MANTRAYA POLICY BRIEF#42: 19 SEPTEMBER 2022 The Killing of Ayman al Zawahiri: Impact on al Qaeda-linked Terror Groups in Africa BIBHU PRASAD ROUTRAY & SHANTHIE MARIET D’SOUZA ABSTRACT Following the killing of al Qaeda (AQ) chief Ayman al Zawahiri in Kabul on 2 August 2022, the possible impact of neutralizing a leader on the group […]
MANTRAYA POLICY BRIEF#40: 03 AUGUST 2022 Need and Vision for a Mine and ERW-free Afghanistan SHANTHIE MARIET DSOUZA ABSTRACT Afghanistan remains most heavily contaminated by landmines as well as explosive remnants of war, the related casualties of which can be counted in their thousands. The country needs sustained international attention and clear benchmarks on demining. […]
MANTRAYA POLICY BRIEF#39: 09 JULY 2022 Navigating a Complex Terrain in Afghanistan: Ideological Obduracy of the Taliban 2.0 SHANTHIE MARIET DSOUZA ABSTRACT The Taliban 2.0 today remains strikingly similar to the regime it established in Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001. Systemic violence against women, minorities and supporters of the deposed government continues to increase across […]
MANTRAYA POLICY BRIEF#36: 28 MARCH 2021 Left-Wing Extremism in India: Worrying Trends from Chhattisgarh Bibhu Prasad Routray Abstract While extremist attacks claiming lives of security forces in left-wing extremism (LWE) affected states of India aren’t a new and unexpected phenomenon, each such attack underlines the potency of the extremists and provides a setback to the […]
MANTRAYA POLICY BRIEF#35: 16 DECEMBER 2020 Covid-19 Pandemic & Prevention of Violent Extremism Bibhu Prasad Routray Abstract The Covid-19 pandemic has impeded the fight against violent extremism. Lack of resources has affected operations of extremist/terrorist organisations as well. However, to overcome the limitations, extremist/ terrorist organizations have expanded their presence in the cyber space. As […]
MANTRAYA POLICY BRIEF#32: 12 FEBRUARY 2020 Surging Jihadist Wave in Western Africa: Conflict Spillover Shanthie Mariet D’Souza & Bibhu Prasad Routray Abstract The Sahel region in Western Africa is witnessing a massive surge in terrorist attacks. Three countries- Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso- reported 4000 deaths in 2019 and the trend of staggering casualties in […]
MANTRAYA POLICY BRIEF#31: 12 NOVEMBER 2019 Nagaland: Conflict Fragility, Intractability, and Resolution Bibhu Prasad Routray – Abstract More than four years after it signed the framework agreement with the NSCN-IM in 2015, New Delhi appears distant from signing a final peace deal in the restive state of Nagaland. Conducted under the close of watch of […]
MANTRAYA POLICY BRIEF#30: 31 OCTOBER 2019 Death of Baghdadi: Specter of Radicalization & Violent Extremism Bibhu Prasad Routray – Abstract The killing of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been hailed as a success in dealing a death blow to the Islamic state leadership and organization. Despite such claims of early success of counter terrorism (CT) operations, […]
MANTRAYA POLICY BRIEF#29: 23 JULY 2019 Left-wing Extremism in India: Revisiting the ‘new’ Strategy Bibhu Prasad Routray – Abstract The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in New Delhi, in its second term, is making renewed attempts to end left-wing extremism (LWE). The broad parameters of the new strategy consist of plans to target the extremists […]
MANTRAYA POLICY BRIEF#28: 24 MAY 2019 Zakir Musa: Death of Kashmir’s loneliest Militant Bibhu Prasad Routray – Abstract Contrary to media headlines, Zakir Musa was not the ‘most wanted militant’ in Kashmir valley. With an aim to set up a caliphate, Musa led an immensely forgettable militancy, which had no stakeholders. His death, however, is a blow […]