Terrorism is a growing problem around the world, and countries are constantly looking for better ways to fight it. In a recent joint statement at the United Nations, India, Brazil, and South Africa—three major democracies from the developing world—have called for decisive action against global terrorism. These three nations, working together through the IBSA Dialogue Forum, believe that by strengthening their cooperation, they can improve their ability to stop terrorism in its tracks. This cooperation is vital to ensuring that terrorists are brought to justice, safe havens are eliminated, and attacks are prevented before they happen.

The IBSA Partnership: A Powerful Alliance

IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) is a partnership between these countries that was created in 2003 to help them work together on issues that affect them, especially in areas like security and development. What makes IBSA stand out is that it focuses on countries in the Global South—nations that are often overlooked by Western powers when it comes to major global issues like terrorism.

By working together, these countries can share important information, offer technical assistance, and train each other to improve their counter-terrorism strategies. This way, they can build up their defenses and respond to threats more effectively.

The Call for Global Action

During the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, along with his Brazilian and South African counterparts, emphasized the urgent need to eliminate safe havens for terrorists. They called for collective action to go after all UN-listed terrorist groups, including notorious organizations like Al-Qaeda and ISIS.

Gaps in Global Cooperation

Nishakant Ojha, a cybersecurity and counter-terrorism expert, highlighted that many countries are not sharing intelligence quickly enough, which gives terrorists an opportunity to act. According to Ojha, this lack of real-time information sharing is one of the biggest gaps in global efforts to stop terrorism.

When countries get valuable intelligence, it often takes too long to verify and act on it. This delay can lead to missed chances to prevent attacks. Ojha believes that to truly combat terrorism, nations need to develop systems that allow them to share intelligence immediately, preventing attacks before they happen.

Learning from Past Attacks

Terrorism has deeply affected many regions around the world, especially South Asia and Africa. One of the deadliest examples was the 2019 Easter Sunday attack in Sri Lanka, which killed over 300 people. This tragic event, along with others like the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the 2014 Peshawar school shooting, shows how vulnerable certain regions are to terrorism. According to the Global Terrorism Database, South Asia accounts for a staggering 31% of all terrorist attacks globally.

Africa, too, has seen a sharp rise in terrorist incidents. Between 2000 and 2018, attacks in Africa skyrocketed from 330 to over 2,000. Alongside this rise in attacks, military spending has also increased, but more military power alone isn’t enough. Without better intelligence and cooperation, countries are struggling to respond quickly to terrorist threats.

Cracking Down on Terrorist Funding

One of the biggest challenges in fighting terrorism is tracking how these groups get their money. Terrorists often use informal financial systems like Hawala, which makes it harder for governments to trace their transactions. In recent years, terrorists have also turned to digital currencies like Bitcoin to hide their funding sources.

Ojha stressed that if countries are serious about stopping terrorism, they need to work together to close these financial loopholes. Organizations like the Financial Action Task Force, which is dedicated to combating money laundering and terrorist financing, need to put more pressure on countries that allow these activities to continue.

The Online Radicalization Threat

Another growing concern is the rise of online radicalization. Terrorist groups are increasingly using social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram to spread their propaganda and recruit new members. Worryingly, more women are being targeted in these online campaigns, making it a serious issue that governments need to address.

Ojha believes that tech companies must act quickly to remove terrorist content from their platforms. By taking down this harmful material, governments and companies can work together to stop the spread of radical ideologies.

The Importance of Real-Time Intelligence Sharing

For countries like India, Brazil, and South Africa, effective counter-terrorism efforts rely heavily on real-time intelligence sharing. Terrorist activities often cross borders, and being able to respond quickly is crucial. Whether it’s stopping online recruitment, preventing cross-border trafficking, or shutting down terrorist financing, the speed at which countries can share and act on intelligence can make all the difference.

Ojha stressed that real-time cooperation between law enforcement, military, and counter-terrorism agencies is essential. He also believes that IBSA could be a powerful force for change, particularly in addressing the specific threats faced by the Global South. By focusing on regional security and enhancing intelligence-sharing mechanisms, IBSA can help its member countries respond more quickly to non-traditional security threats like terrorism.

A New Approach for the Global South

Ojha pointed out that many current counter-terrorism strategies are influenced by Western powers, which often don’t take into account the unique challenges faced by countries in the Global South. IBSA, on the other hand, can offer a more tailored approach, focusing on regions like Africa, South Asia, and Latin America—areas that are frequently targeted by terrorists but don’t always receive the same level of attention as Western nations.

By working together, IBSA can advocate for changes in the international system, including reforms to the UN Security Council. This would help create a stronger global framework for fighting terrorism, one that reflects the needs of all nations, not just the Western world.

A United Front

India, Brazil, and South Africa are coming together to address the growing threat of terrorism, and their partnership through IBSA could be a game-changer. By sharing intelligence in real-time, cracking down on terrorist financing, and working with tech companies to stop online radicalization, these countries are taking bold steps to keep their people safe.

The message from these three nations is clear: only by working together can we hope to defeat terrorism and make the world a safer place for everyone.