Dr Sudershan Kumar
sudershan.sk12@gmail.com
Radicalization in India is entering a new and complex phase. This phase is far more decentralized digitally driven, and socially embedded than ever before. Unlike the earlier decades, where radicalization was associated primarily with organized terror outfits operating across the borders, the contours today are blurred, multi layered and often invisible until a flash point emerges. The glaring example of this is the terror attack near Red Fort in Delhi on 10th November killing nearly fifteen people and injuring dozens. What has shocked investigators and public is that the attack was allegedly orchestrated by a network of highly educated professionals mostly doctors rather than by a stereotypical image of militants. This new face of radicalization is shaped by Information warfare, Algorithm driven echo chamber, Micro targeting of youth, Identity based fracture lines, Transnational extremist network, and State sponsored psychological operations. Further the convergence religious extremism, etho-national radicalization, lone wolf tendencies and foreign backed hybrid warfare makes this extremely dangerous.
It is a hard fact that Pakistan continues to remain the epicenter of anti India radical campaigns, using technology, social media terror proxies, disinformation networks and strategic manoeuvre to destabilize India’s internal cohesion and challenge its sovereignty, especially in sensitive regions like Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and other parts of North-East. Therefore, it is utmost important to know about radicalization, uncover the new age of radicalization, its drivers, Pakistan’s strategic role and its implication for India’s security and societal harmony. One must also chalk out a road map to counter this evolving threat. Radicalization basically is the process by which an individual or a group adopts increasingly extreme political, social or religions ideologies that may involve the acceptance or the use of violence to achieve their goals. This process can lead to support for or participation in harmful activities, inciting, killing of individuals or terrorism. It is a complex process that can be influenced by various factors such as social isolation, a sense of justice or experiences with conflict or repression. In modern era of technology, the radicalization has shifted from physical recruitment centre, and religious seminaries to encrypted messaging platforms (Telegrams, Whats App, Matrix), social media propaganda and immersive on line communities. Young individuals are exposed to extremist content without stepping outside from their homes. Digital indoctrination now operates through viral videos and misinformation, influencer-style and radical preachers, AI generated deep fakes manipulating religious sentiments, and gamified content that makes extremism appear heroic. Besides, India’s fast expanding smart phone penetration has inadvertently created fertile ground for digital radicalizers operating from abroad especially from rogue nation Pakistan. It may not be out of context to mention here that in the recent past one of the disturbing trends is the radicalization of engineers, professors, doctors and educated youth. The 2014-2024 decade saw increasing examples of educated youth joining ISIS inspired modules, indicating a deep psychological and ideological influence rather than poverty driven motivations. Moreover, Pakistan’s involvement in radicalizing segments of Indian society is neither a new nor accidental. It is a state policy routed in Military doctrine, particularly ISI’s “bleeding India with a thousand cuts” strategy. The new phase, however, is more sophisticated, technology driven and globally net worked.
The various modus operandi adopted by Pakistan’s army its ISI and deep state are :i) Digital Radicalization Machinery. Pakistan uses a network of Inter Services Public Relation (ISPR) units, fake social media accounts, diaspora influencers, radical Preachers abroad, terror linked NGOs to push anti India narratives. These include propaganda on Kashmir, communal polarization, fabricated human right claims and deep fake to incite unrest ii) Terror Proxies Rebranded for Digital Age: Organizations such as LeT, JeM, TRF, Hizbul , Mujahideen, and Al-Bader work as per the instructions received from their masters located in Pakistan. These militant organizations have shifted to digital recruitment and micro targeting across Indian states. They attempt to radicalize Indian youth by the projecting terrorism as resistance and glorifying martyrdom. iii) Funding and Cyber network: Pakistan’s deep state collaborates with global extremist funding networks. Hawala channels, Crypto currency transactions and NGO’s related to some countries help in ideological and operational radicalization iv) Radicalization in Jammu- Kashmir: Kashmir remains the core target of Pakistan’s radicalization project. Using emotional manipulations, historical distortions and digital misinformation, Pakistan’s attempt is to incite separatism, create distrust of Indian Institutions, promote gun culture and mislead youth into proxy terror. Post 2019 after article 370’s abrogation, Pakistan intensified its online radicalization campaign due to failure of physical infiltration. India with its diverse social fabrics economic transitions, digital penetration and geopolitical challenges stands at crucial cross roads.
