Two words come to mind when one thinks of Mumbai November 26. Horror and failure. Horror at the eleven terror attacks across Mumbai in one night and horror at the repeated failure of the state to protect its citizens.
Writing in these columns some months ago I said “Democracies are supposed to react to terrorism with determination and sensitivity. In India, however, each terrorist act brings forth the same tired clichés, the same repetitive promises and compensations, the same gory pictures on front pages, the same breathless TV channel reporting in shrill horror, the same allegations of intelligence failure in a trial by camera. Yet nothing is done to strengthen intelligence, the counter terrorist mechanism or enhancing the quality of the police force. There is no apparent determination to take this battle to the enemy.” And so today we have a Mumbai November 26 version of terrorism and the likes of which we have not seen but are likely to see again and again.
The mechanics of final execution seem very simple since they were the result of apparently detailed planning in the selection of targets, the timing and the manner. There must have been several reconnaissance missions to the hotels and other sites. Despite the known threat perceptions it is amazing that the terrorists were able to smuggle in the weapons. Or war there an insider?
Anyone watching the TV scenes would have noticed that the terrorists seemed calm, physically fit and had not even bothered to cover their faces. Their demeanour was that of well trained persons, familiar with their surroundings and the task to be accomplished almost commando like in their bearing. They were either planning to drop their weapons after the act and melt into the crowd or go down fighting. The game is simple – the longer the crisis lasts the greater the publicity and greater the pressure on the government to do something and the greater the chances that it will look more and more inept. It will require consummate skill and determination to overcome this crisis with minimal loss of innocent lives.
The present lot of terrorists are not the traditional suicide bombers ready to blow themselves up. Yet somehow the manner of their arrival by boats and the physical features of the terrorists brings to mind the serial bomb explosions of Mumbai March 1993. At that time too a part of the plot was to carry out killings at other selected targets after the simultaneous bomb explosions. The area of operation and the targets were also quite similar – upper class and affluent. An operation of this magnitude would need some state or agency support. Is there a Pakistani–ISI-Dawood hand in this? Have our fears that jihad has begun to spread from Pakistan to India come true. It is still early days but these questions need to be asked.
A familiar Pakistani strategy is unfolding in India where the attempt is to hoist all attacks in India outside Kashmir on the al-Qaeda banner or to pretend that things are not fully under the control of the army in Pakistan. Anyone who has studied Pakistan knows that this is not true. And if things are not under control in a military dictatorship of more or less 60 years standing, then that country is falling apart. We all know that it is the Pakistani — essentially the Punjabi Lashkar and the Jaish who operate from bases in Pakistan and are members of Osama’s International Islamic Front — who continue to target India They are not members of the al-Qaeda which is an Arab organisation but are ideologically akin.
The reports that terrorists were specifically asking hotel management about foreigners would indicate their intention to target them and simultaneously to scare away foreigners from India. Once the demands or results of interrogation of those who have surrendered or arrested are known will there be some idea of the origins of the attackers and the purpose. Till then one can only speculate whether this is an attack for revenge of some sort, an attempt to seek worldwide publicity or is it a reaction to antiterrorist policies of governments – notably US, British Israeli and ours.
Writing in these columns some months ago I said “Democracies are supposed to react to terrorism with determination and sensitivity. In India, however, each terrorist act brings forth the same tired clichés, the same repetitive promises and compensations, the same gory pictures on front pages, the same breathless TV channel reporting in shrill horror, the same allegations of intelligence failure in a trial by camera. Yet nothing is done to strengthen intelligence, the counter terrorist mechanism or enhancing the quality of the police force. There is no apparent determination to take this battle to the enemy.” And so today we have a Mumbai November 26 version of terrorism and the likes of which we have not seen but are likely to see again and again.
The mechanics of final execution seem very simple since they were the result of apparently detailed planning in the selection of targets, the timing and the manner. There must have been several reconnaissance missions to the hotels and other sites. Despite the known threat perceptions it is amazing that the terrorists were able to smuggle in the weapons. Or war there an insider?
Anyone watching the TV scenes would have noticed that the terrorists seemed calm, physically fit and had not even bothered to cover their faces. Their demeanour was that of well trained persons, familiar with their surroundings and the task to be accomplished almost commando like in their bearing. They were either planning to drop their weapons after the act and melt into the crowd or go down fighting. The game is simple – the longer the crisis lasts the greater the publicity and greater the pressure on the government to do something and the greater the chances that it will look more and more inept. It will require consummate skill and determination to overcome this crisis with minimal loss of innocent lives.
The present lot of terrorists are not the traditional suicide bombers ready to blow themselves up. Yet somehow the manner of their arrival by boats and the physical features of the terrorists brings to mind the serial bomb explosions of Mumbai March 1993. At that time too a part of the plot was to carry out killings at other selected targets after the simultaneous bomb explosions. The area of operation and the targets were also quite similar – upper class and affluent. An operation of this magnitude would need some state or agency support. Is there a Pakistani–ISI-Dawood hand in this? Have our fears that jihad has begun to spread from Pakistan to India come true. It is still early days but these questions need to be asked.
A familiar Pakistani strategy is unfolding in India where the attempt is to hoist all attacks in India outside Kashmir on the al-Qaeda banner or to pretend that things are not fully under the control of the army in Pakistan. Anyone who has studied Pakistan knows that this is not true. And if things are not under control in a military dictatorship of more or less 60 years standing, then that country is falling apart. We all know that it is the Pakistani — essentially the Punjabi Lashkar and the Jaish who operate from bases in Pakistan and are members of Osama’s International Islamic Front — who continue to target India They are not members of the al-Qaeda which is an Arab organisation but are ideologically akin.
The reports that terrorists were specifically asking hotel management about foreigners would indicate their intention to target them and simultaneously to scare away foreigners from India. Once the demands or results of interrogation of those who have surrendered or arrested are known will there be some idea of the origins of the attackers and the purpose. Till then one can only speculate whether this is an attack for revenge of some sort, an attempt to seek worldwide publicity or is it a reaction to antiterrorist policies of governments – notably US, British Israeli and ours.
Each terrorist incident is accompanied by criticisms of intelligence failure. In India, there is a general lack of appreciation (one suspects at the highest levels as well) that intelligence agencies are best instruments with a nation (not the government) in the furtherance of its foreign security interests and the protection of the country. In normal times, when it is the best time for the agencies to be allowed to hone their skills, develop their sources and prepare for the future, they suffer from benign neglect. Posts remain unsanctioned, purchase of new equipment is postponed and upgrading is frowned upon, all because the powers- that- be assess that the threat has passed. Yet, when an incident takes place, intelligence agencies become the useful whipping boys with politicians and others ready to shift blame as they assess their political fortunes. What we have today is systemic failure. All systems have malfunctioned.
The usual blame game will start accompanied by declarations of intent. As it is here, in New Delhi the Prime Minister and Home Minister are not able to agree which is the bigger threat – Naxals or jihadis. That being so, our response is going to be inadequate. The PM says he has given his security handlers one hundred days to reform and perform. So many hundred days have come and gone in the last four and a half years but security and anti terrorism has been dealt with partisan perceptions and studied indifference so that today we do not have any day left.
Yes Prime Minister the security grid needs drastic improvement and no Prime Minister we do not have the luxury of time.
Source : Mail Today , 28th November 2008
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