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South Asia Terrorism Portal

SOUTH ASIA INTELLIGENCE REVIEW
[SAIR]

Weekly Assessments & Briefings
Volume 17, No. 36, March 4, 2019
 
Data and assessments from SAIR can be freely published in any form with credit to the South Asia Intelligence Review of the South Asia Terrorism Portal.

ASSESSMENT

  • AFGHANISTAN: The Defeat of Reason- Ajit Kumar Singh
  • INDIA: Kerala: Creeping Incursions- Nijeesh N.


AFGHANISTAN

       Print

The Defeat of Reason
Ajit Kumar Singh
Research Fellow, Institute for Conflict Management

On March 1, 2019, at least 23 Afghan soldiers were killed and another 15 injured as Taliban militants attacked the Shorab Military Base in Helmand Province. In the retaliatory action, the Afghan Security Forces (SFs) killed 20 militants.

On February 16, 2019, Taliban militants carried out an attack on a security post in a remote area of Kandahar Province killing all 32 men posted at the base. One of the attackers was also killed.

On January 21, 2019, at least 126 Afghan SF personnel were killed in an attack in Maidan Wardak Province. A Taliban suicide bomber drove and exploded a captured military Humvee packed with explosives into a training center of the National Directorate for Security (NDS). At least two other Taliban gunmen followed, spraying the compound with gunfire before they were shot down. “We have information that 126 people have been killed in the explosion inside the military training centre, eight special commandoes are among the dead,” an unnamed defense official disclosed.

According to partial data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), at least 265 Afghan SF personnel have died in the current year so far (data till March 3, 2019). During the corresponding period of 2018, Afghanistan recorded for 162 Afghan SF fatalities. Through 2018, there were a total of 1,526 SF deaths. Afghanistan recorded 517 Afghan SF fatalities in 2017, 778 in 2016, 1,222 in 2015 and 770 in 2014.

This data, however, likely reflects enormous under-reporting.

Indeed, on January 25, 2019, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani disclosed, "Since I've become president... over 45,000 Afghan security personnel have paid the ultimate sacrifice." [No year wise break up was provided]. Ghani was sworn in as President on September 29, 2014. Ghani also stated that, since then, “the number of international casualties is less than 72," and argued that this "shows who is doing the fighting”.

The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) officially concluded its combat mission in Afghanistan at an event held at ISAF headquarters in Kabul on December 28, 2014. Since then, Afghanistan Forces have been on forefront in fight against terrorist formations operating across Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, the number of militants killed since Ghani assumed office on September 29, 2014, is 46,858 according to the SATP database. A total of 11,684 terrorists were killed in 2018 as against 10,798 in 2017. The number of militant fatalities was 11,469 in 2016; 10,628 in 2015; and 955 in 2014, since September 29, (total fatalities through 2014 were 6,030). At least 1,324 terrorists have already been killed in the current year (data till March 3, 2019).

Evidently, the Afghan SFs are facing a tough battle since September 29, 2014. Though they have achieved a positive kill ratio of 1: 1.04, the sheer scale of SF fatalities clearly does not suggest a strong position of advantage. On the contrary, the ratio was significantly in favour of SFs between 2007 and 2013, when the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was in lead and the Afghan Forces were supporting them. During this period, the kill ratio stood at 1:2.01 (14,406 SF personnel; 29,028 terrorist).

Unsurprisingly, casualties among civilians, the best indicator of the prevailing security scenario in any theatre of conflict, have been rising since 2014, with the exception of 2017. More worryingly, 2018 registered 3,804 fatalities among civilians, the highest ever recorded by UNAMA since 2009 [when the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) first began counting civilian fatalities]. The previous high of 3,701 fatalities was recorded in 2014. The fatalities in the civilian category remained under 3,000 for four out of the five years between 2009 and 2013. Civilian fatalities stood at 3,133 in 2011.

