Down, but definitely not out (The end of ISIS)

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 Down, but definitely not out (The end of ISIS)

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• From huge to lost : What was once called a formidable "Caliphate" with huge growth potential is now nearing extinction on Syrian soil. The loss of two major cities Raqqa (Syria) and Mosul (Iraq) was the beginning of the end. The US strategy of supporting a coalition of fighters (the SDF led by Kurds) has paid off.
• Why IS was different : Before IS, there was al-Qaeda. But the kind of international pull that the IS exerted was unparalleled. It had a tighter hierarchy and structure, in a limited geography. It grew very huge, and will surely act as a model for the next generation of terrorists.
• Individual tragedies : The huge model of IS hid behind its shine the tragedies at an individual level. The most shocking ones are like the recent story of one Shamima Begum, a British-born teenager who joined the ISIS in 2015. She has lost her child recently, and then her British citizenship too (due to IS links). Her Dutch husband (an IS fighter) is a prisoner now.
• What to do with these people : The UK government denied her permission to re-enter the country. This is a big dilemma - how to combat terror while being compassionate at the same time.
• She is not alone : There must be many more like her, keen to return to their home countries, but unable to due to the stance taken by their countries (against their repatriation). These governments (Germany, France, Belgium etc.) see no place for mercy for those who consciously left to join terror groups.
• Extremism as a magnet : It can quickly attract many, and then perish equally fast. An Indian example is that of Naxalism. Young minds can be lured into it fast.
• Is IS truly dead? Not really. Borders are not entirely sealed everywhere, and many ex-IS cadres may have slipped into their original home countries. This is what happened after al-Qaeda declined, when Osama bin Laden died. Sleeper cells are created that may lie dormant for years. The Iraqi President warned of this too.
• The real catalyst : Just the presence of sleeper cells is not enough. An unstable internal security situation really helps terrorists gain ground. A civil war in Yemen can help many. Afghanistan and Pakistan are other examples.
• Keep your eyes open : Nations have to remember that IS followers can rear their heads again, in a different format, given the right chance.
• Summary : The Islamic State's rapid rise attracted many from around the world, and it evaporated equally fast, leaving a trail of destruction and lonely individuals, who'll now be sleeper cells for a long time.

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