India’s calibrated use of force with dialogue has shown better results than what we witnessed in Afghanistan or Iraq.
The UrbanNaxal gang from vile gutter wretches.
The promotion of this notoriously vague term – Urban Naxal by the police – to describe any and all critics of the government, activists, journalists, and intellectuals , to name just a few, perhaps stemmed from an attempt to discredit them. Unlike real Naxalites — armed guerrillas with a distinct ideology — these are commonly not violent dissenting citizens. Mislabeling them risks:
- Undermining free speech
- Another red herring from real security threats
- Polarizing civil society
An accurate categorisation is essential if counter-terror policies are not to stifle lawful protest .
AI: The new national security strategy and the future of terrorism
While Naxalism is on a downswing, AI-driven terror threats are surfacing worldwide. Potential risks include:
- AI-generated propaganda (deepfake videos, algorithmically-driven recruitment bots)
- Motivated weapons (drones, robots)
- Biohacking (AI-built viruses or poisons)
To manage these risks, governments must pro-actively regulate AI and integrate human oversight into security systems.
Conclusion
India’s ability to contain Naxalism shows that security and socio-economic development can neutralise long-standing insurgencies. But as old school rebellions wane, A.I. driven terrorism looms as a new frontier of threats — necessitating worldwide coöperation, tech regulation, and supple security strategies.
Breaking the back of Naxalite violence is a transformative achievement but the world must get ready for a new age that would have algorithmic warfare — whatever the hell that may be! — as the next big thing.
Key Takeaways
- Naxal movement is being wiped out as we are adopting both security and developmental measures.
- With AI, global terrorists could transform from a relatively isolated group into decentralized actors capable of launching attacks from anywhere in the world.
- India’s model of counter-insurgency proves instructive when it comes to striking the balance between force and reform.
- “Urban Naxal” is another term that can easily lead to the endangerment of democratic debate.
- Regulation of AI is critical for warding off next-gen terror threats.
As India transitions away from Naxalism, we need to remain ever hopeful and ever vigilant to new digital-age threats .
Month: Current Affairs - August 18, 2025
Category: current affairs daily