Punishing Mumbai Attackers

With emergence of fresh revelations relating to the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, the central apprehension gets confirmed that terrorists involved in the attack had direct links with militant organizations active in Pakistan, and the government agency. According to these revelations, the Mumbai attackers were recruited by the Lashkar-e Taiyiba (LeT) and trained by Pakistan's intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The charges of imparting training, supplying arms and ammunition, and extending monetary support to terrorists have been consistently leveled against the ISI from time-to-time.

There is a long history of enrolment of non-employee operatives and getting terrorist activities carried out by them. Pakistani security expert Asif Jamal has stated in his book that preparation of non-employee elements costs less from the strategic, financial, political, and military aspects. From this viewpoint, it is evident that the Pakistani military and intelligence agencies have been using militant outfits for proxy war against India.

Global War on Terror
After start of the global war on terror, the nexus between security agencies and militant organizations caused embarrassment to Pakistan at the international level. Amid global pressure, the Pakistani Government tried to break the contact between intelligence agencies and militant organizations, on the face of it. Owing to such a pressure, ISI and militant organizations endeavored to cover up their coordination. This coordination continues in a covert manner through former military generals.

During this period, militant outfits expanded the area of their support and influence. This expansion makes a crucial impact on existing military, ISI, and political circles. As a consequence, inductiveness invariably persists in taking action against militant outfits. Militant agencies like LeT are no longer under that control as they used to be in the initial period. These agencies have turned arbitrary. There is all likelihood that training and supply of arms and ammunition was carried out by intelligence agencies, and might be autonomous in respect of taking action.

Tantamount to Harboring Terrorism
The question is how military proves instrumental in execution of activities of militant agencies? If they remain silent even after having knowledge of everything and shy away, even then it is tantamount to harboring terrorism. Security experts maintain that given the relationship between militant outfits and ISI, the breakup of this relationship is not possible without political willpower. Acting as they do as forerunner in the proxy war against India, militant organizations like LeT are duly aware of loopholes in the military and ISI. They do not require any centralized strategy or institutionalized planning for security support from them. In the circumstances, there is no prospect of implementation of verbal assurances and paper promises until pro-militancy loopholes are plugged within the military and ISI.

The Pakistani Government cannot shy away from its responsibility by thrusting militant activities on non-employee operatives. The government will have to take the responsibility of ties between non-employee operatives and employees. The Pakistani Government can win the confidence of the international community by acting against organizations responsible for incidents like the Mumbai attack. This will make its intention clear to unruly officers, generals, and militant organizations.

India Fails To Spell Out National Action Against Terror Plans

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement at the Chief Ministers' Conference that "Pakistani terrorist groups are on the look out for yet another attack on India and we should remain wary of it" has stunned even his supporters who welcomed the joint statement between him and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. It is tantamount to a virtual "U-turn" from his (Singh)statement at Sharm el-Sheikh. He agreed to de-link the terrorism issue from the India-Pakistan dialogue process during his two-hour talk with Gilani. Then, Singh gave the clarification that Pakistan had assured India that it would not allow the use of its soil for any "anti-India" terrorist activity.

Opposition to PM's Statement
The Congress party leadership opposed Singh's statement. The party leadership was angry over it. Finally, the Prime Minister had to say in the Lok Sabha [Lower house of Parliament] that no shift has taken place in the firm Indian stand on the India-Pakistan talks.

Unless and until Pakistan punishes the perpetrators of the 26 November Mumbai attacks and dismantles the terror infrastructure within its country, talks cannot be held with it.

Lapless At Indo-Pak Talks
It would have been better if the Prime Minister simply observed the formality of mere handshaking and put off the talks at Sharm el-Sheikh just like Atal Behari Vajpayee had done with Musharraf in Kathmandu." The prime minister's talks with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari tended to soften the Indian stand.

The other lapse that took place was that during the talks with Gilani at Sharm el-Sheikh, Singh relented to such a large extent that he failed to keep in view the diplomacy that Pakistan, under great Indian pressure, was anxious to prove itself innocent. After believing the assurances given by Gilani, Singh returned to the country. But Pakistan persisted with its mischief.

Indian Army Chief's Views
Indian Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor also stated recently that prior to the start of the winter season infiltration attempts by militants have surged. The Pakistani military in these attempts cannot be ruled out. Pakistan does not favor that peace should prevail in Jammu and Kashmir for a long time and hence a spurt has taken place in the infiltration from across the border. Defense Minister A.K. Antony also said that a large number of terrorist training camps were being run in the Pakistani territory. Moreover, incidents of infiltration and pushing arms into Jammu and Kashmir registered a substantial rise during the past four days. This is amply evident from the incidents given below.

