2^nd High Level Conference

of the Head of Counter Terrorism Agencies of the Member States

Session I: The global scourge of terrorism: assessment of current threats and emerging trends for the new decade

India Statement

By

Mr. V.S.K. Kaumudi

Special Secretary (Internal Security), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India

Thank you chair for giving me the floor,

2. Today, misuse of information and communication technology such as internet and social media for terrorist propaganda, radicalization and recruitment of cadre; misuse of new payment methods and crowdfunding platforms for financing of terrorism; and misuse of emerging technologies for terrorist purposes have emerged as the most serious threats of terrorism and will decide the counter-terrorism paradigm going forward.

3. Internet and social media platforms have turned into indispensable resources in the toolkit of Global Terrorist Groups (GTGs) for spreading terrorist propaganda and conspiracy theories aimed at spreading hatred among societies and communities and offer additional radicalization opportunities which may proliferate globally. The increased use of closed group communications adds to the concern.

4. Continuing advancements in evolving technologies, viz. Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, “Deep fakes”, Blockchain, Dark-web, etc., are fraught with the risk of being abused by terrorists. Already, crypto currencies, virtual assets, crowdfunding platforms are helping terror financing, owing to anonymity and un-traceability nature of these technologies.

5. Another add-on to existing worries is the use of Drones. Being a low-cost option and easily available, utilization of these aerial/sub-surface platforms for sinister purposes by terrorist groups such as intelligence collection, weapon/explosives delivery and targeted attacks have become an imminent danger and challenge for security agencies worldwide. The possibility of the use of weaponized drones for terrorist purposes against strategic and commercial assets call for serious attention by the member states. We have witnessed terrorists using UAS to smuggle weapons across borders.

6. Covid-19 and the subsequent isolation has further accentuated the impact of internet on people making them vulnerable to radicalization and recruitment by terrorist groups. Spreading terrorist propaganda through use of "indulging video games" is another strategy that was deployed by terrorist groups during the pandemic. It is imperative for countries to adopt a multipronged approach to tackle the global threats emanating out of misuse of new technologies particularly aiming towards terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism. The world must remain united against tendencies of labeling of terrorism based on terrorist motivations especially those based on religion, and political ideologies. This will certainly divide us and weaken our fight against terrorism.

7. The transborder nature of this threat calls for collective and unified action by the international community, without any excuse or exceptions, ensuring that those countries which provide safe havens to terrorists should be called out and held accountable.

8. I would like to mention that India has put in place an elaborate CT and security architecture besides introducing a series of measures in the cyber-space encapsulating counter-radicalisation and de-radicalisation strategies. The Government of India stands fully committed to the fight against terrorism and has been fully supportive of the United Nations efforts in this regard.

9. Before I conclude, let me also respond to the vitriolic diatribe of a delegation against India. As expected, the delegation of Pakistan has again resorted to peddling false narratives and making baseless allegations against India. For a nation that engages in sectarian violence against its own minorities and harbors a deep sense of insecurity and orchestrated hatred for India, there is nothing new that we could have expected from this delegation. 7th review of the Global Counter-​Terrorism Strategy (GCTS)  is over and Pakistan's false narrative was summarily negated by the UN membership.

10. Its high time that the international community calls upon Pakistan to take effective, verifiable and irreversible actions against terror outfits operating on the territory under its control and not take the high road of morality which is only laden with mines of falsehood.

I thank you.

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