India sets sights on Pakistani camps By Siddharth Srivastava
NEW DELHI - Following the Mumbai attacks last week, it is emerging that India
intends to take the "war on terror" to the next level - specifically, by taking
out militant training camps that India believes dot Pakistan-administered
Kashmir.
A senior official in India's Home Ministry told Asia Times Online that a
decision had been made at the highest levels that India will be directly
involved in "annihilating" some of the terror infrastructure and personnel
based in Pakistan.
Although fraught with risk, "hot pursuit" has been debated in India for some
time. The Mumbai strikes, which claimed the lives of
nearly 200 people, may have supplied the impetus needed for action.
According to the official, who declined to be named, these operations will
essentially be covert to prevent an all-out war between the two nuclear-armed
neighbors. Officially, India may continue to deny such actions, all the while
taking the battle to the terrorists.
Elite armed naval, air and army forces, backed by intelligence agencies, will
be involved. The operation could eventually cover border areas along Punjab
such as Multan, where some of the Mumbai attackers are believed to have been
recruited.
The coastal belt along Karachi to Gwadar will also be under active Indian
surveillance.
Bangladesh, another fertile ground of al-Qaeda activities, will also be within
the ambit of such actions, according to the official.
The latest moves by India were conveyed to United States Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice when she was in New Delhi this week.
Washington, it appears, does not have a problem with India's intentions as long
as it is ensured that there will be no full-fledged conflagration between India
and Pakistan. The US also wants to make sure Pakistan's army maintains its
presence, even if limited, on the western frontier with Afghanistan.
It seems, at least for now, that India will keep the US informed about any
armed operations. Still, it is not necessary that all military actions be
conveyed to Washington.
New Delhi, too, is averse to any escalated war with Pakistan. Such a scenario
would play into the hands of terrorists and would shatter the peace process
which until now has been met with broad support in both countries.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has made it clear that open war with
Pakistan would set India's emerging economy back by at least two decades.
According to official sources, Indian security agencies facing the flak after
the Mumbai carnage have impressed on leaders that the only way to repulse
repeated militant attacks is to strike at the roots of terror in Pakistan. The
alternative, sources say, would be remaining a "sitting duck".
Officials have said that a vast country such as India, with porous coastal and
land borders, simply does not have the security apparatus, funds or personnel
to guard against the meticulous jihadi terror machine.
Further, it is thought that anti-terror strikes will "bleed" militants, forcing
them to protect their immediate interests rather than plotting more attacks.
This could mean that Indian operations in Pakistan will be a long-drawn affair.
New Delhi has already set up a anti-terror federal agency with independent
funding and personnel drawn from diverse security agencies.
India's new Home Minister, P Chidambaram, is known for his tough approach. New
Delhi also ensured that National Security Advisor M K Narayanan managed to
retain his job amid calls for his sacking after the Mumbai attacks.
Narayanan, who enjoys the confidence of Manmohan and Chidambaram, is well
versed with Indian security structures and is expected to provide bureaucratic
leadership.
India will also seek out Israel to help implement secret sorties into Pakistan.
It is hoped that Israel will also assist in setting up an elaborate
intelligence network specifically aimed at neutralizing terror activities.
New Delhi considers Tel Aviv to be a partner in the fight against terrorism,
and the latter has been more than willing to lend a helping hand, including
past undercover security operations in Indian-administered Kashmir.
So far, most intelligence-gathering from Pakistan has been aimed at monitoring
the activities of the armed forces.
Pakistani armed forces, at the instance of the US, are focused on the western
tribal fronts and the Taliban. New Delhi is of the opinion that a
well-organized terror network in Pakistan has trained its resources on India.
Over time, India has managed to collect information - including maps,
topography and details about training camps and terrorist activities - in
Pakistan.
New Delhi knows that despite his strident rhetoric, Pakistan President Asif Ali
Zardari's hands are tied and that he will not move much beyond harsh words.
Zardari's flip-flop over the visit of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence
(ISI) chief to India is an indication that he does not enjoy full control,
according to officials. The last thing Zardari wants is further extremist
backlash against his family after the assassination of his wife, the former
prime minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto.
New Delhi believes there are rogue and entrenched elements within the ISI and
Pakistani army that are pursuing an agenda beyond the control of the current
political leadership.
Meanwhile, Indian, US, British and Israeli security officials continue to
interrogate Ajmal Amir Kasab, the fidayeen (suicide) Mumbai attacker
caught alive.
Sources say that Ajmal exists at the bottom of a complex terror chain. As such,
his usefulness will likely not extend past revealing logistics about the Mumbai
attacks. So far, he has only confirmed what was already known about the
Lashkar-e-Toiba (LET) terror group and its masterminds.
Indian investigators have said that Ajmal has undergone advanced LET training,
including marine warfare.
Siddharth Srivastava is a New Delhi-based journalist. He can be reached
at sidsri@yahoo.com)
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