Meanwhile, according to the latest quarterly report released on January 30, 2109, by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), as of October 22, 2018, only 54 per cent of Afghan Districts were under the influence or control of the Afghan Government, as against 72 per cent in November 2015. On the other hand, Districts under insurgents influence or control increased from seven per cent in November 2015, to 12 per cent in October 2018. Similarly, Districts ‘under contention’ increased from 21 per cent in November 2015 to 34 per cent in October 2018. In absolute terms, in October 2018, there were a total of 74 Districts under Government control and another 145 under its influence, as against 12 under insurgent control and 38 under their influence. The number of contested Districts was 138.  Afghanistan has a total of 407 Districts.

Conspicuously, the overall security situation in Afghanistan has rapidly deteriorated since the ill-advised deployment of under prepared Afghan Forces in the lead role in fight against terrorism, in the aftermath of the premature withdrawal of ISAF personnel in December 2014. However, instead of realizing and correcting its mistake, the US is now contemplating a further troop cut and a 'final exit' from the theatre. In an attempt to justify his stand on withdrawal, US President Donald Trump argued, on January 2, 2019,

... So you take a look at other countries. Pakistan is there; they should be fighting. But Russia should be fighting. The reason Russia was in Afghanistan was because terrorists were going into Russia. They were right to be there. The problem is it was a tough fight. And literally, they went bankrupt. They went into being called Russia again, as opposed to the Soviet Union. You know, a lot these places you're reading about now are no longer a part of Russia because of Afghanistan. But why isn't Russia there? Why isn't India there? Why isn't Pakistan there? Why are we there, and we're 6,000 miles away?

Apart from the evident ignorance of both history and geopolitics manifest in this statement, it is clear that the US is now virtually admitting defeat and has intensified attempts to reach out for a face saving solution, even as the Taliban becomes more powerful than it has been at any stage since 2001. Indeed, the two sides have held several rounds of negotiations in Qatar, UAE and Pakistan over the past many months. On March 2, 2019, just a day after the March 1, 2019, attack on the Helmand Military base where both the Afghan and US Forces are stationed, and, which killed 23 Afghan personnel, the US resumed talks with the Taliban in Doha. Referring to the talks, Taliban 'spokesperson' Zabihullah Mujahid in a statement released on March 3, 2019, disclosed,

The current round of talks in Doha are advancing on a step-by-step basis. As the issue at hand is immensely crucial and delicate, its progression is taking place with that much care and vigilance. The talks during January saw an agreement regarding withdrawal of occupying forces and preventing Afghanistan from being used against others, but this round of talks are about the details and nature of these two issues. It should be mentioned that no understanding has so far been reached about any agreement or document.

Ironically, on February 25, 2019, US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad thanked Pakistan for facilitating the travel of Taliban leaders to Qatar for the current round of talks held in Doha. An unnamed US embassy spokesperson in Kabul revealed on December 15, 2018, "The United States welcomes any actions by the Pakistani government to promote greater cooperation, including fostering negotiations between the Taliban, the Afghan government, and other Afghans." A day earlier, Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan had disclosed,

By the grace of Allah, the dialogue is now happening inshallah [God willing] on the 17th and Pakistan has facilitated the talks between America and the Taliban. Imran did not share further details. Significantly, the US has sought to put intense pressure on Pakistan to end support to the Taliban and Haqqani network on numerous occasions in the past, and has targeted terrorists connected with these formations repeatedly on Pakistani soil in a succession of drone attacks.

Pakistan the principal destabilizer in Afghanistan has thus been ceded the role of central player by the US in the talks with the Taliban. The move has rightly been opposed by the Afghanistan. In a letter to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Afghanistan's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Nazifullah Salarzai observed, on February 15, 2019, that Pakistan's invitation to the Taliban amounted to a violation of Afghanistan's national sovereignty. The letter argued, further, that as there was no co-ordination with the Afghan Government, this process posed a serious threat to the country's security. In a tweet, Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sibghatullah Ahmadi added, Pakistan's move not only undermines the ongoing peace efforts but also falls in violation of UNSC Resolution 1988.

