The Extent of Terrorism in South Asia: A Study on Historical Perspective of Terrorism

Abstract

Terrorism is one of the most significant contemporary governance and security challenges faced by South Asia in the recent decades. Lack of education, poverty, unemployment, religious extremism, and ethnic conflict, inter-regional conflict between states, Indo-Pak relation, and inefficient criminal justice system has made the region a safe house of terrorism. Furthermore, political relationships among states characterized by suspicion, mistrust, and, often, outright hostility, have prevented the development of strong and effective regional cooperative mechanisms in South Asia. The study here reveals the growth of terrorism in this region and the factors of terrorism that motivated the terrorist groups to spread their activities here. Secondary sources have been used mainly to make historical origin of terrorism and making assessment of terrorist parties. Through historical analysis mainly the growth of terrorism in each country of South Asia has been described and the key factors that accelerated the spread of terrorism has been stated. The list of terrorist parties of each area along with their objectives, ideology, leadership, methods of operation, funding sources has been also shown precisely. The study concludes with the national and international efforts in combating terrorism in South Asia.