Author: Siddharth Ramana
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: May 5, 2011
URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/336393/India-can-capitalise-on-Osama%E2%80%99s-death.html
With the death of Osama bin Laden, Pakistan's
bogus claim of being part of the global war on terror stands exposed. It is
high time India hardened its position against Pakistan. It will find support
among those betrayed by Pakistan's perfidy
The death of Osama bin Laden holds a number
of lessons which can be incorporated by India. India, which has long accused
Pakistan of hypocrisy towards terrorism and holds it solely responsible for
the deaths of hundreds of its citizens, has lessons to learn from the most
important targeted assassination in the history of counter-terrorism. Can
the lessons learnt from the operation translate into an Indian military option
against groups operating in Pakistan? What are the lessons?
The first lesson which is clearly observable
in the American approach towards Osama bin Laden has been a re-shifting of
focus back to the primary target. While the Bush Administration began 'Operation
Enduring Freedom' with the right intentions, including the stated objective
of capturing Osama bin Laden "dead or alive", counter-terrorism
efforts were subsumed by the growing insurgency in Iraq. It is reported that
the President Barack Obama built on his election promise, to re-double efforts
and aid to the task force in charge of Osama bin Laden. India should emulate
this by not losing our focus in our primary demand to bring back fugitives
who have sought sanctuary in Pakistan. The administration must have a steely
resolve towards achieving this goal, with ruthless efficiency. It is time
for India to harden its position, especially now, since it would find echo
among those betrayed by Pakistan's double crossing ways.
The second lesson, which India needs to learn,
is that Pakistan's national sovereignty for all practical purposes of international
law is dead when it comes to dealing with terrorist groups. The United States
had to learn this in a way which is analogous to their sport baseball. A batter
in baseball is allowed three consecutive swipes at the ball, and if he misses
all three he is out. Pakistan had allowed high ranking Al Qaeda leaders from
Khaled Shaikh Mohammad, Abu Faraj Al Libi to Osama bin Laden to be based in
Pakistan, and it was only owing to American intervention that they were captured
or killed.
Two of the three operations that occurred
beyond the traditionally lawless tribal areas indicate a complete failure
of the Pakistani state in its official capacity to uphold UNSC resolution
1373 dealing with counter-terrorism. Therefore, India should capitalise on
this section to urge the international community in applying additional pressure
on Pakistan, and possibly even encouraging commando style raids against targets
in Pakistan. Indian Army heads have repeatedly left the decision to the political
leadership. This confidence in the armed forces should be trusted and exercised.
While such an action would invite retaliation
from Pakistan with a possible escalation to a full-fledged war, it needs to
be realised that the international community, as a whole, is already suffering
from a proxy war and blackmail in the form of Pakistan's refusal or inability
to act against terrorist infrastructure. India cannot continue to wait on
the bylines, while action is mounted against groups operating against other
countries, while its citizens are to be treated like cattle, deserving to
perish in a ceremonious act of politico-religious fundamentalism. It would
be unfathomable for Pakistan to throw any remaining vestiges of rationality
to the wind and escalate its conflict with India, at a risk of further international
isolation and inherent degradation.
The third lesson from the operation is the
need to revisit intelligence apparatus basics against groups such as Al Qaeda.
According to media reports about the sanctuary, Osama bin Laden was living
in a palatial house, without a telephone or Internet connection. The years
it took to pinpoint his location is attributed to tracking the whereabouts
of a Kuwaiti human courier, whom Osama bin Laden trusted. Osama bin Laden's
aversion to communication tools and meticulous radio silence has helped him
evade capture for over a decade. The same technique was adopted by Abu Musab
al-Zarqawi, leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, who was killed only when he went to
visit a cleric who was monitored by intelligence forces. India's intelligence
capabilities have come in for a lot of criticisms, especially in the aftermath
of the November 26, 2008 attacks, and while we augment our technical resources,
it would be useful to develop our human intelligence resources as well. In
many ways they are the unsung heroes behind foiled plots.
The final lesson to be incorporated in learning
from such incidents deals with releasing information to the media. The United
States in an effort to be circumspect in its euphoria raises more questions
than answers in its post-incident media briefings. Questions relating to the
level of cooperation with other allies, additional intelligence factors and
civilian casualties are some of the details which could have been shared with
the public, to prevent rumors and suspicions. The media's role becomes even
more important in directing public reactions towards a more humane reaction,
as opposed to the scenes of jubilation which denigrate human life and can
provide additional fodder to terrorist groups.
- The writer is a Research Officer, Institute
of Peace and Conflict Studies.