The possibilities of peace in Afghanistan are rapidly receding, as Pakistan and its terrorist proxies, emboldened by the ‘defeat’ of the US and its Coalition partners, are likely to create more chaos in the country, and potentially in the wider South Asian region. Forces rooted in an ideology of religious hatred and extremist unreason are progressively being promoted with the active cooperation of the US and its partners, even as an elected Government at Kabul is marginalized in the negotiation process.


INDIA

      Print

Kerala: Creeping Incursions
Nijeesh N.
Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management

On February 12, 2019, a three-member armed group of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) came to the house of one Biju in Jeerakapara village in Kozhikode District. The Maoists interacted with the family and demanded food. The group included Geetha aka Sundari aka Sindu, who is among three Maoists accused in the Vellamunda Maoist Case being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). In this case, three Maoists with deadly weapons had trespassed into the house of A.B. Pramod, Senior Civil Police Officer, trained their guns at him and threatened to kill him.

On January 14, 2019, a four-member ‘team’ of Maoists ‘visited’ Vaniyampuzha Adivasi (tribal) Colony in Malappuram District and pasted posters demanding that tea estate workers should be given INR 800 as daily wage and should not be terminated from their jobs. They also collected food items from the people. Later on, January 17, 2019, acting on information shared by Kerala Police about this incident, Tamil Nadu’s Naxalite Special Division (NSD) team conducted combing operations in several villages near the place, on the Tamil Nadu side, where the incident was reported. They were unable to locate any Maoists.

There have been at least three reported incidents of Maoists ‘visiting’ residential areas or being sighted in 2019, thus far (data till March 3, 2019). These incidents have been reported from three districts (Kannur, Malappuram and Kozhikode) out of a total of 14 Districts in Kerala. During the corresponding period of 2018, one such incident was reported, from Kozhikode. Through 2018, there were seven incidents reported from three districts (Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Wayanad). The year 2017 recorded four such incidents, again from Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Wayanad. 

Of these four Districts – Kannur, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad – from where Maoist sightings have been reported, two – Malappuram and Wayanad – fall along the Kerala-Karnataka-Tamil Nadu (KKT) tri-junction, an emerging safe-haven for the Maoists. The third District from Kerala, which falls along the tri-junction, is Palakkad. In the KKT tri-junction, the Maoists function under their Western Ghats Special Zonal Committee (WGSZC). According to an article written by the then underground Kerala Maoist leader Rupesh (now in prison) in ‘Mathrubhumi’ weekly in 2013, the WGSZC was formed to target Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu in view of the 'exploitation faced by scores of tribals, Scheduled Caste people, landless poor farmers' in these areas, as against the booming economic prospects of nearby cities such as Erode, Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu), Palakkad, Kochi, Kozhikode (Kerala) and Mangalore (Karnataka). The Maoist move is said to be part of an ambitious plan to extend the purported Red Corridor from Jharkhand to Wayanad.

Not surprisingly, on April 16, 2018, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) revised the existing list of Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected Districts in the country covered under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme and added three districts from Kerala – Malappuram, Palakkad and Wayanad – to the list for the first time. Never in the past, has any District from Kerala been included in such a list. Though the number of LWE-affected Districts had decreased from 126 in 10 States to 90 in 11 States, eight new districts (including three from Kerala) were added to the revised list.

The UMHA notification in this regard stated,

...In order to counter Maoist efforts to expand their influence in the tribal areas at the tri-junction of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, three Districts of Kerala have been included in the list of SRE Districts. Despite the fact that there is hardly any violence in the new Districts, the move is pre-emptive…

Moreover, a report dated September 8, 2018, stated that, according to the intelligence wing of the anti-Naxal [Left Wing Extremism] squad of the Kerala Police, the ‘Western Ghats Special Zonal Committee (WGSZC)’ of the CPI-Maoist had been increasing the strength of its armed wing, the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), in five Districts of Kerala: Palakkad, Wayanad, and Malappuram, included in the SRE list; as well as Kannur and Kozhikode. The report also claimed that a meeting, which was attended by ‘central committee members’ of the party and members of the ‘Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC)’, had decided to strengthen five ‘branch committees’ in these five Districts.

