Global Security Debates: Pak PM Advocates for Terrorist Reformation While Indian Criminologist Calls for Stronger Judiciary
Criminologist Snehil Dhall
Founder: Crimeophobia - A Criminology Firm, Criminology & Neurocriminology Expert, Legal & Transnational Security Expert & Auditor, Crime & Law Historian, Author
Crimeophobia Press Release: In a striking comparison of narratives at the United Nations on September 27th, 2024, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif used his platform at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to call for international support regarding Kashmir, while Indian Criminologist Snehil Dhall, speaking at a separate informal meeting hosted by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), called for critical reforms in the judiciary, particularly in its handling & understanding of transnational organized crime (TOC) under the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC).
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At the core of these discussions is a broader issue that reveals the geopolitical complexities of the region. While Sharif’s speech focused on the Kashmir issue, openly advocating for the reformation of terrorist figures like Burhan Wani—labelling him a "civilian" despite the terrorist being killed by Indian Forces—Dhall emphasized the need for global judicial reforms to combat the growing threat of transnational organized crime. Dhall’s remarks were in response to a recent ruling by the Bombay High Court, which dismissed a case he brought under UNTOC protocols, calling the framework of crimes "imagination." He also stressed the importance of judicial training for judges, given that transnational crime-related content is not well-established for the global judiciary.
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Sharif's address at the UNGA reiterated Pakistan's grievances over Jammu & Kashmir, criticizing India’s revocation of Article 370 in 2019 and calling for global attention. He controversially compared Kashmir to the Palestinian struggle, urging the international community to intervene. His reference to Burhan Wani, a militant commander killed by Indian security forces, raised concerns as it seemed to glorify a figure linked to terrorism. Wani's involvement in terrorist infiltration from Pakistan to India can now be interpreted as smuggling of migrants, under UNTOC's terminology, a subject that UNODC appears to be overlooking by promoting Pakistani civilian organizations while sidelining Indian efforts due to which Crimeophobia has also named UNDP & UNODC as respondents in an ongoing petition for implementing UNTOC.
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At the same time, in the UNODC meeting, Dhall presented a starkly different narrative. With over a decade of experience in UNTOC implementation projects, Dhall pointed out the weaknesses in the judicial system in dealing with transnational organized crime, including money laundering, arms & ammunition smuggling, human trafficking & smuggling, and crimes that affects the environment. He emphasized the urgent need for judicial training under the UNTOC framework, noting that legal systems, not equipped to handle such complex crimes, often dismiss or misinterpret them.
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Dhall’s advocacy follows years of research and legal battles. Since 2013, his organization, Crimeophobia – A Criminology Firm, has been a leading voice in India for UNTOC implementation. In 2016, Dhall filed a petition in the Supreme Court of India, urging the creation of special task forces to combat organized crime, especially with the rise of virtual crime and transnational threats. Despite anti-terror laws like TADA, MCOCA, and UAPA, Dhall has consistently pointed out the lack of specialized units and training to effectively combat these crimes.
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Dhall also voiced concerns at multiple UNODC meetings about the UN's biased promotion of civilian organizations in politically sensitive regions. He pointed out that while India has been at the forefront of leading its Criminal Justice System against organized crime since 1999, even before the formation of UNTOC in 2000, the convention is still only under discussion for full implementation. Dhall questioned why, despite India’s long-standing efforts, certain regions receive undue attention, potentially undermining global efforts to combat organized crime. He regularly challenges the legitimacy of some groups, particularly in Pakistan, that may have ties to militancy, arguing that the UNODC’s collaboration with these groups undermines global security. “While Pakistan’s Prime Minister is advocating for Burhan Wani, a dead terrorist, the UNODC’s promotion of certain civilian organizations raises troubling questions,” Dhall said, urging transparency and stronger judicial training to prevent misinterpretation of organized crime cases.
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M.P. Sahay, Advocate-on-Record at the Supreme Court of India and Board Advisor to Crimeophobia, supported Dhall’s position, stating, “The UN’s push to include certain Pakistani civilian organizations as key partners in implementing UNTOC overlooks the complex realities of transnational organized crime. India's judiciary, especially, needs proper training to distinguish genuine civilian groups from those with hidden agendas.” Sahay emphasized that Crimeophobia has named UNDP and UNODC as respondents in its ongoing case before the Supreme Court of India, seeking a balanced and transparent approach to implementing UNTOC which continues to be under the biased interest of UNODC.
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The contrast between Sharif’s and Dhall’s narratives highlights a broader geopolitical divide. Since 2022, Pakistan has actively worked with the UNODC to position itself as a global leader on UNTOC merely due to their Government being isolated on every diplomatic front, while Dhall’s efforts in India have faced mixed responses, reflecting a disconnect between domestic and international approaches to organized crime. As Sharif used his UNGA platform to focus on human rights and Kashmir, Dhall was calling for judicial reform globally to tackle the real threats posed by transnational crime. The Bombay High Court’s dismissal of Dhall’s plea as “imagination” underscores the urgency of his call for reform.
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On the same day, during a strong 'Right to Reply' at the United Nations General Assembly, Indian diplomat Bhavika Mangalanandan delivered a sharp rebuke to Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his remarks on Kashmir. Mangalanandan accused Pakistan of hypocrisy, stating that a country with a global reputation for terrorism, narcotics trafficking, and transnational crime had the “audacity to attack the world’s largest democracy.”
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“This assembly regrettably witnessed a travesty this morning," she said, referring to Sharif’s speech. "As the world knows, Pakistan has long used cross-border terrorism as a weapon against its neighbors. It has targeted our Parliament, our financial capital Mumbai, marketplaces, and pilgrimage routes. The list is long. For such a country to speak about violence anywhere is hypocrisy at its worst." Mangalanandan further criticized Pakistan’s democratic credentials, highlighting its history of rigged elections. “It is even more extraordinary for a country with a history of electoral manipulation to lecture a democracy about political choices,” she concluded, emphasizing the absurdity of Pakistan’s accusations against India.
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As Jammu & Kashmir prepares for its first peaceful state elections since the revocation of Article 370, the world watches with anticipation. The sharp contrast between Pakistan’s calls for international recognition of Kashmir and Dhall’s efforts to reform India’s judiciary raises critical questions about global governance on issues of terrorism and organized crime. Will global policymakers prioritize the rehabilitation of militants, as Pakistan seems to advocate, or will they support the judicial reforms that Dhall, as an Indian criminologist, argues are essential to combating transnational crime? For those who support Dhall’s advocacy for judicial reform towards Transnational Organised Crime, Crimeophobia welcomes letters of support, which can be sent to [email protected].
Who did the Pak PM Promote at the UNGA?
Burhan Muzaffar Wani (1994-2016) was a Kashmiri militant leader who became the commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen, a separatist group in Jammu and Kashmir, India. He was known for using social media to recruit and rally support for the Kashmiri separatist movement. Wani's militant activities began at 15, and he rose to prominence in 2014. His death on July 8, 2016, in a shootout with Indian security forces sparked widespread protests and unrest in Kashmir. Wani's legacy remains contentious, with Pakistanis viewing him as a freedom fighter and Indians as a terrorist.
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