Strategy to tackle terror

In the face of the biggest strike on Mumbai on November 26th evening with which India as a nation witnessed with about 200 deaths and more than 300 injured, it is time to re-think the anti-terror strategies. Temper is running high and rightly so whereby ‘enough is enough’ is the ultimate public mood that could only be receded when the government comes up with some concrete measures. While steps are being taken (which should have actually been taken before) for stringent anti-terror strategy, which include overall reforms in the present intelligence system, along with creating a federal agency. We need to begin everything from the beginning perhaps.

First is the proactive foreign policy and aggressive diplomacy to isolate and prosecute countries and organisations or ‘non-state actors’ in order to save the country from terror onslaught. India has been a victim of severe terror attacks for the last five years, and since 9/11, though there has been no terror attack on the US, India has had more than 35 major attacks in which more than one thousand people have lost life. This aspect needs to be highlighted in every international forum whereby India can state that it will not tolerate anymore and go to any extent, like the US, to root out terror. Global pressure via proactive diplomacy will surely be an effective tool for the fight against terror.

Second, along with tough policy against Pakistan for the recent Mumbai attacks, India needs to think the internal rots that have been plaguing the country for long, which have made the system so vulnerable that anyone can infiltrate the Indian Territory – either from land or sea route. The attacks and their aftermath again point to the rot that has set into the country's internal security system and a lack of cohesion between civilian and security wings of the government. The ‘new age terror’ has brought about missionary zeal with cutting age technological expertise as against the weak, corrupt and vulnerable officials who are easily buyable. First, for example, India's elite force – the NSG commando took 9 hours to start anti-terror operation in Mumbai. Security experts have criticised the response to the attacks, which is "amateurish, sluggish and feeble".

Third, as has been the demand for long, is the reform of intelligence system the failures of which have done tremendous losses to human lives and property in India and that the lapses have, like the one by the new Home Minister, been accepted by leaders and officials. No doubt about it: India has the weakest and the most inefficient intelligence service that any major power in the world possesses, which is under persistent and devastating terror attacks. The sheer ignorance of intelligence agencies about such a massive terror attacks on Mumbai is one big failure that everyone – from leaders and experts at the policy level to the laymen at the grassroots – must unitedly address to ensure a much better intelligence services in future. How mind-boggling is the fact that Indian intelligence failed to get the least clue about the meticulous planning, vast quantities of arms and ammunitions, the number of terrorists involved, and millions in funding! From Mumbai train blasts in 2006 to attacks on Mumbai in 2008, 10 major terror attacks on different cities in India that have left more than 500 dead and above1000 injured show the utter failures of intelligence agencies.

Robertta Wohlstetter, a famous American author, had explored why the US failed to anticipate or prevent the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. More than six decades later, the Americans still ask: why did the American intelligence community fail so terribly to anticipate and thwart the terrorist attacks of 9/11? Developing a superior class Intelligence system is the urgent need to deal with terror outfits; India has paid a heavy price due to intelligence failures. Writing in the Hindu (Tibet Issue and the Indian Reaction, March 24, 2008), M. K. Bhadrakumar, a former Indian ambassador says, “The first question that occurred to me when I wandered through the narrow lanes and by-lanes of Dharamsala was whether the Indian intelligence sleuths knew beforehand about the imminent outbreak of violence in Lhasa. Do not be surprised if they did not know. We have a history of intelligence failures.”

Fourth, democratic representation, as the core of India’s secular administrative ethos, in intelligence as well as investigating agencies will certainly help widen the expertise level and ensure impartiality in information-gathering and investigation. Since RAW has almost no Muslim representation, IB has little, which makes the two agencies difficult to penetrate what we refer to as ‘local connection’, and all the intelligence failures in recent past are due to the fact that penetration in the socio-religious fabrics of Muslims areas have not been as effective and accurate as it should have been. Muslims intelligence sleuths in IB could well penetrate the Muslims areas to gather valuable inputs on any subversive activities. Moreover, given the talent level of Muslims in Bollywood, cricket, arts and other secular fields, they need to be entrusted with the task of terror-handling mechanisms as well. Giving Muslims a chance, therefore, to serve the country in the capacity of intelligence sleuths and investigators will surely make a big difference in our fight against terror.

Fifth, in order to make it an all-India specialized investigating force, there is need for federal agency, like the FBI of the US, to take charge of the investigation. In close association with IB and RAW, this federal agency shall have specialized training in emotional intelligence, technology and crime detection, and which shall be based on democratic system, and each team from this specialized federal agency shall be selected in the wake of any terror attack within the Indian jurisdiction. Since in all terror attacks Muslims (now Hindus are alleged have been involved) are perceived to be the perpetrators, the community’s role as investigators is highly desirable so that the investigation can be impartial and a sense of belief in system could flow to the community. Moreover, this way the government can allow Muslims to contribute to usher in a terror-free India. On the other hand, insensitive and provocative style of the police searches and encounters, which we have seen for years, creates terror and panic in the Muslim localities. L K Advani and others have too raised protest against alleged torture of Sadhvi and other Hindu suspects of terror. So, this federal agency should be given autonomy and free hand from political pressure.

Sixth, police reform is another big area to be taken care of. Since the plight of policemen is very much in sight due to their low salary and hard work, a special package to the police personnel is due. Low salary breeds corruption, as it has been perceived that terrorists might have bribed some of the policemen to enter Mumbai.

Eight, there is urgent need to stop blame and counter blame and dual policy on terror as political parties have rightly been blamed and that is why the public anger post-Mumbai attack is directed on leaders. The nation must stand united against terror, rather than BJP blaming Congress of ‘minority appeasement’ and the Congress accuses the BJP of ‘Hindu vote bank’ politics though the public now knows everything. The recent anger over the involvement of Hindu groups in terror acts has brought about new thinking on terror though earlier people used to talk about ‘terrorists have no religion’. This sort of murky campaign needs to be stopped.

Finally, media has a greater role to play. Rather than pointing finger at someone or organisation or being judgmental and aggressive, it needs to place balanced news analysis and avoid relating terrorists with religion. In sum, to make the fight against terror a formidable effort, India needs to ensure rule of law, civil liberties, access to justice, people’s participation in governance along with accountability and transparency in the system. And to achieve this, we need to root out corruption from the lives of individuals, officials, leaders, and institutions.