That these Districts are under the radar of the Maoists is also evident from a report submitted by the Kerala Police to the State Government in January 2019, stating that Maoist cadres frequent around 74 tribal settlements in Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode rural, Malappuram and Palakkad, to propagate their ‘cause’. These include 29 colonies in Palakkad, 17 in Wayanad, 15 in Malappuram, eight in Kannur, and five in Kozhikode rural. The report added that gun-wielding cadres have been ‘taking classes’, lasting 45 minutes to one hour, on how the government was ignoring tribal people in several colonies, besides seeking food and clothes. The report stated further that that Maoist cadres have also been threatening tourist resort managements and extorting money. They extorted INR 30,000 from a resort under Padinjarethara Police Station limits in Wayanad District, besides demanding that the resort promoters to give them INR 200,000 per annum.

Significantly, Police arrested a Maoist leader, identified as Danish Krishna aka Dennis, a native of Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, from the Bhuthayur tribal settlement in Attappady in Palakkad District on October 5, 2018. Danish Krishna, who belonged to the ‘Kabani and Bhavani divisions’ of PLGA, was hiding in the tribal settlement, masking his identity. Police later stated that he was active in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, organising tribal people and forcing them to turn against the State.

According to a October 16, 2018, report, Central and State security agencies assessed that Maoist activities had become dangerous in the state (Kerala). An unnamed senior Police officer was quoted as saying, “Maoists are now even more dangerous as they’ve acquired weapons including AK-47. They’re establishing a strong presence in the forests spread across the Kerala-Karnataka-Tamil Nadu tri-junction.”

According to a January 7, 2019, report, there are at least 16 Naxalites front organisations that double up as human rights organisations when there is any police or government action. Intelligence agencies also disclosed that there are around 80 Naxalites operating in the Western Ghats region, who frequently move across the borders of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. These cadres were mostly confined to Kerala, after other two states (Karnataka and Tamil Nadu) recently put the heat on them.

These are worrying signs, though, as stated by the UMHA, there is a visible absence of violence. According to partial data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), Kerala has not recorded a single Maoist-linked fatality through 2018. The last Maoist-linked fatality from Kerala was reported on November 24, 2016, when two CPI-Maoist leaders, including 'central committee (CC)’ member and ‘secretary’ of the WGSZC, Kuppuswamy Devarajan aka Shanker, and Ajitha aka Kaveri, a woman leader, were killed, in an encounter with the Police inside the Nilambur Forest in Malappuram District. Since 2005, Kerala has recorded two incidents of killing, with three fatalities (all Maoists) (data till March 3, 2019).

Clearly, the State Government has so far succeeded in containing Maoist attempts to spread their influence in Kerala, by adopting several measures. For instance, on May 9, 2018, the State Government announced a Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation package for Maoists operating in the State. According to the scheme, the extremists were categorised at three levels, based on their operations and their role in the organisation. However, no surrender has been reported in Kerala since the announcement of the new scheme.

Further, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan informed the State Assembly in March 2018, that the Government, in its bid to combat the Maoist menace, was in the process of recruiting 75 tribal men and women to the civil police through the Public Service Commission. No further report is available in this regard.

On December 30, 2018, A.K. Balan, the Minister in charge of law, culture, and the welfare of backward classes, in a bid to keep tribals away from Maoist activists, announced,

... At least one person in every tribal family should be employed by the government so that they would remain committed to the government and the society. They would then protect the interests of the government and oppose anti-government acts. This is a psychological approach. emptive…

Further details about the plan are not available.

Meanwhile, according to a January 5, 2019, report, Kerala Police along with a unit of the ‘Thunderbolts’ – the commando wing of the India Reserve Battalion, an elite anti-Maoist formation – started their special Operation Anaconda against Maoists in the tri-junction region, following reports of the sighting of armed Maoist cadres in the area. Kerala Director General of Police (DGP) Loknath Behera disclosed that attempts had been made to rope in the Police Forces of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka for combined search operations. However, he refused to divulge the strength of the search team or details of the locations where combing operations were conducted. 

