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| Post Election : Security Challenges | | | COL J P SINGH, RETD
The biggest threat to peace and security to our country comes from terrorism which emanates from our neighbors. Series of drastic terrorist attacks in India show cases our fragile internal and external security system. Election 2008 in J&K is seen in a brighter perspective in relation to the Kashmir problem. Credit for its success goes to the public for their participation and the administration for its conduct. Kashmir is a ready made issue with Pakistan for India bashing. Will this election translate into putting the Kashmir issue in the back burner with a clear signal to separatists & terrorists to close their shops in the valley because public wants peace; is to be seen to be believed.
Pakistan is an international migraine was said by former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright after Mumbai attack. Pakistan today is not only a cause of terrorism concern for the world but also a demonstrated nuclear power since 1998 that cannot be ignored. Pakistan’s past and present history of being a rouge state are our great concern and pose bigger security challenge before us. The way Pak army has marginalized democracy and elevated its profile in the civil society worries us most if not others in the world. Kargil was hawkish Pak Army’s misadventure which undermined PM Nawaz Sharief’s authority. By making an elected govt irrelevant and hostage to its might it calls the shots which ever way it wants. Present elected govt is also caught in a ‘catch 22’ situation and is unable to assert. Post Kargil India got into unidirectional action towards food and economic security rather than human and defence security. In a short time India emerged as a great economic power but became weaker in defence security. This was exploited by Pak army and ISI to clandestinely weaken & destablise India. Despite intelligence failure & the hard blow in Kargil, nothing seems to have changed in our vulnerability to cross border terrorism (J&K subjected to so many suicide attacks). Systematic flaws in governance, insensitivities of leaders, institutionalized corruption, burdensome and unresponsive bureaucracy leaves us guessing what is going to happen as a result of Pakistan created Indo-Pak stand off and Talibani threats.
This free and fair election with overwhelming voters participation puts lot of stakes on government in the making. Main challenges before the new government will be security of citizens, disaster management and efficient governance. CM and his team will have to forcefully inject efficiency, accountability and performance in the administration like CMs of Delhi, Gujrat and MP to earn credibility. For ensuring safety and security of its citizens Assembly will have to quickly adopt new anti terrorist laws passed by the Parliament and ensure effective implementation despite election rhetorics. Along with tougher new law the need of the hour is to empower security forces and intelligence agencies and leave the rest to the experts who should send a clear message that no terrorist attack will go unpunished.
War hysteria post Mumbai attack and threat of Taliban to fight along Pak army makes our state most vulnerable to terrorist attacks from Pakistan soil because lot of sleeping Jehadi cells still exist in the state. Capture of 3 hard core militants including a serving soldier from a hotel in Jammu leaves no doubt about the security challenges before the security forces. Washington’s sustained attacks on Taliban and al-Qaeda in Pakistan & Afghanistan makes India, particularly J&K their safe heaven. Govts in all the states are under great pressure to debate and strengthen their security. In our liberal democracy we give more importance to Lal batty culture, VIP security and human rights violations. Security of common man is not the priority of our govts. Security agencies and police forces are used by the politicians to spy on political rivals and to fix the opponents, the jobs they are NOT meant for. In the bargain public gets Mumbai type attacks and the politicians get bogged down in inter/intra party politics, vote bank politics, Hindu/Muslim terrorism, conspiracies and counter conspiracies over looking major national concerns such as national integration, security and integrity of our country. Ageing leaders and dynasties continue to rule India. That is why the indecisiveness and insensitivity. Whereas young, effective and enterprising leaders are leading other nations. Ex servicemen and NCC cadets of our state will have to be ready and organized to face the challenges posed by Taliban’s declaration. Similarly Israel fights terrorism with all its might.
It would be appreciated if our political class rises above petty Jammu/Kashmir politics to understand the security threat to our nation in the back drop of Taliban pronouncements. India has to begin cleansing from Kashmir if country has to get rid of terrorism sooner or later. Why pick up a quarrel with a small fish when the shark is waiting to devour you. Appeasement and healing touch policy will require immediate review to send a clear signal to the perpetrators of crime that the public mandate is for peace and development. Public sentiment is every thing. With it nothing can fail; with out it nothing can succeed. New political leadership with the popular mandate, the security forces and the intelligence agencies will have to reorient themselves to cope with the latest terrorists trends/threats and other disaster managements. The importance lies in seizing the initiative from ISI and militant outfits and preempting them. We would need to adapt and master such anti terrorism measures as are used by the USA post 9/11. We must face the security challenges with strength & confidence to give a crushing defeat to the promoters of terrorism; Insha Allah we shall succeed. |
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