K. A. LIKHACHEV (Saint Petersburg) Keywords: India, Bangladesh. Bhutan, ethnic separatism, Islamic extremism, terrorism The problem of separatist extremism in India in the twenty-first century has not only not exhausted itself, but has also developed noticeably. The traditional hotbed of instability is a group of seven states of North-Eastern India (NEI). The states of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland were the most turbulent in the past decade. The unresolved nature of various conflicts and contradictions between local ethnic groups, economic problems and the transparency of borders with neighboring states have led to the persistence of increased terrorist activity of separatist groups in this region of the state*. Map of Northeast India. Given the long history of many ethnic separatist movements, some of which have adopted terrorist methods since the 1960s, it is important to emphasize that their demands still focus mainly on the right to form a new state within the Indian federation according to the principle of ethnicity, as well as on obtaining independence within the framework of the country's constitution. Methods of fighting for the implementation of the demands of the most radical movements of various SWI ethnic groups (Assamese, Bodo, Naga, Mizo, etc.) are systematic attacks on government forces, government officials and private businesses, as well as on various infrastructure facilities. Countering the extremists of the region is the main task of various paramilitary groups - Assamese Riflemen, Border Security Forces, Indo-Tibetan Border Forces, etc. However, the Indian government prefers to solve the problems of SVI without the participation of regular troops. EXTERNAL FACTOR Traditionally, an important factor influencing the development of various separatist groups is the use of militant training camps on the territory of neighboring states in the region. For example, most of the major Assam United Liberation Front (OFLF) bases in the early 2000s were locate ... Read more