Terror strikes at heart of Europe

Though other capitals and major cities across the continent have been put on high alert, the point is that it is becoming an increasingly difficult task to fight the virtual enemy.

Brusssels is the new theatre of terror. The multiple attacks in the geopolitical capital of the 28-member European Union have come close on the heels of similar setbacks in Ankara and Istanbul. But the tragedy in Brussels, in which the international airport and a metro station were targeted, seems to be a retaliatory move in the wake of the arrest of Salah Abdeslam, considered to be the mastermind behind the Paris attacks. He was arrested in Brussels a couple of days ago, and was in the process of being handed over to the French authorities for interrogation. Surprisingly enough, Belgium's Interior Minister Jan Jambon had voiced his concern, and warmed of a severe backlash. Scores have been killed in the back-to-back suicide attacks, and the whole air and ground transport system has come to a halt. Though other capitals and major cities across the continent have been put on high alert, the point is that it is becoming an increasingly difficult task to fight the virtual enemy.
The fact that terrorists are free to choose their targets, and even have the capability and capacity to bounce back after a pause, underscores their roots in the society. One of the biggest challenges for anti-terror authorities is to read deep into the psyche of these terrorists, and nail them down before they could retaliate. The authorities in Europe, Asia, the US and the Middle East have been at a fail in prejudging and preempting the terror movement, and had unfortunately spent their time in playing to the gallery. The rise of Daesh and its reach across the Middle East and Europe are a case in point.
Had the stakeholders reacted promptly with a cohesive strategy against Daesh, the dreaded militia could have been cornered to a great extent. But that is not the case. The attacks in Paris, Peshawar, Baghdad, Ankara and Brussels are a grim reminder that the terror psyche is scot-free, and is one of the biggest threats to civilisation.
World leaders, who take to rhetoric and dole out hollow promises after every terror attack, have an undeniable responsibility towards their respective countrymen. They should synchronise their energies to defeat terror. A broad-based roadmap to exterminate the terror nexus is now indispensable. It's high time action was taken against sleeper cells and all those non-state actors who have ever staked their claim to terror activities. Only then can reprisals be checked.