Pakistan and Non-State Actors

India shares 3,323 km of its land border with Pakistan which runs along the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh.

The Indo-Pakistan border is characterized by attempts of infiltration by the terrorists and smuggling of the arms, ammunition and contraband, the LoC being the most active and live portion of the border.

Jihadi Terrorism

The jihadi threat to India originates from six sources:

  1. The Pakistani state-backed ‘jihad’, especially in Kashmir
  2. Bangladesh where jihadis are set to grow in strength
  3. The growth of jihadi groups in West Asia
  4. The failure of the big powers to contain Jihadism internationally
  5. The Indian State’s failure to strengthen the rule of law
  6. Radicalisation of Indian Muslims by Urdu newspapers, Islamic clerics as well as Muslim and Hindu Islamists, i.e. those Hindus who support the cause of Islamists directly or indirectly

Role of Non-State Actors

The role of non-state actors is essentially in the employment of a proxy element, which gives the state of Pakistan a degree of deniability. However, there is no doubt that none of the so called non-state actors like the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) could have operated with impunity without the active funding, logistical and military support of Pakistan.

  • The close linkages of the ISI and such groups are well documented as is their direct involvement in attacks like 26/11. These groups aim to not only create instability in states like J&K, they also have a larger aim of destabilising the country.
  • This is done through sporadic terrorist strikes, which spreads terror and panic. This could also adversely affect the ability of the Indian state to pursue economic modernisation. The flooding of the country with counterfeits is also a way of weakening the economy.

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