2024-03-26 19:44:14
When the resonance of the ominous terrorist act committed in “Crocus City Hall” in Moscow is still ongoing, strengthening the fight against terrorism in Azerbaijan can be considered a necessity.
From this point of view, the presence of restrictions on the borders of our country is a tool in the fight against terrorism.
Terrorism poses a threat to security and stability in various regions of the world and remains one of the most serious problems for the world community. In response to this threat, many countries are taking a number of measures, including closing borders, to minimize risks and prevent potential terrorists from entering the country. In this article, we cannot ignore the points that the border closure regime contributes to the fight against terrorism and helps to minimize the threat of terrorism.
Closing the borders is a priority measure to ensure the security of the state. Borders play a key role in controlling the movement of people, goods and information within an area. With closed borders, the government can more effectively control and track potentially dangerous people and materials, including terrorists, weapons, explosives, and the financing of terrorist groups.
The closing of the borders also creates an obstacle to the gathering and mobilization of terrorist organizations. This makes it difficult for terrorists to cross borders to train, plan attacks and share information between “sleeper cells”. This makes illegal border crossings less attractive and reduces the mobility of terrorist groups.
The current strict control-release regime at our borders reduces the possibility of terrorist attacks. Preventing terrorists from crossing borders reduces the likelihood of large-scale terrorist attacks within the country. Border surveillance allows law enforcement agencies to respond quickly to infiltration attempts and catch potential terrorists before they plan or carry out attacks.
Quarantine regime at our borders also helps to reduce the financing of terrorism. Controlling the movement of large amounts of money and other financial resources across borders helps prevent them from being used to finance terrorist organizations. This may include monitoring money transfers, blocking illicit financing channels, and seizing terrorist financial assets.
Of course, the closing of the borders is not beyond criticism. Some critics point out that keeping borders closed could lead to economic losses and social problems related to restrictions on cross-border trade and migration.
This is not the case and the claims are groundless, because the regime applied at the state borders of Azerbaijan has no effect on the processes in society. On the contrary, the current regime prevents unwanted elements from infiltrating the country.
In general, border closures play an important role in combating terrorism and minimizing the threat of terrorism. By controlling the movement of people, goods and financial resources across borders, states can reduce the risk of terrorist attacks, make it difficult for terrorist groups to operate, and prevent the financing of terrorism.
The analysis of the data on terrorist acts shows that a significant part of them is related to terrorists crossing the borders. For example, between 2014 and 2019, the number of terrorist attacks involving extremists crossing the border in the European Union increased significantly. This demonstrated the need to strengthen border control to prevent terrorist threats, and the relevant organizations of the European Union were forced to implement the necessary measures.
Another example is the strengthening of borders between European Union countries after a series of terrorist attacks, including those in Paris in 2015 and Brussels in 2016. As a result of the strengthening of border control and the exchange of information between countries, security has increased significantly and the number of successful terrorist attacks has decreased.
Or we can remember that the Americans have strengthened security measures on the 3,145 km long state border between the United States and Mexico.
A fence made of metal structures and barbed wire called “US-Mexico Border Wall” is being built on the border of the United States with Mexico, and a 100-meter wide security strip is being created along the fence.
Many countries are already using border closures as part of their counter-terrorism strategy with positive results.
Border closures also have a psychological effect on potential terrorists, making it more risky and difficult for them to cross borders. This can reduce the motivation and opportunities for young people to join and join terrorist groups abroad.
Modern technologies allow for more effective control of borders without significantly impairing freedom of movement. The use of biometric systems, video surveillance, drones and other tools allows law enforcement agencies to more accurately identify and stop suspects and cargo.
Closing borders does not mean isolating a country from the world community. On the contrary, it helps to strengthen international cooperation and exchange of information between countries in the field of combating terrorism. Joint operations and intelligence sharing prevent terrorists from crossing borders and operate more effectively.
Based on the presented facts and analysis, it can be concluded that border closure is an important element in the fight against terrorism and minimizing the threat of terrorism. In addition to preventing potential terrorists from entering the country, this measure helps to reduce the likelihood of terrorist acts, ensure the safety of citizens and maintain stability in society.
An analogy can be drawn between the closure of borders to fight terrorism and the measures taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Just as controlling the movement of people across borders prevents the spread of a virus, closing borders also prevents the spread of terrorist threats. In both cases, early detection and isolation of potential sources of danger is important.
Despite the potential economic losses of restrictions on cross-border trade and migration, the security provided by border closures helps create a favorable investment and business environment. Increased security attracts foreign investment, promotes tourism and economic growth. In addition, reducing the risk of terrorist attacks reduces emergency response and recovery costs.
Ensuring the safety of citizens in any country is one of the most important issues, perhaps the first.
Azerbaijan makes decisions in this direction, and the events testify to the honesty of those decisions.