A retired lieutenant general has been put on trial by a Delhi court for allegedly divulging sensitive secret information about the country's arms and ammunition system to an international arms dealing firm, impinging upon the nation's security.
Additional Sessions Judge Kaveri Baweja put Lieutenant General (retd) Nirmal Puri on trial along with M/s Concord International Pvt Ltd's official Vinod Khanna, whom the top army officer had allegedly supplied sensitive information in 1984-87.
The court put the duo on trial after framing charges under various provisions of the Official Secret Act and the India Penal Code against them.
"During the period 1984-87, both of you entered into criminal conspiracy in order to obtain, collect, communicate secret/ classified/ official information/ documents pertaining to the defence of the country with the purpose that same may be prejudicial to the safety or interest of the state," the court said.
Puri is alleged to have prepared two hand-written notes containing classified information regarding equipment like light tanks, radio sets for AFV, training simulators and others.
The notes were recovered during search conducted in the premises of M/s Concord International Pvt Ltd from its Golf Links office here on February 2, 1987.
"During the aforesaid period, you being Lieutenant General in the Indian Army and having access, owing to your position as a person who had held office under the Indian Army, wilfully communicated such note/ information to Khanna, a person who is other than to whom you were authorised to communicate it," the ASJ said.
Khanna was charged with obtaining the information which "might be or is intended to be, directly or indirectly, useful to an enemy".
The court noted the disclosure of such information "is likely to affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state or friendly relations with foreign state".
Puri had joined the Indian Army on December 11, 1949 and had retired on March 17, 1985.
The FIR was registered in January 1988 against Puri and Khanna following a complaint by D M L Malhotra, Under Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, and the charge sheet was filed in 1989.
Army's Ex-Lt Gen on Trial for Leaking Official Secrets
Showing posts with label Intelligence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Intelligence. Show all posts
Friday, March 25, 2011
Saturday, May 8, 2010
National Security: Are Defences obsolete?
Aiming without aiming
A background paper prepared by the Delhi-based PHD chamber of commerce for the army seminar said that “most of India’s ground based air defences are obsolete” and that upgrades of basic artillery equipment were “ten years behind schedule”. The generals attending the seminar didn’t metaphorically blink at such unpatriotic statements – they knew only too well they are true.
The chief of army staff said recently that 80% of India’s armoured tanks are night blind. “That means like the medieval times you fight morning to evening and take rest at night - Pakistan has 80% of tanks capable to fight at night,” says Rahul Bedi, a defence journalist. “Planning and strategic thinking of the Indian Army’s procurement program is in complete shambles. Bureaucrats and politicians are throttling the procurement process.”
A more academic critique headlined “Arming without Aiming” will be coming soon from the America’s Brookings Institution. Co-authored by Stephen Cohen, a south Asia expert, it argues that India’s arms purchasing has “lacked political direction and has suffered from weak prospective planning, individual service-centred doctrines, and a disconnect between strategic objectives and the pursuit of new technology”.
And Ajai Shukla, a former army officer and now a defence journalist, writing in the Business Standard daily newspaper, this morning estimates that “Antony’s halo” is costing India 125% more than is necessary for half the equipment it buys because of price rises (during delayed contracts) and because tenders sometimes being abandoned in favour of more expensive negotiated deals.
70% bought abroad
India is the world’s largest buyer of defence equipment, with expenditure budgeted at least at $40bn over the next four years. Half of that is on capital expenditure and is likely to rise around 15% in the finance minister’s annual Budget speech on February 26 , even though not all of it is ever spent [[Feb 26 insert: the actual budget increase is only about 4%]].
At least 70% of purchases have been made abroad for decades, mainly because the generally inefficient and moribund public sector-dominated defence establishment cannot deliver even high technology night vision goggles and modern helmets, let alone fighter aircraft or guns. Until recently, the capable private sector was mostly kept out of doing more than supplying minor components because the defence establishment enjoyed the combined benefits of protected jobs, patronage, prestige, and foreign kickbacks – and because Antony instinctively supports public sector trade unions that do not want private sector competition.
Extracted: A must read article
The gun that crippled the equipping of India’s armed forces is “innocent”
Related reading
Feeding a Monster called Monopoly
A background paper prepared by the Delhi-based PHD chamber of commerce for the army seminar said that “most of India’s ground based air defences are obsolete” and that upgrades of basic artillery equipment were “ten years behind schedule”. The generals attending the seminar didn’t metaphorically blink at such unpatriotic statements – they knew only too well they are true.