The Maoists have been forced by the Security Forces to retreat from areas of their dominance during in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and Chhattisgarh over the past few years have been trying to venture into territories which are at present not adequately policed by SFs. The KKT tri-junction area is one such region. It is imperative for State Governments as well as the Central Government to ensure that the region is provided adequate security. Moreover, the Kerala Government should actively engage with vulnerable sections of the local population to address some ‘popular issues’, such as tribal and dalit struggles, land rights, etc., which can be exploited by the Maoists to expand their influence.

 
NEWS BRIEFS

Weekly Fatalities: Major Conflicts in South Asia 
February 25 - March 3, 2019

 

Civilians

Security Force Personnel

Terrorists/Insurgents

Total

INDIA

 

Jammu and Kashmir

0
5
4
9

INDIA (Left-Wing Extremism)

 

Chhattisgarh

0
0
1
1

Jharkhand

1
0
4
5

Maharashtra

0
0
8
8

INDIA (Total)

1
5
17
23

PAKISTAN

 

Balochistan

0
0
2
2

Sindh

0
1
0
1

PAKISTAN (Total)

0
1
2
3
Provisional data compiled from English language media sources.
 

AFGHANISTAN

US troops to exit in three to five years, says report: A plan under consideration as part of the peace negotiations would pull all of the roughly 14,000 US troops from Afghanistan within three to five years, along with other international troops in the region. Portions of the plan were shared with the outlet by current and former US and European officials. The plan would halve the US troop presence in Afghanistan in the next few months. With European and Australian troops taking charge of training Afghan forces, remaining US forces would be freed up to focus more attention on counterterrorism strikes. Taliban in a statement released on October 28 rejected the reports and said such a suggestion was not raised in their talks with US negotiators in Qatar. Tolo News, March 3, 2019. 

Both Afghan nation and Taliban are tired of war in Afghanistan, says Hizb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar: The Hizb-e-Islami (HeI) leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar on February 26 said that everyone in Afghanistan, including the Taliban, are tired of the war and that the group is now "serious" about a political settlement to the conflict in the country. "I feel that not only our nation but also a majority of Taliban fighters are also tired of war and want peace," Hekmatyar said in an interview to the portal. "There is a possibility that a smaller number of them [Taliban] will still insist on war." Gulbuddin Hekmatyar signed a peace deal with the Afghan Government in 2016. Tolo News, February 28, 2019. 


BANGLADESH

Any Jamaat leader involved in war crimes will face trial, says Law minister Anisul Huq: Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq said if any Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) leader is found to have links with war crimes, he will have to face trial -- no matter which name the party takes in future. "Jamaat's appeal against the High Court judgement that cancelled its registration as a political party is currently pending with the Appellate Division. If the apex court upholds the High Court order, Jamaat's registration will finally be scrapped and they will not be able to operate in Bangladesh as a political party," he told reporters. The Daily Star , February 27, 2019. 

  
INDIA

Indian jets hit JeM camp near Balakot in Pakistan, confirms Masood Azhar's brother Maulana Ammar: Maulana Ammar, the younger brother of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) leader Masood Azhar, in an audio confirmed that Indian fighter jets hit the JeM camp near Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. In an audio clip available on social media, the voice identified as Maulana Ammar decries the bombing of the "markaz" (a center of religious learning) and expresses anguish over India striking a center where jihad was being taught rather than the headquarters of an official agency. "Today the enemy has answered all questions itself when the enemy crossed the mountains and entered our land and launched attacks on our Islamic center," Maulana Ammar said, adding "This is declaration of war by the enemy." The speech is understood to have been delivered a day after the air strikes at a gathering of clerics at Peshawar;. Hindustan Times, March 3, 2019.

