Terrorism and Counterterrorism in Asia: A Compass

Terrorism is becoming a growing concern in Asia: More than 250 people have been reported killed and hundreds more injured after at least seven explosions have hit churches and several hotels in Sri Lanka on April 21, Easter Sunday. Other countries in Asia have been hit in recent years, too, especially after the progressive demise of the Islamic State in the Middle East. From the struggle against ISIS in Rodrigo Duterte’s Philippines, to China’s complex Xinjiang issue, to Pakistan’s and Afghanistan’s hardships, Asian countries are tackling the threats posed by global and local terrorist organizations with different strategies, and different outcomes. The same goes for Central Asian countries, where terrorism threatens political stability, and some of the benefits governments hope to gain through the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative. What are the main terrorist groups operating in Asia? How are China, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia or Thailand reacting to the threats of local terrorist groups or foreign fighters returning from the Middle East? And what impact do their countermeasures have on minorities and their rights?