The chief of army staff said recently that 80% of India’s armoured tanks are night blind. “That means like the medieval times you fight morning to evening and take rest at night - Pakistan has 80% of tanks capable to fight at night,” says Rahul Bedi, a defence journalist. “Planning and strategic thinking of the Indian Army’s procurement program is in complete shambles. Bureaucrats and politicians are throttling the procurement process.”
A more academic critique headlined “Arming without Aiming” will be coming soon from the America’s Brookings Institution. Co-authored by Stephen Cohen, a south Asia expert, it argues that India’s arms purchasing has “lacked political direction and has suffered from weak prospective planning, individual service-centred doctrines, and a disconnect between strategic objectives and the pursuit of new technology”.
And Ajai Shukla, a former army officer and now a defence journalist, writing in the Business Standard daily newspaper, this morning estimates that “Antony’s halo” is costing India 125% more than is necessary for half the equipment it buys because of price rises (during delayed contracts) and because tenders sometimes being abandoned in favour of more expensive negotiated deals.
70% bought abroad
India is the world’s largest buyer of defence equipment, with expenditure budgeted at least at $40bn over the next four years. Half of that is on capital expenditure and is likely to rise around 15% in the finance minister’s annual Budget speech on February 26 , even though not all of it is ever spent [[Feb 26 insert: the actual budget increase is only about 4%]].
At least 70% of purchases have been made abroad for decades, mainly because the generally inefficient and moribund public sector-dominated defence establishment cannot deliver even high technology night vision goggles and modern helmets, let alone fighter aircraft or guns. Until recently, the capable private sector was mostly kept out of doing more than supplying minor components because the defence establishment enjoyed the combined benefits of protected jobs, patronage, prestige, and foreign kickbacks – and because Antony instinctively supports public sector trade unions that do not want private sector competition.
Extracted: A must read article
The gun that crippled the equipping of India’s armed forces is “innocent”
Related reading
Feeding a Monster called Monopoly
Thursday, May 6, 2010
National Security: Army Major caught spying for Pak, tip-off came from US
Ministry of Defence clarifies 12:58 IST
A report has been published in Indian Express ”Army Major caught spying for Pakistan, tip-off came from US” by Ms Ritu Sarin on 06 May 10.
It is clarified that this is a case of computer hacking through an external agency. The matter is still under investigation, however so far there are no evidences to suggest of an “espionage case”. The officer was never under “safe custody” and is on duty in his parent unit. S Om Singh/Rajendra
Army Major Caught Spying For Pakistan
Ritu Sarin, Indian Express
Thursday , May 06, 2010 at 0215 hrs
Army Major caught spying for Pak, tip-off came from US
New Delhi: Around the time last month when the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) was alerted about the possibility of one of their officers being involved in espionage, another sensitive counter-intelligence operation involving the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was in progress.
For over two weeks now, top Government sources say, an Army Major has been kept in "safe custody" of the Military Intelligence (MI). The officer -- posted in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands -- is alleged to have passed on classified information to Pakistan.
The first tip-off in what could develop into another espionage scandal, according to sources, came from American authorities. Suspicious internet traffic first came to the notice of American intelligence agencies when intercepts showed a user in Andaman and Nicobar Islands had dispatched a picture of a serving Indian Brigadier, who was attending a training programme in the US, to Pakistan.
Indian agencies quickly zeroed in on the officer and a quiet operation was planned to call him to New Delhi. Sources say the officer pleaded ignorance of the traffic from his computer to Pakistan saying it could have been generated by some virus or unknown software.
However, suspicion persisted since the Major's computer had been recently formatted and cleaned of all contents. An early forensic examination done in New Delhi revealed the dispatch of classsified military information, some of which should not have been in the officer's possession. The hard disk of the officer's computer has since been sent by military authorities to a Hyderabad laboratory for accessing the erased contents.
"I do not have any information yet. I will have to find the details and then can get back to you," Army spokesperson Col S Om Singh said when contacted for a reaction.
Both Defence Minister A.K. Antony and Home Minister P. Chidambaram are learnt to be aware of the developments in the case, given the serious implications involved.
