In terms of dealing with the terrorist enterprise, that we know as al-Qaeda it has increasingly become important to understand it as an ideology than an organization, a network than a hierarchy, and a movement than a group. The alarming situation has aroused as al-Qaeda shows its increasing presence in countries vulnerable to its Islamic militancy as two fatal bombs ripped through the capital of Algeria yesterday.

Seven years have elapsed since 9/11and commencement of the US led war against al-Qaeda, popularly known as ‘war on terrorism’ and in all these years, the terrorist attacks and US response have changed the world. The current status of al-Qaeda remains unclear. War on terror surely brought it down by inflicting heavy losses to its operating base in Afghanistan but it is not out.

So with the times changing, al-Qaeda is changing too and the new face of sinister is not familiar. Al Qaeda and its affiliates are operating much like a global tribe waging segmental warfare. Terrorist groups that may not be formally part of al-Qaeda have incorporated its view and belief in mass casualty. Yesterday’s attack in Algeria that suffered its worst violence since its long civil war when terrorists affiliated to al-Qaida claimed responsibility for twin bombings in the capital Algiers that killed up to 30 people and wounded more than 100 others, substantiates the above mentioned fact about the rising head of the sinister.

Defeating the global Jihadist movement is the most pressing security challenge facing the international community today. Although US led ‘war on terror’ has had notable success and the more importantly this US initiative on the large scale to hunt down the so called ‘martyrs’ paved the way for the growing resolve of many countries to take action against al-Qaeda and its associates.

However, as action intensifies, the al-Qaeda has matured into a more formidable foe with constantly adopting new and radical terrorism tactics and sadly, there is no informed observer who believes that al-Qaeda can be eliminated anytime soon.