Author: Editorial
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: July 31, 2008
Jihadis have a free run of India
The serial bombings in Bangalore and Ahmedabad
and the subsequent discovery of bombs in Surat have served to highlight a
fact which has been known for long: Our counter-terrorism mechanism, including
intelligence-gathering, is in a shambles. In the recent past, this point was
driven home by terrorists who set off bombs in Jaipur. The latest bombings
have left the country on red alert and the people on tenterhooks, wondering
where the next attack will come from and in what form. Jihad's deadly poison
has begun to seep through the length and breadth of the country. For the umpteenth
time, authorities have been caught napping and Government's claimed counter-terrorism
efforts have been exposed as no more than a sham. The jihadis have clearly
outfoxed our intelligence agencies yet again. This represents a victory for
the ISI and marks its ability to increasingly organise terror in India. It
would appear to have established an entrenched network of terrorists with
resources and manpower at its command. The ISI's foot soldiers have succeeded
in disrupting the lives of ordinary citizens and ensured that the country
pays a price. This is a situation that the terrorist craves but which must
be denied him. It leaves one wondering why our agencies continue to fail in
their task. This by itself is in some respects surprising; it is not as if
this country is facing terrorism of late. Various terrorist outrages have
taken place over many years and the country is supposedly an old hand at fighting
this evil. The intelligence agencies, as also, indeed the police, are expected
to have predictive and preventive abilities. This expectation has turned out
to be hollow: After each outrage there is a flurry of activity and steps are
taken to 'tighten' security and 'strengthen' the security and intelligence
agencies. Money continues to be poured in for this purpose. It is, therefore,
necessary to probe the reasons why the intelligence and security agencies
continue to fail time and again.
There are suggestions aplenty for new ways
of fighting terrorism. There has been a demand in some quarters for a new
federal police agency. Though this appears to be a good suggestion, experts
have been quick to point out whether adding to the plethora of police organisations
will serve any purpose unless there is matching political will. But there
are equally compelling arguments in support of a federal agency to combat
organised crime, including terrorism. Yet, this effort will fetch little or
no result unless there is a qualitative improvement in intelligence-gathering
and processing. It is no secret that the Intelligence Bureau has been reduced
to no more than an extension counter of the ruling party; there is virtually
no network for collecting local intelligence; and, those entrusted with the
job of collating and analysing inputs, including electronic chatter, do not
measure up to their job. Nepotism, sloth and political patronage have rendered
our agencies ineffective and reduced them to a pathetic shadow of their past.
It is not surprising that in the immediate days preceding the latest terrorist
outrage our intelligence agencies and the National Security Adviser were busy
marshalling support for the Congress to ensure the UPA Government's victory
in the confidence motion moved by the Prime Minister. Needless to add, those
who so callously ignored their responsibility to the nation are sitting pretty
as they enjoy the incumbent regime's protection.