Source: Indian Express
Army Major caught spying for Pak, tip-off came from US
A report has been published in Indian Express ”Army Major caught spying for Pakistan, tip-off came from US” by Ms Ritu Sarin on 06 May 10.
It is clarified that this is a case of computer hacking through an external agency. The matter is still under investigation, however so far there are no evidences to suggest of an “espionage case”. The officer was never under “safe custody” and is on duty in his parent unit. S Om Singh/Rajendra
Army Major Caught Spying For Pakistan
Ritu Sarin, Indian Express
Thursday , May 06, 2010 at 0215 hrs
Army Major caught spying for Pak, tip-off came from US
New Delhi: Around the time last month when the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) was alerted about the possibility of one of their officers being involved in espionage, another sensitive counter-intelligence operation involving the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was in progress.
For over two weeks now, top Government sources say, an Army Major has been kept in "safe custody" of the Military Intelligence (MI). The officer -- posted in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands -- is alleged to have passed on classified information to Pakistan.
The first tip-off in what could develop into another espionage scandal, according to sources, came from American authorities. Suspicious internet traffic first came to the notice of American intelligence agencies when intercepts showed a user in Andaman and Nicobar Islands had dispatched a picture of a serving Indian Brigadier, who was attending a training programme in the US, to Pakistan.
Indian agencies quickly zeroed in on the officer and a quiet operation was planned to call him to New Delhi. Sources say the officer pleaded ignorance of the traffic from his computer to Pakistan saying it could have been generated by some virus or unknown software.
However, suspicion persisted since the Major's computer had been recently formatted and cleaned of all contents. An early forensic examination done in New Delhi revealed the dispatch of classsified military information, some of which should not have been in the officer's possession. The hard disk of the officer's computer has since been sent by military authorities to a Hyderabad laboratory for accessing the erased contents.
"I do not have any information yet. I will have to find the details and then can get back to you," Army spokesperson Col S Om Singh said when contacted for a reaction.
Both Defence Minister A.K. Antony and Home Minister P. Chidambaram are learnt to be aware of the developments in the case, given the serious implications involved.
Source: Indian Express
Army Major caught spying for Pak, tip-off came from US
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
National Security: Mole in MEA a reverse honey trap
New Delhi, April 27
Madhuri Gupta may have been lured into a ‘friendship’ with an ISI agent — a reverse honeytrap — to pass on information detrimental to Indian interests in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The ISI man has so far been identified as Rana and was meeting her frequently.
The close nature of friendship between Gupta, a 53 year-old spinster posted in the Indian mission at Islamabad and the ISI man had caught the attention of Indian agencies, who had been monitoring her movements since she was posted to Pakistan in 2008, top-level sources here revealed.
Gupta had expressed a keenness to serve in Pakistan indicating that she may be having cross-border links even before her posting. Pakistan is anyway considered a tough posting for anyone. The nature of information accessible to the ISI through her was classified, including some sensitive documents pertaining to Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) agents posted at the Indian High Commission at Islamabad. Also, the diplomatic strategy and list of officials, who were expected to visit Pakistan and Afghanistan, besides other secret government papers may have changed hands, sources added.
ISI’s mole in MEA held: Tribune News Service It was ‘reverse honeytrap’ Ajay Banerjee & Sandeep Yadav
Madhuri Gupta may have been lured into a ‘friendship’ with an ISI agent — a reverse honeytrap — to pass on information detrimental to Indian interests in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The ISI man has so far been identified as Rana and was meeting her frequently.
The close nature of friendship between Gupta, a 53 year-old spinster posted in the Indian mission at Islamabad and the ISI man had caught the attention of Indian agencies, who had been monitoring her movements since she was posted to Pakistan in 2008, top-level sources here revealed.
Gupta had expressed a keenness to serve in Pakistan indicating that she may be having cross-border links even before her posting. Pakistan is anyway considered a tough posting for anyone. The nature of information accessible to the ISI through her was classified, including some sensitive documents pertaining to Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) agents posted at the Indian High Commission at Islamabad. Also, the diplomatic strategy and list of officials, who were expected to visit Pakistan and Afghanistan, besides other secret government papers may have changed hands, sources added.
