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2005- A Retrospect
How did the global war on terrorism (GWOT) go in 2005? Iraq, the primary theatre for GWOT, is in a mess – even with the recent election purported to sow the seeds of popular democratic government. The US-led invasion of this country has by now been generally accepted as a ‘mistake’ (a costly mistake indeed!). Resultantly, Iraq has become a ‘magnet’ drawing Islamist fundamentalists from all over as the ideal training ground for suicide bombers, who are now being exported to different destinations. Interestingly, the United States has remained unstuck by any worthwhile act of Islamist terrorism since 9/11.
Terrorists, however, continued to strike in their grandiose or rather grotesque manner, the latest ones being in Amman, Bali and New Delhi. Jihadi suicide bombers are now in fashion and Al Qaeda has transformed itself from being a movement to an ‘idea’. All this has developed despite ‘fatwas’ issued by some sections of muslim clerics, condemning terrorist violence. The latest Interpol assessment is Al Qaeda has the capability to launch bio-chemical terrorist act.
Areas of oasis: IRA leaders have called off their ‘struggle’; peace has been struck with Aceh rebels in Indonesia; ceasefire continues between LTTE and the SriLankan government as also between NSCN faction of Naga insurgents and the government of India, and peace talks are underway between India and Pakistan.
The internal security scenario in India continued to be plagued by planned violence in J&K. Now, Indians are also figuring among the fidayeens, so long the specialized acts for foreign mercenaries and now a case of female fidayeen has also been recorded. Presence of Al Qaeda elements have been reported from areas of UP and Tamilnadu. The law and order situation has been further bedevilled by significant growth of left-extremist violence during 2005. The ‘attack’ in Jehanabad district of Bihar epidermises the potential of the CPI(ML) extremists, who are now in tandem with the Maoists of Nepal and claim to have received training from experts from the LTTE. According to a recent claim, they have their Chief Ministers also in areas liberated by them.
Private security industry in India registered a landmark in its history in 2005. With the enactment of Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005, private security as a profession has been recognised. The industry leaders have joined hands and framed the first-ever national body Central Association of Security Industry (CAPSI) to ensure that the private security agencies in the field do grow on professional lines. Private security as a service industry is believed to be the highest payer of professional tax in the country. IISSM once again congratulates the leaders in the industry for their professional unity and wish them healthy progress. Another Act for private detective services is, it is believed, on the way.
More private: IISSM concluded its XVth Annual International Seminar in New Delhi and claims it to have been a success. The participants enjoyed. A full report on the event appears elsewhere in this Newsletter.
So, let us say good bye to 2005 and welcome the year 2006, hoping and praying it brings peace and prosperity for all of us.
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Carnage and Consequences: An Assessment
Courtesy -The Hindu - November 1, 2005
About the bombing in Delhi on October 29, 1005, should investigators conclude that responsibility lies with a Pakistan-based group, Indian policy-making will be confronted with a real problem. Whether the bombings were a one-off attack intended to avenge the conviction of Lashkar cadre involved in an earlier terrorist attack on the Red Fort, or heralds the beginning of a renewed wave of jihadist terrorism, the carnage in the capital will inevitably have implications for the India-Pakistan dialogue process. Union Home Minister must be commended for breaking with past practice and refusing to point fingers before the evidence is in. Most analysts believe the Islamic Inqualabi Muhaz (IIM), which has reportedly claimed responsibility for the Delhi carnage, is a front organization of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. Although the Lashkar is proscribed in its homeland, Pakistani and western journalists have reported that its a over-ground apparatus and training camps continue to function with
impunity. With the political stock of President Pervez Musharraf weakened by the Pakistan army’s mismanagement of earthquake relief, Islamist groups believe the red lines established after the 2001-2002 military crisis can be tested. The troubling questions now are whether he wishes to go further in dismantling the apparatus of terror, and whether he can afford to do so politically. India must not step back from back from a peace process that has yielded real gains for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
D. C. Nath, IPS (Retd.)
Former Special Director, IB (MHA), Govt. of India
Editor-cum-Executive President & CEO
International Institute of Security and Safety Management
New Delhi, India
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