Noted US terror expert warns of use of social media platforms by Pakistan to attack Indian economy

The best offensive mechanism to deal with Pakistan, suggested the US expert from RAND Corporation, was to work with friendly and partner countries to put pressure on Islamabad, and also to convince these nations that they could also not escape the wrath of terror outfits operating from Pak soil. He warned that the US was playing a double role with Pakistan because of its strategic interest in Afghanistan – the reason why it was not taking a tougher stand against Islamabad.

In the context of the growing use of drones and lone wolves to launch attacks, Dr Chalk called for compulsory registration of such technology and legislations to counter the threat. To ensure credibility in such counter-attacks, it was important to involve NGOs, human rights organisations and the community at large, he added, noting, in response to a question, that 100 per cent radicalization could not take place online and human contact was a part of the process.

Admitting that such groups become easy targets of extremists, Dr Chalk, however, asserted that they do not easily succumb to terrorist threats.

In an apparent reference to Referendum 2020, the US expert observed that an intensive social media effort aimed at radicalizing young Sikhs was currently being waged by pro-Khalistani militants based in Pakistan and Diaspora groups operating out of the US, UK and Canada.

“There are growing indications that the ISI is orchestrating much of this activity as part of a wider campaign to co-join instability in Punjab with unrest in Kashmir,” he warned, while delivering the second KPS Gill Memorial Lecture, on the contemporary subject of ‘Digitized Hate: Online Radicalism, Violent Extremism and Terrorism.’

He suggested that the state government identify vulnerable groups and engage with the community to counter the narrative and fight Pakistan’s proxy war.