Countering Insurgencies and Violent Extremism in South and South East Asia

Description

This volume of case studies examines the rise in violent extremism, terrorism and insurgency in South and South East Asia, and subsequent state responses. The South and South East of Asia has experienced various forms of extremism and violence for years, with a growing demand for academic or policy-relevant work that will enhance understanding of the reasons behind this. The violent challenges in this area have taken a variety of forms and are often exacerbated by lack of governance, tie-ins to existing regional criminal networks, colonial legacies and a presence of international terrorist movements. Written by experts with field experience, this volume analyzes the key element of successful response as the appropriate application of doctrine following nuanced assessment of threat. In practice, this often means counterinsurgency doctrine. The essays also analyze the need for irregular war practitioners to systematically examine the changing character of intrastate violent irregular challenges. The volume fills a gap in the understanding of patterns, drivers, organizations and ideologies of various insurgent and terrorist groups, and state responses. It also provides a set of recommendations for addressing the unfolding situation. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of Illustrations List of Contributors Introduction: Understanding insurgencies and violent extremism in South and South East Asia Understanding insurgencies, terrorism, violent extremism and irregular warfare This volume Emerging challenges Cautious optimism – or false dawn? Quagmires Victory? Future pathways Notes Bibliography Part I: Emerging challenges Chapter 1: Countering the Islamic State in Asia Introduction Caliphate calling Islamic State’s failure in Asia Eliminating the Islamic State in Asia The Islamic State’s future in Asia Conclusion Notes Bibliography Chapter 2: The Philippines’ counter-terror conundrum: Marawi and Duterte’s battle against the Islamic State Introduction IS pivot to the Philippines IS pivot to Asia Philippines counter-terror infrastructure Looming challenges Notes Bibliography Chapter 3: The evolution of violent extremism and state response in Indonesia Introduction Indonesia’s fractured nationalism and the persistence of Islamic opposition The evolving threat from Islamic extremism in Indonesia 1999–2009: Jemaah Islamiyah and the first phase of Islamic extremism Nature of the threat 2016–present: ISIS and the second phase of Islamic extremism The future of countering violent extremism in Indonesia Conclusion Notes References Chapter 4: The Rohingya and Myanmar’s counter terrorism approach The attacks Examining ARSA Counter terrorism strategy The State response Overwhelming and disproportionate force ARSA presented as a large jihadist organization with global links Using the civilian government as a shield Persecute the messenger The future Notes References Chapter 5: Emerging violent radical Islamism in the Maldives Introduction Defining the problem Roots of conflict Losing the battle of the narrative Threat strategy Present Maldivian response Conclusion Notes Bibliography Part II: Cautious optimism – or false dawn? Chapter 6: Back to the future: Nepali people’s war as “new war” Maoist methodology: the period of overt war (1996–2006) Maoist methodology: the period of covert war Maoist methodology: covert war becomes “new war” Conclusion Notes Bibliography Chapter 7: India’s two-track response to the Naxalite movement: Security and development, but no political process The roots of the Naxalite movement The strategy of managing multi-tracked responses to insurgency The predominant tracks of India’s response: security and development Explaining relative the lack of progress along a political track Conclusions Notes Bibliography Chapter 8: Delimiting an Indian strategic approach to counterinsurgency Introduction Indian counterinsurgency strategic approach Cases of counterinsurgency success Mizoram Punjab Tripura Andhra Pradesh Parameters of engagement Explaining festering conflicts A lead counterinsurgent force Gaining popular support A question of human rights Preparing ground for a political solution Conclusion Notes Bibliography Chapter 9: Countering violent extremism: The Singapore experience Introduction The threat of JI in Singapore Responding to JI: operational and strategic approaches Singapore’s unique counter-ideological program Religious counseling for detained JI members The religious rehabilitation group (RRG) Responding to the ideological threat of ISIS The inter-agency aftercare group (ACG) Islamic religious council of Singapore (MUIS) Lessons learnt from the Singapore experience Importance of countering extremist ideology Government and community partnership Role of civil society and non-governmental organizations Conclusion Notes Bibliography Chapter 10: Challenges in counter terrorism and counter violent extremism in Malaysia Current threats Re-emerging threats: Jemaah Islamiyah in Malaysia Roots of radicalization in Malaysia Islamization in Malaysia Promoting moderation State responses Counter-terrorism laws Ideological approaches and concerns Policing and law enforcement Civil society engagement Conclusion Notes Bibliography Part III: Quagmires Chapter 11: The counterinsurgency quandary in post-2001 Afghanistan 1 Introduction 2 The challenge 2.1 Insurgent structure, organization, linkages 2.2 Factors aiding the insurgency 2.3 Changing character of the insurgency 3 Afghan counterinsurgency approach 3.1 The legacy of previous Afghan governments 3.2 The ISAF legacy 3.3 Post-ISAF Afghan counterinsurgency 4 Conclusion Notes Bibliography Chapter 12: Insurgency and violent extremism in Pakistan Introduction Anti-state groups Insurgent and foreign groups Jihadi and other extremist organizations Counterterrorism and counterinsurgency Strategies Military operations Operation Zarb-e-Azb Ongoing security concerns: from North Waziristan to Punjab Signs of a new realism Looking ahead Conclusion Notes References Chapter 13: Counterinsurgency in Pakistan: The role of legitimacy Background to the insurgency Background to the counterinsurgency Chief errors The offensives against the Pakistani Taliban Lessons of the Pakistani campaigns Notes Bibliography Chapter 14: Thailand’s south: Roots of conflict Search for roots of conflict Contending narratives Conclusion Notes Bibliography Part IV: Victory? Chapter 15: Size still matters: Explaining Sri Lanka’s counterinsurgency victory over the Tamil Tigers Introduction Conflict background Evaluating competing explanations Force employment Insurgent attributes Leadership An alternative explanation of material preponderance Manpower and resources Exogenously driven material changes A quantitative analysis of material preponderance Conclusion Findings Implications Acknowledgments Notes References Chapter 16: Sri Lanka: State response to Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Initial reaction to “terrorist” challenge Transformation of threat Transformation of response Lessons in an era of “New War” Notes Bibliography Conclusion: Framing effective responses and future pathways Emerging challenges The continuing threat of the Islamic State (IS) Re-emerging threats Changing character of insurgency External funding, sanctuaries, and transnational linkages Vulnerability of multi-ethnic societies and governance deficits Effective responses Possibility of victory? Notes Bibliography Index