Contemporary terrorism challenges and responses in the Indo-Pacific

ABSTRACT

Since the seminal terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001, the emergence of the new terrorism has been epitomised by rise of radical Islamist terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda and the Islamic State. Through the use of new terrorism techniques and strategies, such movements have been able to transform themselves into worldwide, global jihadist movements. While the Islamic State appeared to have gained the upper hand over Al Qaeda in the competition over the radical Islamist cause due to its successes in Iraq and Syria in 2014, analysts believe that in the long-run, Al Qaeda remains the greater danger. While both Al Qaeda and the Islamic State have suffered greatly from vigorous and sustained global counter-terrorism operations led by the United States, their local affiliates in the Indo-Pacific, as well as other local radical Islamist and non-Islamist groups not affiliated to either, have continued to pose serious terrorist challenges in the region. While the threat has somewhat abated in recent times in Southeast Asia, the terrorist threat remains very serious in South Asia.

KEYWORDS:

• Terrorism
• counter-terrorism
• Indo-Pacific
• South Asia
• Southeast Asia

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Radical Islamists refer to the fringe extremist elements who advocate the use of violence to establish a state ruled strictly according to Islamic laws as interpreted by them. It is not a reference to Islam or adherents to the religion. The overwhelming majority of Muslims do not subscribe to radical ideology and indeed, have been the main victims of radical Islamist terrorist violence.