Dear Friends,
Subject: India’s Terror Policy—A Civilian Approach
It will appear we have taken up a very ambitious task. We have virtually been “provoked“, to attempt this task by two expert presentations on the subject in the press on the same day (August 8, 2015); a perceptive lead editorial in “The Asian Age“: “India Must Fine-tune Anti-terrorist Tactics” and another excellent piece: “Decoding The Message Sent From Pakistan”, on the editorial page of “The Pioneer” by the well-known journalist-cum-strategic analyst-cum-an author, Shri Hiranmay Karlekar.
Both the items are worth reading more than once and a copy of each of them is attached.
“Terror” or “Terrorism” is the buzz word in every house now. Terrorism is not necessarily held equivalent to any religion as such. But it has so happened—thanks especially to the hardly-one-year-old ISIS, the present- day terrorism is almost automatically equated to Islam. So the terminology “Islamic Terrorism” has been coined. This is notwithstanding the much-fabled fatwa, declaring not to equate terrorism with Islam and vice versa.
Some Islamic scholars are also seriously concerned with this problem and are breaking their heads how to change or contain the blood bath the ISIS have started.
Without going into the geopolitical angle of the problem, which is difficult and not the subject-matter of the present discussion, we shall confine ourselves specifically to terrorism vis-a-vis India, the subject of both the pieces. But, it is difficult to do so, with the ISIS having declared a policy for “the end of the world, triggering from India“, hinted at by Shri Karlekar. It will mean India is in the focus of international terrorism indulged in by the ISIS. The ISIS plan is based on a 39-page document in Urdu, attested to be true by experts, recovered in a village in Pakistan.
The other day we reported that the Centre was planning to work out de-radicalising the Muslim youth, prone towards going the ISIS way. It has been a good move but we fail to appreciate how such matters, which clearly fall in the domain of intelligence agencies, are leaked out to the press.
Coming to Pakistan-initiated move, “The Asian Age” edit has put it: “there is some special virtue in not talking to Pakistan when terrorist incidents occur, when it ought to be obvious that freezing diplomacy is not a solution to the problem of terrorism.”
The edit very rightly points out: “There is no mention of developing appropriate responses, through sharp enough instruments that are duly institutionalised, to make the launching of terrorists so costly that it becomes counter-productive for the perpetrators, whether they are non-state actors, typically a code-word for ISI-nurtured murderous gangs, or state actors behaving irresponsibly on the border.” “This certainly underlines “the failure of state- craft on the Indian side.”
Hiranmay also avers: “Terrorist attacks from Pakistan will not only continue but become more frequent and violent. India must further strengthen its efforts to counter these.”
So, the Asian Age edit suggests:
· Without bothering about international opprobrium, our western neighbour has set up an effective terrorist infrastructure to be used against India. It also finds effective military and diplomatic cover for the depredations of its terrorists. This has gone on for three decades and has now been developed into a fine art which rests for its success on outright falsehood and deniability, and on laughable demands for proof.
· Effective responses must be developed without bothering about Islamabad’s foreign benefactors, including the US and China. This means equipping, training, adhering to training on a routine basis, and possessing defensive and offensive capability. The state of the border protection agencies across India remains pathetic even after the ignominy of 26/11. Seriousness of thought, and imagination, are needed.
These will be further supported by what Hiranmay has exposed as the “Islamisation of the Pak army“. He quotes Zahid Hussain, who writes in “Frontline Pakistan:
· “Islam was incorporated into the Army’s organisational fabric. For the first time, Islamic teachings were introduced into the Pakistan Military Academy.” He adds, “Islamic training and philosopy were made a part of the curriculum of the Command and Staff College. A Directorate of Religious Instruction was instituted to educate the officer corps on Islam.”
Hiranmay further adds:
· “Radical Islamist ideology permeated the Army with the free flow of religious political literature in the Armed Forces training institutions. Friday prayers at regimental mosques, a matter of individual choice in the past, became obligatory.”
So, Friends, what lessons we draw from the these two learned presentations.
· The Pak behaviour remaining what it is now, there is no respite but to remain on guard and duly prepared, as the living legend Shri K P S Gill has warned. This has been duly incorporated at the mail sent on August 5, 2015, on, “Lessons From Gurudaspur“, based on Shri Gill’s note on the subject. Our esteemed readers/viewers will do well to refresh themselves by glancing through that mail once again at this stage.
· Civilians, according to us, have greater stakes in shaping the military policy of the country. As even senior army officers say, the defence of the country is too important to be left to the army done. In times of war, especially the proxy war going on between India and Pakistan (a border incursion took place even on August 9, 2015), the members of the general public will help keep up the morale of the army fighting in the front. The credit for the case of apprehension of the terrorist caught live recently in Udhampur goes to the villagers, as is known.
On the whole, Friends, you will, we hope, agree that the civilian views discussed in the mail may help shape the national policy on terror, which is in domain of the government.
We would urge the NDA government to take such steps as would ensure the safety of the nation, especially against the proxy war on the western border by Pakistan. As it has been nicely put by Shri Gill, we do not prepare for terror after it has taken place. We have to be ready all the time on the international borders in both the Western and the Eastern sectors.
Friends, we are sending this mail to all concerned.
Vandemataram,
Your sevak,
D.C. Nath
