Thursday, August 18, 2016

Dark Clouds Gather : Things look bad on both Pakistan and Kashmir, what the government must do now

The Centre appears to have decided to respond to Pakistan's rhetorical excesses on Kashmir with similar aggression of its own, the latest episode being defence minister Manohar Parrikar likening Pakistan to “hell“. Islamabad has proposed talks on Kashmir, which is a clanger given that Pakistan hasn't really prepared the ground for it. Islamabad merely strung New Delhi along on investigating the Pathankot terror attack. While India provided unprecedented access to Pakistani investigators to the Pathankot airbase subsequent investigations have been stonewalled, as have those into 2611.
From New Delhi's point of view, entering into talks with Pakistan's civilian government is frustrating as the latter has little ability to deliver outcomes. Home minister Rajnath Singh visited Islamabad recently to a hostile reception. So New Delhi currently appears to want to isolate Pakistan. But this cannot be the only instrument in its toolkit. It must also attempt to engage those who truly deter mine Pakistan's India policy ­ the army and ISI. The Americans and Chinese regularly talk to the Pakistani military , which is convinced that India intends Pakistan harm and resorts to asymmetrical warfare as an `offensive-defence' policy. India, too, should reach out to them and try to calm their fears.
Simultaneously , Kashmir is sliding into chaos as curfew, riots, firings and terrorist violence continue. The Mehbooba Mufti government is not doing much to restore order. The Centre must enter into dialogue with Kashmiri civil society and find a way to restore a functioning administration without curfews. It must also recognise and interrupt the vicious dynamic that is playing out between rising Islamism in the Valley and rising Hindutva across large parts of the country.Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a start by describing 70-80% of cow protectors as anti-social elements, but such talk must be followed by action. It would be wonderful, for example, if the law came down like a ton of bricks on Mohammad Akhlaq's murderers that would send a clear signal to the cow brigade.
Dark clouds on the India-Pakistan horizon mean that India needs to go on the highest possible terror alert. 2611mastermind Hafiz Saeed is back on Pakistani TV channels, an ominous sign. The government has rightly ordered a security audit of airports across the country , but security must be beefed up everywhere and contingency plans ready.
India cannot afford, any more, the kind of laxity that allowed the Pathankot attackers to come through despite warning signals.
(Source- TOI Editorial)

1 comment:

  1. Yes we have to be alert on all fronts. Our priorities have to be right. Unfortunately with unplanned infrastructures, vast population lack of security conscientiousness among majority of population,wrong priorities etc ensuring security becomes more difficult. With ill intention of pakistan and its efforts to exploit our social and religious vulnerability we have to be extremely careful. We including the security establishments have very well drsfted SOPs on security but its implementation remains wanting. As broughtout there are chances of more and more norder clashes. The agencies guarding the border need to audit their procedures, drills, responses to adverse situtation. Due to certain happennings during the last two years where the defence forces feel side lined in every respect and their morale is the casualty.The national leadership has to take corrective measures to stop apparent slide in themorale of def forces to face the adverse situtation. It must be known that the defence services are not like any govt servents with nine to five job. They are ready on 24x7x365 scenario. They got to have a Jajba to meet this demand on them.This Jajba can not be built snd rebuilt overnight.To restore the sliding morale it tskes the long time.

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