Understanding Suicide Terrorism

Radhika Halder

Understanding Suicide Terrorism aims to explore the different aspects involved in suicide terrorism for a better understanding of the tactic which has become a global phenomenon and threat today. The book aims to help inform holistic policy making by tracing the evolution of the use of suicide as a weapon in conflict and the emergence of modern-day suicide terrorism. The book uses case studies of prominent terror outfits to have used the tactic rather confidently and consistently and suggests that suicide terrorism must be understood as the interplay of three vital components—the individual committing the act, the organization employing the tactic and, the state environment contributing to the culture of suicide terrorism. Subsequently, a purely weapons-based approach to counter terrorism cannot be relied upon to solve a threat such as suicide terrorism which is so deeply ingrained in ideology and symbolism. The book comes at a time when suicide terrorism has been one of the most potent and effective tools for individuals and entities to achieve what they perceive as goals and shall inevitably remain a challenge for policy makers and security establishments to deal with.

Radhika Halder Ms. Radhika Halder is a researcher of International Relations, and her areas of interest include global terrorism, radicalization and violent extremism as well as regional security and politics in South Asia. This book is the product of her research project at the Centre for Air Power Studies, where she worked as Research Associate.

Ms. Halder has had the privilege of presenting papers at several Indian Air Force Command Seminars in addition to frequent interactions with the Armed Forces personnel in India. She has also published papers in peer reviewed national and international journals.

Ms. Halder completed her Masters’ in International Relations from the University of Sussex, England. At present, she is based in Kathmandu, Nepal where she works with Niti Foundation, a public-policy driven organisation responsible for supporting analysis, guidance, and recommendations widely available to policy-makers implementing federalism in Nepal.

Contents

Acknowledgements

Preface

Introduction

1. Understanding Definitions
2. The Origins of Suicide Terrorism: A Historical Overview
3. Dimensions of the Phenomenon
4. Analysing Suicide Terrorism through Case Studies: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and Al Qaeda
5. Analysing Suicide Terrorism Through Anti-India Terror Groups: Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad
6. Evaluating the Vulnerabilities of States Dealing with Suicide Terrorism
7. Conclusion