The designation on June 26 of Hizbul Mujahideen leader Syed Salahuddin as a ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorist’ by the U.S. set off a fresh round of signalling. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan spoke up in support of Salahuddin. New Delhi pinned its hopes on the designation choking Salahuddin’s movements and his financing. The day after Salahuddin was so designated, both the United States and India put the development in perspective in the joint statement, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met President Donald Trump. It enlarged the scope of cooperation on terrorism to include standing shoulder-to-shoulder against, among other terrorist entities, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, D-Company and their affiliates.
Exactly how much all this will affect the situation on the ground is uncertain. But considering that Salahuddin was emboldened enough to participate soon thereafter in a long and indulgent television interview, where he leisurely promised more terrorist attacks and pooh-poohed any deleterious effect the American characterisation might have, boasting that he could source any kind of arms to further his activities, the difficulties ahead for New Delhi cannot be overstated.
Masood, Hafiz Saeed precedents
Salahuddin has obviously made a careful study of the effect of such designations. The Jaish-e-Mohammed, for example has been on the U.S. State Department’s list since December 2001; as has been the Lashkar-e-Taiba. For over a decade and a half, despite being designated terrorists, both Masood Azhar of JeM and Hafiz Saeed of LeT have thrived, as have their organisations. Meanwhile, the attacks in Jammu and Kashmir continue. It is also established that most terrorist organisations have organic linkage with other similar organisations. Salahuddin is able to function without any impediments from both Rawalpindi, the headquarters of the Pakistan Army, where he maintains his house, as well as from Muzaffarabad, where the interview was conducted.
Where this leaves the intention in the Modi-Trump joint statement that “(the) leaders stressed that... terrorist safe havens (must be) rooted out in every part of the world” is open to interpretation. Safe havens are areas where terrorists are able to operate in assuredly secure circumstances, recruiting, training, planning, raising funds and carrying out attacks. All this Salahuddin and people of his ilk are able to do with such ease.
Yet, the intentions of such designations cannot be in doubt. It is the efficacy with which they are implemented that needs to be constantly challenged. Is Mr. Trump going to lean on Pakistan heavily enough? Can that alone be the central plank in India’s war on terrorism? China, Pakistan’s biggest backer, has repeatedly stymied diplomatic efforts to have terrorists inimical to India proscribed by the United Nations. All this underlines a certain inadequacy in the strategy. If the cat isn’t catching the mice, it may well be time to change the method by which the mice need to be caught.