Don't lower guard

Don't lower guard

The Pioneer Edit Desk

It was once said of the NDA Government that its officials often went overboard to ensure that Pakistan-sponsored terrorism made the front pages almost everyday. This was nothing but Leftist prattle, but there were many buyers of the insinuation because, overall, it contributed to their agenda of demonising the BJP. It was as if keeping people alert about proliferation of terrorist modules in their neighbourhood was a way of spreading ill-will against the minorities!




One recalls the Ishrat Jahan case in this connection. It represented a veritable collision of the complex attitudes that today shape the UPA Government's position on cross-border terrorism. Sections of the media have since imposed some sort of self-censorship where news on terrorist modules is concerned. Very little has appeared in the national media in the past six months which could remotely be adduced as the way to keep the nation informed of its vulnerability. It was precisely this state of apathy institutionalised during the Gujral doctrine years that led, much later, to the intelligence failure on Kargil. The early 2000s have seen the national intelligence agencies undergo a superb rally.



Better coordination between them and the States' police has resulted in significant successes on the counter-terrorism front. The UPA has inherited one of the best national apparatuses in the global war against terrorism. It should not fritter away the advantage by indulging in lazy rhetoric about terrorists being "brothers" or "misguided youth". There is a particular emergency at the present moment. Last week's incident in Delhi in which a Lashkar-e-Toiba module was busted and three, including two Pakistani, terrorists shot dead, led to the shocking revelation that the banned outfit was planning to hit some soft targets in the Silicon Valley of India, Bangalore, and the Indian Military Academy of Dehra Dun as well.



The Government should not forget that terrorist organisations often go into long periods of apparent hibernation, only to announce their return in spectacular style. The Students' Islamic Movement of India had virtually disintegrated after the Jamaat-e-Islami withdrew financial support. But that hardly deterred its fanatical young followers, who went different ways in search of new umbrellas. The man who was arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police revealed elaborate plans to destabilise India's economy.



This would go to prove that Pakistan's military establishment has not honoured its commitment about withdrawing aid to terrorists operating in India. Those who cite the falling rate of infiltration across the LoC as the index of Pakistan's sincerity regarding peace with India are only indulging in self deception. The LeT has scores of active modules across India which continue to get financial aid and knowhow. In fact, there could be a tactical shift involving the emergence of new centres of operations to deflect the Indian security apparatus's focus from J&K. Either way, India must not lower its guard