August 15: The Border Security Force [BSF] arrested four Pakistanis making a bid to infiltrate near the Tapu checkpoint of Khemkaran and recovered from them four pistols, arms and ammunition, night vision devices, and two kg heroin.

August 16: The security forces foiled the attempts made by militants to cross the Line of Control by cutting the barbed fencing in the "Chakhan da Bagh" area of the Ranigarh section of Poonch.

August 16: In an encounter between the police and the Lashkar-e Taiyiba in the Pulwama sector, one terrorist, John Muhammad, was killed.

August 17: In the Rajouri sector, security forces killed self-styled Hizbul Mujahidin commander Altaf Husayn. It also recovered 20 kg RDX in the Gambhir Mughal forests.

August 17: In the Sir Creek sector of Katch, the BSF arrested nine Pakistani infiltrators near the Akri Moti power plant.

August 18: In the Poonch sector, security forces seized 10 grenades, one carbine, and four pistols.

There are also news reports that the Lashkar-e-Taiyiba is once again trying to start a November 26 type attack from Jafarabad. The Pakistani Government is not taking any action against the main conspirator of the Mumbai attacks, Hafiz Sayeed yet.

Congress Dissatisfaction
The truth is the Congress party was not satisfied with the joint statement at Sharm el-Sheikh. Non-incorporation of Kashmir in the joint statement was being put up as India's achievement. But, harping on the Kashmir issue, Pakistan has started saying that Kashmir is such an issue without which resolution mutual differences of the two nations cannot be sorted out. In such a state of affairs the prime minister, in order to satisfy his partymen, had to mention at the chief minister's meet the possibility of a fresh Pakistani terrorist attack on India.

We reiterate that though the prime minister has made the point of a fresh Pakistani terrorist attack, he has not stated what action India will take in reply. There is also the need to think that fake currency notes, drugs, arms, etc. are often seized in train and bus services between the countries. It should be seen whether due to these services the country is being caused more damage than gain.

Strengthening Security in Border States

Pakistan may be participating in the US "war against terror," but it is difficult to change its viewpoint about India. This is the reason for terrorist groups active there hatching conspiracies of attacking India without any hitch, but it is not making any difference to the Pakistani Government.

The US Government is getting the Taliban active on the border adjoining Afghanistan wiped out by giving financial aid to Pakistan, but it remains restricted to registering only verbal protests when Lashkar-e Taiyiba or Jaish-e Muhammad terrorists attack India.

Concrete Information,
On 17 August, when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made a revelation of concrete information about terrorists' intent, the surprise was what would be Pakistan's explanation to the world community in this situation.

Pakistan had made a promise at Sharm El-Sheikh just a few days ago that it would not allow its soil to be used for terrorist attacks against India, but it is ignoring such terrorist activities. It should immediately wield the stick of law against such terrorists and should give India proof of its good intentions.

Losses to Innocent Indians
Although all border states are important from the viewpoint of internal security, Rajasthan shares the longest 1,040-km international border with Pakistan. In border regions, Indians also have their relatives living in Pakistan.

Had it been some other country, these relations would have formed a strong bond, but every government in Pakistan has taken only undue advantage of these relations until now, and has encouraged hostile activities. This is only causing losses to innocent Indians. Knowingly or unknowingly, they abet smuggling of narcotic substances and fake currency notes, and infiltration from Pakistan.

Increasing Crimes
The opening up of Munnabao-Khokrapar rail line has increased such crimes. Without adequate federal financial assistance, it is not possible for a backward state like Rajasthan to get rid of these problems. Hectic activities were seen after the blasts in Jaipur in May 2008, but neither did Rajasthan get category "A" security from the federal government, nor did the plan to make Jaipur a National Security Guard hub move ahead.

After the 26 November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, defense experts had suggested several measures including strengthening intelligence network, but Rajasthan, which deserved to be the first state to get them, is still lacking it.

Positive and Firm Determination
It would also have to be kept in mind that every citizen has to contribute to internal security. Money may be more important to raise living standards, but security of life is not possible without new thoughts and firm determination.

However, it would be a daydream to obtain it only on the strength of money. Apart from Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, Bihar, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, and Tripura are the other States on which the Union Government would have to focus attention to strengthen the country's internal security. It is futile to expect hopeful signs from Pakistan.