United against terror

#GS-02 International Relations #GS-03 Internal Security

For Prelims:

About Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC):

• The Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) was established by Security Council resolution 1373 (2001), which was adopted unanimously on 28 September 2001 in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States.
• In August 2022, H.E. Ms. Ruchira Kamboj, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, was appointed Chair of the CTC.
• The Committee, comprising all 15 Security Council members, was tasked with monitoring implementation of resolution 1373 (2001).
• The resolution requested countries to implement a number of measures intended to enhance their legal and institutional ability to counter terrorist activities at home, in their regions and around the world,

This included taking steps to:

• Criminalize the financing of terrorism
• Freeze without delay any funds related to persons involved in acts of terrorism
• Deny all forms of financial support for terrorist groups
• Suppress the provision of safe haven, sustenance or support for terrorists
• Share information with other governments on any groups practicing or planning terrorist acts
• Cooperate with other governments in the investigation, detection, arrest, extradition and prosecution of those involved in such acts; and
• Criminalize active and passive assistance for terrorism in domestic law and bring violators to justice.

About Delhi Declaration:

• The Delhi Declaration is a non-binding document on countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes and was adopted by CTC on 29 October 2022.
• The Delhi Declaration urged all UN member states to “ensure zero tolerance towards terrorism, consistent with their obligations under international laws” and “take urgent action to prevent and counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestations”.

For Mains:

Concerns of India regarding counter terrorism?

• India has had an uphill battle since 2008 in international cooperation to pursue the Mumbai terror attack case.
• After a brief period of information sharing, Pakistan has dragged its feet on prosecuting even LeT commanders Hafiz Saeed, Zaki-ur-Rahman Lakhvi and others that its Federal Investigative Agency held responsible for the attacks.
• The U.S., which has cooperated in many other ways with India on terrorism, convicted conspirators David Headley and Tahawwur Rana for the attacks, but has refused to extradite them.
• Meanwhile, China continues to block designating LeT leaders on the UNSC 1267 terror list.

What is being done to counter this?

• The government will host an international “No Money For Terror” conference (November 18-19), and a UNSC special briefing on challenges to global counter-terrorism efforts (December 15-16).