Terrorism cannot, should not be linked to any religion, nationality or group: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah. File Pic

India recognises that the threat of terrorism "cannot and should not" be linked to any religion, nationality or group, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday.

Addressing a session at the third 'No Money for Terror Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism Financing', he said terrorism is, undoubtedly, the most serious threat to global peace and security but financing terror is "more dangerous".

Terrorists are constantly finding new ways to carry out violence, radicalise youth and raise financial resources, he said.

"We also recognize that the threat of terrorism cannot and should not be linked to any religion, nationality, or group," Shah said adding India has fortified the security architecture as well as the legal and financial systems to fight the menace.

Despite this, terrorists are constantly finding new ways to carry out violence, radicalise youth and raise financial resources. The darknet is being used by terrorists to spread radical content and conceal their identities, he said.

"Additionally, there is an increase in the use of virtual assets like cryptocurrency. We need to understand the patterns of these darknet activities and find their solutions," Shah said.

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Asserting that terrorism is, undoubtedly, the most serious threat to global peace and security, he said, "But I believe that financing of terrorism is more dangerous than terrorism itself because the 'means and methods' of terrorism are nurtured from such funding."

"Furthermore, the financing of terrorism weakens the economy of countries of the world," he said addressing delegates at the conference hosted by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The home minister said the transformation of terrorism from 'Dynamite to Metaverse' and 'AK-47 to Virtual Assets' is a matter of concern for the countries and everyone have to work together to formulate a common strategy against it.

In a veiled attack on Pakistan and China, the home minister said there are countries that "seek to undermine, or even hinder, our collective resolve to fight terrorism".

"We have seen that some countries protect and shelter terrorists. Protecting a terrorist is equivalent to promoting terrorism. It will be our collective responsibility that such elements never succeed in their intentions," he said.

Shah said no one should ignore terrorist safe havens or their resources. "We also have to expose the double-speak of such elements who sponsor and support them."

Therefore, Shah said, it is important that this conference, the participating countries, and the organisations, do not take a selective, or complacent perspective of the challenges of this region.

Terrorists and terrorist groups now understand the nuances of modern weapons and information technology, and the dynamics of the cyber and financial space very well, and use them, he said.

Additionally, there is an increase in the use of virtual assets like cryptocurrency. There is a need to understand the patterns of these darknet activities and find solutions to them, Shah said.

Referring to the regime change in Afghanistan, the home minister said after August 2021, the situation in the South Asian region has changed.

"The regime change and the growing influence of Al-Qaeda and ISIS have emerged as a significant challenge to regional security. These new equations have made the problem of terror financing more serious.

"Three decades ago, the whole world had to bear the serious consequences of one such regime change, the result of which we all have seen in the horrific attack of 9/11," he said.

Shah said in this background, last year's changes in the South Asian region are a matter of concern for everyone. Along with Al-Qaeda, organisations in South Asia like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed continue to spread terror, he said.

India has been a victim of terrorism for several decades, which is sponsored from across the border, the home minister said, adding, "Indian security forces and civilians have had to deal with incidents of extremely serious terrorist violence perpetrated in a sustained and coordinated manner."

"The international community has a collective approach that terrorism must be condemned in all its forms. But the forms and manifestations of terrorism are continuously evolving due to technological revolution," he said.

Shah also referred to India's action against terror financing and legislative changes made to strengthen its action against terrorists and terror groups.

"It is the result of our continuous efforts that terrorist incidents in India have come down drastically. This has also resulted in a drastic reduction in the economic losses caused by terrorism," he said.

The home minister said the emerging trends of the illegal trade of narcotics, and the challenge of narco-terror, have given a new dimension to terror financing.

"In view of this, there is a need for close cooperation among all nations. Multilateral institutions such as the United Nations and the presence of platforms such as the Financial Action Task Force, FATF, are most effective in terms of preventing terrorism in the field of ??combating the financing of terrorism," he said.

Shah said FATF is playing an important role in setting and implementing global standards to prevent and combat, money laundering and terrorist financing.

India remains committed to all efforts to combat terrorism, by sharing intelligence, capacity building for effective border control, preventing misuse of modern technologies, monitoring and preventing illicit financial flows, and cooperating in investigative and judicial processes, the home minister added.

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