Round The World
New Delhi, 12 February 2013
Two Executions: Kasab & Guru
YET MORE NEEDED TO TACKLE TERROR
By Obja Borah Hazarika
Research Scholar, School of International
Studies, JNU
The curtain finally rang
down on Independent India two most audacious terrorist attacks, Parliament
House in December 2001 and Mumbai’s 26/11 2008 with the hanging of December
2001 Parliament House main conspirator Afzal Guru on 9 February. Three months
after Mumbai’s lone surviving gunman Ajmal Kasab was sent to the gallows on 21
November last year. Underscoring, the Manmohan Singh Government would no longer
be soft on crimes against the State and was firm in its resolve of
zero-tolerance on terrorism.
Pertinently, the change of heart is primarily because with the General
elections due in 2014, the UPA is keen to silence the Opposition’s stringent
criticism over the delay in Guru’s execution thereby exposing itself to attacks
of its inherent weakness in dealing with terrorism along-with sending a stern warning
to future terrorists that it would brook no nonsense.
Recall, post both attacks India broke off diplomatic relations with Pakistan.
Although, every time ties were restored in the hope of perceived normalcy, notwithstanding
the underlying suspicions and trust deficit which hovered over talks. Thereby, rendering
it difficult for the neighbours to make much progress.
Undoubtedly, with both India and Pakistan being nuclear countries,
the Indian sub-Continent is considered a potential military and even nuclear
flashpoint by many nations. Also, continued regression of relations between the
two, bodes ill for the future of South Asia in
particular and the world in general. Given that worsening of relations between
the neighbours has the potential to have a ripple effect in several countries
and even Continents. More so in today’s age
of globalization, characterized by time-space compression which has rendered
political boundaries meaningless.
Indeed, despite attempts made by
both New Delhi and Islamabad to strengthen ties with each other,
progress has been sluggish. The main perpetrator of 26/11 LeT founder Hafiz
Saeed remains at large in Pakistan,
despite the US and India putting pressure on Islamabad to convict him for his alleged
involvement in planning the Mumbai attack. Needless to say with New Delhi’s determination to portray a tough stand on
terrorism, as evident by Kasab and Afzal Guru’s hanging, demands for Saeed’s
extradition would grow louder and non-compliance by Islamabad could ratchet up tensions between
the neighbours.
Many might have forgotten that while Kasab was filmed on CCTV carrying
out the brutal murders of many individuals in Mumbai, there is no direct
evidence for convicting Parliament perpetrator Afzal Guru as he was accused on
charges of conspiring, providing logistics and planning the attack.
In fact, his involvement was inferred though mobile records and other
detections. It was this difference in their respective involvements in the two
attacks which resulted in Guru’s conviction going through the lengthy judicial
process unlike Kasab’s which was straight-forward. Yet all were agreed that
both were terrorist acts against the State and both Guru and Kasab deserved to
be sent to the gallows.
All this is very well, but despite Kasab and Guru’s hanging, sadly India’s counter-terrorism
policy continues to be weak and in dire need of reform. Given that the two
terrorists attacks targeted the political and financial hubs New Delhi and Mumbai speaks volumes about our
security apparatus weakness.
It is no secret that the country’s
internal security system remains highly fragmented and poorly coordinated. Policing
responsibilities is under jurisdiction of the States, worse not only are these
local forces poorly staffed, but also fall behind in standards of training and are
poorly equipped. Add to this duplicity in investigation and law enforcement among
State and Central intelligence agencies.
Further, at the Centre the
Home Ministry has the Intelligence Bureau, Central Reserve Police Force, Indian
Police Service, and the National Investigation Agency under its watch. The
Research and Analysis Wing and Central Bureau of Investigation under the Prime
Minister are also responsible for detecting and solving national security
threats.
Additionally, both the State
and Central authorities are coordinated through joint committees and task
forces. These coordinating mechanisms synchronise intelligence gathered by all
the components of the Indian security establishment and aim to formulate threat
perceptions and responses. Alas, there are often slow thereby making them
ineffective.
Importantly, methods to
anticipate and combat terrorist attacks need to be strengthened. Given that increase
in resources and strengthening infrastructure is a necessary prerequisite for
the Indian security establishment for ensuring a policy of effectual
responsiveness to terrorism.
In addition, organizational
challenges abound, with the States and Centre wrangling over autonomy and
control of counter-terrorism apparatus, as revealed by the latest debate over
the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC). Several Chief Ministers have
virtually vetoed the NCTC on the grounds that it would undermine the federal structure
of the Constitution.
Thus, in order to more effectively combat terrorism it is
necessary to formulate a strategy that is inter-Ministerial, inter-agency and
inter-departmental which must balance the interests of the Central and State Governments.
A strong legal infrastructure is also needed in order to ensure an efficient counter-terrorism
policy.
India must learn from the best
practices of other nations to ensure that an effective counter-terrorism policy
is instituted. Cooperation with international partners would also buttress New Delhi’s counter-terrorism
efforts. Additionally, coordination between all domestic agencies involved in
combating terrorism should be a priority.
Clearly, executing those
accused in terrorist cases sends a strong message to potential terrorists. However,
unprepared security agencies and a shoddy counter-terrorism infrastructure make
India
vulnerable to further attacks. Terrorism continues to remain a grave national
security threat, rendering it absolutely necessary for the Government to
construct an effective counter terrorism infrastructure. ----- INFA
(Copyright,
India News and Feature Alliance)
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