In her latest study, a specialist in security issues argued that atrocities committed by what is called 'Islamic State' do not represent the Islamic religion. Reshmi Kazi is Associate Fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi. She works also on issues related to bio-terrorism and chemical terrorism. Kazi mentioned the November 2016 announcement by the Union Government in India to henceforth change the nomenclature of the "Islamic State" (IS) to "Daish, also written as Daesh" in all its official communications concerning the global terrorist organisation is an appropriate move.1 Banned in 2015 under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act,2 the terror outfit has until now been referred to in official records by its various existing nomenclatures including Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Caliphate and Daish. Reportedly, the Union Home Ministry is likely to send instructions to the effect that only the name 'Daish' is to be used in all official communications while referring to the group. Measures are under consideration for circulating an advisory on these lines to all state governments. The rationale behind this step is that the nomenclature ‘Islamic State' tantamounts to acknowledging the existence of the terrorist organization as a legitimate state. The initiative to reconsider the nomenclature is a prudent decision that would not only help in delegitimizing the IS ideology for potential Indian recruits but also prevent or at least lessen the number of potential recruits from India. Kazi said that the goal of the Daish is to establish a state that does not recognize any international boundaries. In July 2014, the group proclaimed its ambition to establish a Caliphate across Asia, Africa and Europe. It released a map identifying several countries in the Middle East, North Africa and large areas of South Asia including India as potential territories of such an entity. As part of its strategy, the Daish has established terrorist modules to lure recruits. Recruits from the US, Canada, Europe, South Africa, Middle East, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia have surged the group's ranks in recent years.
