APPREHENSIONS COMING TRUE
Taliban’s effrontery, if one could put it that way, to Pakistan Government was clear and bold from the attacks on the Sri Lankan Cricket Team and Police Academy – both in the heartland of Pakistan, namely, Lahore, and the attack on a mosque at Khyber Agency killing more than 100. They have also threatened to take over Pakistan in due course of time. Hindus are reported to have started leaving Pakistan because of fear from the Talibans.
The US have announced some decisions that could have significant impact on the situation in the area: (i) envisaging a political role for the Taliban, (ii) a new Afghan policy, (iii) a stern ‘warning’ to Pakistan that there would be no blank cheque unless the latter could root out Al Qaeda from their territory, and (iv) withdrawal of 12000 US troops from Iraq by September, 2009. On their homefront, the FBI has pleaded for renewal of the Patriot Act scheduled to expire by December, 2009. In the UK, the local police have identified about 200 kids as potential terrorists. Raids on orphanages have brought out stunning revelations. Move is also afoot how to garner widest support from outside the traditional law enforcement base to fight the menace of terrorism. The security forces in India were engaged in a fierce gun-battle for 5-days in the LoC region in Kupwara district of J&K. While the left extremists continued to indulge in almost systematic attack on governmental forces, the ULFA in Assam raised its ugly head while killing 13 people in one go.
It is significant to note that a British leading think-tank, “The Economist Intelligence Unit (EUI), estimated the on-going global recession as a grave threat to social unrest over the next two years. The cyber world seemed to have been caught up unawares with the Chinese having successfully infiltrated into the computer network of many countries. Employee theft by women has shown sharp increase. Dubai earned its first woman judge in the country. Scientists are offering a boon they are on the verge of developing a technique that would erase bad memories! We would also urge you to read the stories on the “Carrot, Egg and Coffee”, “One Day I Decided To Quit”, and the brief account on “Altruism” – why one should share good seeds with one’s neighbours!
Some happy developments took place in the world of private security in India. Mahindra Special Services Group (MSSG) entered into a tie-up with an Israel Group IEICI (Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute). Sparsh become the first Indian equipment manufacturer having received the professional ROHS Certification. Om Security & Cleaning Services was declared one of the excellent security companies in the NCR for providing quality security and cleaning services.
In the light of prevailing security ambience all over, the theme of this year’s Annual International Seminar – IISSM-2009 (scheduled in New Delhi on December 9-11, 2009) has been chosen as: “Role of Private Sector in Counter-Terrorism”. The details are available in the Industry News File. ‘Hope you will look up. It may also be good time to remind all to share their case studies for the Best Case Study Award.
Thanking you and with best regards,
D. C. Nath, IPS (Retd.)
Former Special Director, IB (MHA), Govt. of India,
Executive President & CEO,
International Institute of Security and Safety Management,
New Delhi, India.
‘May like to glance through the input below from the Times of India:
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Terror axis major worries for India
New Delhi – The emerging operational links between al Qaida- Taliban and Pakistan’s Punjab–centric jihadi groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish are a serious concern for India as these groups begin to use elements of Qaeda’s strategic thinking and planning in terror attacks on the Indian mainland.
The “hand” of al-Qaeda was detected in the Mumbai attacks with regard to the direct and bold launch of marine jihadis and the targeting of little-known Jewish enclave besides the high-profile Taj and Oberoi hotels. The Qaeda links has not been established but 26/11 did mark a quantum jump in LeT’s tactics and objectives.
The attacks were a global debut for Lashkar and security agencies have since followed the coalescing of “Punjabi” groups with the al-Qaeda incorporated by way of satellite intercepts and on ground intelligence. The Qaeda core itself has shrunk but the expertise of its Egyptian leaders like Ayman Zawahiri has filtered through to jihadi groups who now seem to be the sword arms of Osama bin Laden’s outfit.
Sources conversant with developments said while the Taliban-al-Qaida was occupied with its current project to bring the Pakistani state to its knees and establish control over swathes of territory, it was a matter of time before India faced the full brunt of their ascendancy. As with their larger partners, Lashkar and Jaish agendas are hardly limited to Kashmir as they see India as part of a US-led axis.
Having identified India as a target will also mean Kashmir may come under added pressure as terrorists, who have chaffed over curbs imposed on border crossings by Pakistan army, press for increased freedom of action. They are strongly questioning the “double standards” of the army in not really opposing the Taliban while keeping their movements under check under US pressure.
The checks on jihadis operating in Kashmir have always been partial at best as the temperature in the valley is carefully monitored by Pakistani agencies. But electronic eavesdropping has repeatedly revealed impatience among jihadis waiting to cross over and unhappiness with their Pakistani handlers. As Taliban and its allies consolidate their control in FATA, the northwest provinces and Kashmir, Swat may feel the heat.
It is felt that the Pakistan army’s ambivalence over acting tough with Taliban will remain as it sees the jihadi force regaining control of Afghanistan soon enough and would not alienate long- term partners. Despite the disastrous consequences of its pursuit of “strategic depth” in Afghanistan, the army is not expected to junk the doctrine. Having ensured Taliban is replenished from bases in Pakistan, the army has made the war in Afghanistan unwinnable for US and its allies.
An important ingredient of the Taliban strategy has been to feed the “jihad” in Kashmir and this objective remains high on the priority list of Pakistani agencies. The remarks of former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf during his visit to India are revealing as they reflect the military mindset that unless Kashmir is resolved – in accordance to its wishes – terror strikes would continue.
Rajeev Deshpande/ TNN
The Times of India – March 13, 2009
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