money laundering and financial crimes have been known to help terror funding.
• Use of new technologies by terrorist organizations
  • New kinds of technology are being used for terror financing and recruitment. Challenges from the dark net, private currencies and more are emerging.
    • Dark Net is a maze of secret websites which can be accessed only through encrypted channels (specialized web browser).
    • It is used for keeping internet activity anonymous and private, which can be helpful in both legal and illegal applications.
  • Hence, there is a need for a uniform understanding of new finance technologies.
  • It is also important to involve the private sector in these efforts. From a uniform understanding, a unified system of checks, balances and regulations can emerge.
  • The answer is not to criticize technology. Instead, it is to use technology to track, trace and tackle terrorism.
• Raised the issue of online radicalization
  • Today, cooperation is needed not only in the physical world but also in the virtual world too.
  • The infrastructure used for cyber terrorism and online radicalisation is distributed. Some also offer weapons training from a remote location and online resources.
  • Communications, travel, logistics are the links of the terrorism chain. Each country must act against the part of the chain within reach.

Other highlights

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the first session of the 3rd NMFT Conference on ‘Global Trends in Terrorist Financing and Terrorism’ theme in New Delhi.

Key highlights of the speech delivered by the Home Minister

• Financing of terrorism is more dangerous than terrorism itself
  • Because the ‘Means and Methods’ of terrorism are nurtured from such funding.
  • Furthermore, the financing of terrorism weakens the economy of countries
• Transformation of terrorism with the help of technologies
  • The transformation of terrorism from “Dynamite to Metaverse” and “AK-47 to Virtual Assets” is definitely a matter of concern for the world.
• India’s strategy against the financing of terrorism
  • India’s strategy against the financing of terrorism is based on these six pillars:
    • Strengthening the Legislative and Technological Framework
    • Creation of a Comprehensive Monitoring Framework
    • Actionable intelligence sharing mechanism and strengthening of the investigation and police operations
    • Provision for confiscation of property
    • Prevent misuse of legal entities and new technologies, and,
    • Establishing international cooperation and coordination