Arun Chaubey
November is truly ‘the cruelest month’. The 26/11 Mumbai attacks exposed the ugliest face of terror before humanity. With the arrival of the first anniversary of the attacks, one can see that perception towards life has changed in this country. India is no more what it used to be. It has witnessed changes in almost every sphere of life as well as, thankfully, in governance.
Although India’s focus in the last 12 months has continuously been on the threat of cross-border terrorism and getting together the act on intelligence etc., it has passed through several developments on the domestic front also. And if we analyze them, they seem to have been affected, somehow or the other, by the 26/11 attacks.
To begin with the palpable changes on the domestic front, perhaps the biggest change we see is in the dynamic leadership of P Chidambaram as the Union Home Minister. He has ushered in some much needed new initiatives, of course with the nod of the Congress high command and the Prime Minister. If reports are to be believed, the PM has given him a carte blanche and does not interfere with the policies of his ministry.
Fully utilizing the free hand, Chidambaram has helped in creating a feeling of urgency among various security agencies, intelligence agencies, state police and paramilitary forces, besides resorting to certain legislative actions like strengthening the Prevention of Unlawful Activities Act and creation of the National Investigative Agency.
The government, however, needs to give the National Anti-terrorism Agency a mandate to keep an eye on developments within the country, as well as across the world for upholding Indian interests. It should be able analyse every incident and take steps to strengthen preparedness. For that, perhaps, it needs a comprehensive law that would at once deal with investigative agencies, prosecution and the courts. These things are a prerequisite to foil terror plots internally as well as externally, like the US successfully has in the wake of September 11.
The astute Home Minister is also taking advantage of the war within Pakistan, and has taken initiative on Kashmir front. He is quietly working to unclench the hands of J-K secessionists and secure the support of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference for a peace deal. Although there is no certainty that he will achieve success, he certainly has availed the opportunity in the backdrop of disturbances in the neighbourhood.
There may be an opinion that the developments in Pakistan, where Jihadis are busy fighting a battle for survival, have given birth to another danger. If Pakistan Army wins, we will have trouble and if the Jihadis win, we will have more trouble. But we need to be optimistic as Indian diplomacy, with its limited but growing influence, has perhaps for the first time managed to get favourable provisions in the Kerry-Lugar Act. The Act has conditioned aid to Pakistan to ensure that it would use this fund to stop radical elements from launching terror attacks in the neighbourhood.
Since Pakistan’s involvement with Taliban on its western front has given us an advantage of sorts, we need to find a mechanism to engage with the ISI at least through back channels besides developing a capability for pre-emptive strikes on Jihadi groups. For that, the government has to locate their leadership.
Another positive development we can see in is on the front of acquiring new weapons drone missiles and other equipment for developing the capability of Air Force to effect precision strike capability.
Although we know that Pakistan is not doing enough to scuttle the designs of the sponsors of terrorism in India, our dossier diplomacy- so far seven drafts have been sent to Pakistan- has certainly put a pressure on it. Now, Pakistan is being constantly reminded that normalization of relations between the two neighbours is not possible till it acts against the masterminds of 26/11.
Although at Sharm el-Sheikh it appeared that the government was stepping down from its stand, it has resorted to being adamant. Perhaps that pressure has worked as the Pakistani authorities have arrested, freed and virtually put under house arrest, Lashakar-e-Toiba founder and the alleged mastermind of 26/11 attacks, Hafiz Saeed. The arrests of a few former and working Army officers is the latest action taken by Pakistan in the wake of pressure and interrogation of David Coleman Headley by the FBI.
Clearly our being in constant touch with external agencies like FBI has borne fruits. The FBI has foiled a massive terror plot by arresting Headley and his associate Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin, who is also suspected to be behind the 26\11 attacks in Mumbai.
But the question remains if India is now better prepared to tackle terror attacks?
We can at least say that Chidambaram has been able to put his Home in order, and the developments under him are not just in new capacity building but in utilizing the existing apparatus optimally. The intelligence services too are performing and they have been much more effective than they were before as there are reports of many terror attack plans being foiled. The vulnerability level remains the same, but Chidambaram’s terse remark that 26/11 type attack would be retaliated, sums up India’s new fund vehement stand.
On the political front, we need a broad national consensus among all political parties and they should be discouraged from making political capital out of it. This consensus was witnessed in the last session of Parliament when the BJP stated that it was ready to stand with the ruling alliance on the issue of tackling terror.
Besides, we cannot forget the stand taken by Muslim bodies which refused the burial of the Pakistan terrorists at their cemeteries, showing that terrorists belonging to any religion have no right to get honour even in their death.
It may appear to be out of context to mention here the Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind’s support to a decree against the national song "Vande Mataram" on the grounds that some of its lines were "against the religious principles of Islam". But the move has recently been criticized by over 100 artistes and academicians belonging to Muslim community, saying it would "unnecessarily provoke" a controversy and strengthen radical-Hindutva forces.
Such a development should be seen in an extended positive framework of patriotism where it is not only the government which has embarked upon certain initiatives to prepare the country against all nefarious designs, but the citizens are also realizing their responsibilities to foil any violent bids and hence save innocent lives of their brethren.