Government of India imposes ban on Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir: The Government of India on February 28 declared Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), Jammu and Kashmir as an unlawful organization for a period of five years on the ground that it was in close touch with militant outfits and supporting extremism. According to a notification in this regard, issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA), Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) has been indulging in activities, which are prejudicial to internal security, public order and have the potential of disrupting the unity and integrity of the country. "The Central Government is of the opinion that JeI is in close touch with militant outfits and is supporting extremism and militancy in Jammu Kashmir and elsewhere," read the notification;. Daily Excelsior , March 1, 2019.

Unresolved Naga issue the major challenge faced by state, states Nagaland CM: Nagaland Chief Minister (CM) on February 25 stated in the Legislative Assembly that the unresolved Naga Political issue as one of the major challenges faced by the state. While appreciating the positive steps undertaken by the negotiating parties, the Chief Minister appealed for expediting the peace process and to bring about an early political resolution for lasting peace and all-round development. Nagaland Post , February 19, 2019.

  
MALDIVES

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih speaks out against religious extremism: President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on February 26 urged the citizens of Maldives not to advocate religious extremism. While addressing at the opening ceremony of "The National Dialogue on Promoting Peace and Security" organized by National Counter Terrorism Center and UNDP, the president said ideologies that support radical Islam could upset the peace and security of the nation. He further noted that Maldivians have always co-existed peacefully in unity without much difference in opinion over matters. Avas, February 23, 2019.

 
 
PAKISTAN

Daesh chief of Sindh-Balochistan chapter killed along with his deputy in Police encounter in Balochistan: The Daesh/Islamic State (IS) chief of Sindh-Balochistan chapter, Molvi Abdullah Brohi and his deputy Hafeez Brohi, were killed in an encounter by the Shikarpur Police (Sindh) in Sibi District of Balochistan on February 28. Sajjad Ameer Sadozai, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shikarpur told the media persons during press conference held at his office that Molvi Abdullah Brohi and Hafeez Brohi, the Ameer (chief) and Naib Ameer (Deputy chief) of Daish Sindh and Balochistan chapter, respectively, were involved in plotting and carrying out many suicide attacks, remote control blasts and IDE blasts in Sindh and Balochistan. Daily Times, March 1, 2019.

Banned but renamed JuD, FIF still functioning; ICT promises to take action: Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration, on February 25, reaffirmed to take action against proscribed organizations functioning while altering their original names. Deputy Commissioner (DC) of the territory Hamza Shafaq said that Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) are banned at national level. "They are banned and will not be allowed to work at any cost until the ban is removed by the government", he claimed. The DC said that as per his information, no such outlets of these organizations were currently working in any part of ICT. Daily Times, February 26, 2019.

 
SRI LANKA

Counter Terrorism Bill repressive, if enacted; says SLPP: Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said that the Counter Terrorism Bill, if enacted, would be repressive of all the institutions, the trade unions and the media. SLPP Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris said that it was a bizarre piece of legislation seeking to terrorise all the institutions under the pretext of countering terrorism. He said Section 3(C) of the Bill seeks to define any damage to the Government properties and facilities as acts of terrorism. Daily Mirror , February 28, 2019.

Military fully cooperating with Police to eliminate organized crimes, says Army Chief Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake: The Security Forces (SFs) had extended the fullest support to the police to eradicate organised crimes, Commander of the Sri Lanka Army Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake said on February 25. Responding to a question posed by journalists on the role of the army in dealing with the underworld, Senanayake said that the responsibility of ensuring law and order lay with the Police. The Island , February 28, 2019.

For assessments on other South Asian countries and for daily news updates on terrorism visit
South Asia Terrorism Portal 
 

The South Asia Intelligence Review (SAIR) is a weekly service that brings you regular data, assessments and news briefs on terrorism, insurgencies and sub-conventional warfare, on counter-terrorism responses and policies, as well as on related economic, political, and social issues, in the South Asian region.

SAIR is a project of the Institute for Conflict Management and the South Asia Terrorism Portal

 
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