ISI’s mole in MEA held: Tribune News Service It was ‘reverse honeytrap’ Ajay Banerjee & Sandeep Yadav
Monday, April 19, 2010
Cyber Security: Anthony to Armed Forces
Defence Minister A.K. Antony interacts with the media after attending the Unified Commanders Conference in New Delhi on Friday. New Delhi, April 16, 2010 Prepare to counter cyber attacks: Antony to Armed Forces PTIIn the wake of reports of hackers stealing vital data from Indian defence and diplomatic computer networks, Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Friday asked the Armed Forces to coordinate closely with other cyber security agencies to prepare a crisis management action plan against cyber terrorism.
The minister noted that cyberspace had emerged as an important medium for information sharing, but at the same time the existing technology was susceptible to misuse by anti-social and anti-national elements.
“Of late, extraordinary and unprecedented cyber crimes have taken place across the globe, exposing gap holes in cyber security systems,” Mr. Antony told the Armed Forces Unified Commanders’ Conference here.
“Although Defence Services at all levels have taken steps to counter cyber threat through stringent implementation of cyber security policy, there is still a requirement to ensure that all loopholes are suitably plugged. A few recent cases are reminders of our own vulnerabilities,” he said.
Close interaction with national agencies like Computer and Emergency Response Team (CERT), NTRO, Home and IT Ministries to prepare a crisis management action plan for countering cyber attacks and cyber terrorism is essential, he said inaugurating the conference.
Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju, Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman and IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik, Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma, Army Chief General V.K. Singh, Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar and Chief of Integrated Staff Committee Air Marshal S.C. Mukul were also present on the occasion.
Expressing happiness over the progress made to improve ties among armed forces in various spheres, Mr. Antony said increasing involvement of Integrated Defence Service headquarters in defence issues, the functioning of Andaman and Nicobar Command and the progress of Strategic Forces Command were a few examples of the success of the inter-operability concept.
He said the future of optimal military power lay in joint operations.
“Towards this end, the first-ever Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan for 2012-27 is nearing completion under the aegis of IDS headquarters,” he said.
Referring to the use of large-scale energy resources in the armed forces and availability of alternative sources of energy, Mr. Antony called upon the top brass to bring about strict energy conservation discipline.
Regarding the armed forces modernisation, Mr. Antony assured the commanders that there would never be a paucity of funds.
However, he asked them to control the revenue expenditure by adopting various mechanisms such as increased use of technology, integration of the three Services, adopting joint training and procedures, and uniform inventories.
The Defence Minister said there also exists considerable scope for improving the quality and efficacy of defence expenditure through increased private sector engagement, import substitution and indigenisation, improvement in procedures and practices and better project management within the parameters of the government’s policies.
Unified Commanders Conference in New Delhi on Friday: The Hindu
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
China excels in Cyber Theft of Classified documents
Turning the tables on a China-based computer espionage gang, Canadian and United States computer security researchers have monitored a spying operation for the past eight months, observing while the intruders pilfered classified and restricted documents from the highest levels of the Indian Defence Ministry.
In a report issued Monday night, the researchers, based at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto, provide a detailed account of how a spy operation it called the Shadow Network systematically hacked into personal computers in government offices on several continents.
The Toronto spy hunters not only learned what kinds of material had been stolen, but were able to see some of the actual documents, including classified assessments about security in several Indian states, and confidential embassy documents about India's relationships in West Africa, Russia and the Middle East. The intruders breached the systems of independent analysts, taking reports on several Indian missile systems. They also obtained a year's worth of the Dalai Lama's personal e-mail messages.
Read complete cyber espionage sequence
Researchers trace Indian Defence Ministry data theft to China
Comment: We need to subject Chinese to our "Official Secret Act", which will screw them beyond redemption.
In a report issued Monday night, the researchers, based at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto, provide a detailed account of how a spy operation it called the Shadow Network systematically hacked into personal computers in government offices on several continents.
The Toronto spy hunters not only learned what kinds of material had been stolen, but were able to see some of the actual documents, including classified assessments about security in several Indian states, and confidential embassy documents about India's relationships in West Africa, Russia and the Middle East. The intruders breached the systems of independent analysts, taking reports on several Indian missile systems. They also obtained a year's worth of the Dalai Lama's personal e-mail messages.
