Question of India's Internal Security

The points that have emerged at the two-day meeting on the country's internal security held in New Delhi pertain to the threats from cross-border terrorists and Maoists. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's views for the resolution of these problems deserve to be commented. Singh underlined the need to beef up vigilance at the Line of Control in view of increasing infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir. He also spoke in terms of strengthening the country's security system in order to counter the threat of Maoist militants.

Antinational Activities
Meanwhile, union Home Minister P. Chidambaram has also sent across a stern signal to organizations engaged in antinational activities. He has warned militant organizations active in Pakistan that a crushing defeat will be inflicted upon them in the event of any conflict taking place.
Participating in the deliberations, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal not only stressed the need to ponder over basic factors leading to the creation and spread of problem of Naxalism (Maoist guerillas) but also said that the problem can be overcome to a great extent if all people of the country are provided with benefits of economic prosperity. He made another significant point that terrorists today are under the influence of other countries and India has become a soft target as a soft state.
We feel that India has been recognized as a soft state since centuries. Since ancient times, countries of Central Asia such as Iran and Afghanistan targeted India when their dictatorial kings or tribal invaders trampled the country with a few thousand horse riders. They intended in India hundreds of times. In this regard it is astonishing to note the attitude that the Indian Government and citizens have been adopting on such occasions. We feel that we have not got to do so over the past years.
Militants often converge in large numbers in Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir [PoK], and hold out threats to India. Jamaat-ud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed also challenged India recently in Lahore by threatening that India should free Kashmir, failing which the sole option left is "Jihad" (crusade). He committed the folly of asking Indian Home Minister Chidambaram to meet him in Lahore. He also put forward his agenda to liberate Hyderabad from India. He also said that his organization has tested the Indian Army.

Beginning of India-Pakistan Talks
All this notwithstanding, India has taken a decision to restart talks with Pakistan, even as in the wake of the Mumbai attacks the Indian Government said it will not resume talks with Pakistan until it brings all the accused of the Mumbai attacks to justice. Now once again threats of Jihad have been held out openly by militant outfits from Pakistan. Despite all this, it is not known under which compulsions India has invited Pakistan for talks.
We are in complete agreement with the view that unless and until effective arrangements are made along the border with Pakistan the cross-border infiltration will continue due to which current conditions will persist unabated.

Adequate Steps Needed
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is right in saying that until basic defense amenities are not provided to millions of people the problem of Naxalism will continue and the internal security cannot be ensured until then. Simultaneously, it is also important for states to exercise full vigilance.
Doubtless, the country is very vast. Hence, problems also are varied to resolve, to which there cannot be readymade solutions. The conditions can be improved only through correct identification of the causes of every problem separately, followed by adequate steps to ensure internal security.