Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book aims to make a scholarly and policy relevant contribution to our understanding of this serious security problem, one that could help policy makers and scholars alike to understand the nature of the challenge and how to better counter or manage it. It examines three violent extremist-related groups operating in the Asia Pacific: one “classic” terrorist, namely, Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines; one a dissident political party, namely, Jemaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh; and one a broad ethno-religious separatist movement, namely, the Uyghurs in China. The book explores efforts by Western states to address the threat from terrorism and insurgency in Afghanistan since the commencement of North Atlantic Treaty Organization's Resolute Support Mission in 2015. It presents a survey of terrorism trends within Pakistan, particularly Baluchistan, and the neighbouring areas of Afghanistan and Kashmir.