Therefore, the radicalization among the educated class poses significant threat to India’s security, sovereignty, and social security by creating deep societal division fostering violence and disrupting economic and social progress. This phenomena can lead to a break down of social cohesion, increased extremist recruitment and a loss of faith in government and institutions, all by eroding national security through both overt and covert attacks as well as diverting resources to conflict management. i) Sovereignty and security: Radicalization among the educated youth poses challenges to internal security and encourages lone wolf attacks. Besides, it disrupts commerce, hinder investment and will also divert funds meant for essential services to address security threats and for conflict management ii) Social Stability: The new face of radicalization will erode trust, breed terrorism (through online mode) and ruptures social fabric of India’s pluralistic society. Hence the way forward to counter the new face of radicalization among the elite class of society is described as:i) Strengthen counter narratives through Intellectual engagement :One needs to develop credible ideological counter narratives using universities, think tanks, retired diplomats, former military officers and subject experts. Debunk extremist arguments with evidence based research rather than emotional appeals. Introduce module in higher education on constitutional values, critical thinking, cyber ethics, global terrorism, psychological manipulation and democratic responsibilities.
Prevent campuses from becoming incubation zones for ideological indoctrination ii) Regulate and Monitor Digital influence Network: Elite radicalization often begins through encrypted platforms, webinars, and virtual ideological groups. There is an urgent need to strengthen Cyber surveillance, AI enabled sentiment tracking, mandatory digital foot print assessment, and strict action against radical content creator. Educated radicals often emerge from polarized echo chambers. It is essential to encourage media ethics, fact check systems, responsible journalism and sensitization workshops for content creators to discourage glorification of extremist ideologies. iii) Establish Multi- Agency-De-Radicalization Centers: Elite radicals require intellectual, psychological, legal and social rehabilitation. High Level centres integrating psychologists religious scholars, technologists and security experts should be established for intervention.
It is a well known fact that the radical ideologies are often imported from foreign ideological factories and think tanks. Therefore, there is a need to increase collaboration with global agencies to block funding, propaganda network and ideological export mechanism. iv) Encourage Ethical Leadership and Accountability: Universities, judiciary, corporate sectors, bureaucracy and media houses must uphold values of transparency, patriotism and constitutional loyality. Ethical leadership acts as a strong vaccine against extremist influence. Lastly, it is utmost important to understand that the tendency of elite class to get radicalized increases manifold especially when they get unexpected support from certain section of society. Those, who are sitting at responsible position must understand that any statement made by them in public forum certainly embolden them to commit heinous crime against innocent people. The need of the hour is to segregate, isolate, and punish them as per the law of land.
This action is absolutely essential to prevent them to spill venom among the younger generation. The younger generation has high expectation from society. The author is of the opinion that the radicalization in India has moved from being a fringe challenge to a deeply inter connected national threat. Its modern form is subtle, decentralized, intertwined with India’s socio political transformations. Pakistan’s continued role as the epicenter of anti India radicalization adds a dangerous external dimension to this challenge. However, India possesses strong resistant institutional command and growing technological capability to counter this threat. What is needed is a comprehensive multilayered “Whole of Nation” approach combining security measures, psychological resilience, digital literacy, International co-operation, and community empowerment. By strengthening unity, safe guarding democratic values and equipping society with awareness and technological preparedness, India can not only counter elite radicalization but also emerge as global model for managing hybrid and transnational extremism.
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