In today’s world, where terrorism poses an increasing threat to global security, multilateral cooperation has become more important than ever. Dr. Nishakant Ojha, a Professor on Practice at Ajeenkya D Y Patil University, is at the forefront of advocating for stronger South-South collaboration. He proposes that the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum, established in 2003, plays a pivotal role in fortifying counter-terrorism efforts by enhancing technical assistance, intelligence sharing, and tactical training among its member countries.

Dr. Ojha’s call for action comes at a time when regions like South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa are experiencing high levels of terrorist activity. Following a joint statement by the foreign ministers of India, Brazil, and South Africa during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Dr. Ojha stressed the importance of coordinated action against UN-designated terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and Lashkar-e-Taiba. He also emphasized the need to dismantle terrorist financing networks and safe havens.

One of the key challenges, according to Dr. Ojha, is the inefficiency in global intelligence sharing, which hampers timely counter-terrorism responses. He advocates for real-time intelligence exchanges to combat the evolving nature of terrorism, which now includes cross-border trafficking, cryptocurrency-based financial transactions, and online radicalization. He highlights the increasing reliance on digital money laundering through the Hawala system and cryptocurrencies, calling for stricter financial oversight from organizations like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Dr. Ojha further underscores that Western-led counter-terrorism strategies often overlook the unique challenges faced by developing nations. By fostering collective security through IBSA, which offers a non-Western perspective, he envisions the possibility of a more inclusive global counter-terrorism framework. This vision, he argues, could lead to reforms in the UN Security Council and create a resilient, regionally-focused international security system tailored to the realities of the Global South.