Read complete cyber espionage sequence
Researchers trace Indian Defence Ministry data theft to China
Comment: We need to subject Chinese to our "Official Secret Act", which will screw them beyond redemption.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Domestic helps are not Sahayaks: Military Officers need to exercise caution
Choose your domestic help with care- by T A Santhana Raman 03 Apr 2010
In all metro and other big cities, life becomes a stand still without the domestic help. The reason for searching a dometic help are umpteen.
Modern sophisticated life, shifting from joint family system to micro family structure, both members taking job assignments, choosing posh living system, spouse's novice nature to cooking, for taking care of the young ones, grown up sons and daughters settling abroad leaving the senior parents helpless may be some strong supporting reasons. Self-boasting nature of women having too many domestic servants is the order of the day. Your prestige and grade in your friends' circle is based on the number of servants you have and you are highly rated! I heard my niece conversing with her friend that she was unable to maintain the house in spite of having four servants(in New Delhi). Her remark was with a punch of elation.
A close circuit and well-knit family taking care of themselves is far better than going for servants. It is very difficult to get sincere, honest, caring and duty-bound ones, for, it is a short-lived contractual relationship that cannot last long. Current scenerio witnesses these prospective helpers are greedy to the core, dishonest, viloent and of unsound mind mostly. They are further pretentitious.
It is highly essential for us to verify the credentials of the servant well in advance before employment. Many gory incidents have taken place throughout the country....senior citizens (including military officers families) baterred with iron rods and killed, servants decamping with jewellery and cash, kidnapping the children for ransom, cases like Aarushi's, drugging the inmates and killing for petty quarrels and abuses, single males misbehaving with servants in teens.
If one hires a servant just like picking up a displayed item in the mall things would turn very difficult for him/ her. It is always wise to check the antecedents of domestic help to be on the safer side. The necessity is many of them are chosen from the floating populace to the urban and suburban areas or from the migrants group about whom our knowledge and info is zero. It lands the police department into a helpless situation and tiresome hunt for them once incedents take place.
There are some suggestive steps in this angle:
1. Never hire any servant before you come to know about him/ her even if your relatives or friends recommend.
2. Do not sympathise with their look/ appearance. They may be the best actors if consigned to the Bollywood.
3. When someone is suggested, demnd their papers and pass on the papers and the servants to the nearest police station for verification.
4. Never keep them even for a day without a nod from the police.
5. Fix their wages and other non-monetory concessions well in advance. Dont deviate from that norm even if you feel impressed that they deserve more than your offer.
6. Avoid discussing your financial position in their presence whatsoever.....like leaving your debit/ credit cards unattended, leaving your cheque books, bank pass books, property documents to their reach. This might lure them to vulnerable indisposition.
7. Avoid doldrums from your end on the landline or cells when they are at work.
8. Never let them know your daily chores or itineray.
9. Don't keep servants for overnight stay. It may result in problems rather than of any help.
10. Especially married women, dont encourage the servants talking about your spouses or make them follow the husbands like the CID sleuths. This will demean your dignity and can be misuesd by the servants to blackmail you for gains.
11. Keep the servants at a distance and show them their place. Never entertain any of their relatives or friends in your flats.
12. Keep in touch with the police officers and make a request to them to monitor their movements periodically.
13. While going for shopping with them, dont allow allow them a chance to sneak into your fat wallet.
14. Keep all your safe lockers shut and dont allow the keys hanging.
15. Above all dont entertain them talking to you about your neighbours in any manner, because they may be doing so similarly with them. It may result in the estrangement and you may miss the neighbours' valuable help at the time of crises.
Finally it may be wise to keep changing them after a reasonable time because the intimacy developed results in crimes and you may be caught in them unaware! Good Day and Good Luck!!!
Choose your domestic help with care
Precaution: Domestic servants form the main intelligence source for the thugs and criminals. Information regarding your travel/ shopping plans or absence from home is passed on by cell phones to enable criminals to take advantage. Many couples proceeding on journeys for weddings/ shopping and other social functions have been robbed at the Railway Platforms, Bus Stands or driving their cars. Veterans need to be doubly cautious of Home Security. Installation of a security camera in the house is an wise option for those employing domestic servants and personal drivers.
In all metro and other big cities, life becomes a stand still without the domestic help. The reason for searching a dometic help are umpteen.
Modern sophisticated life, shifting from joint family system to micro family structure, both members taking job assignments, choosing posh living system, spouse's novice nature to cooking, for taking care of the young ones, grown up sons and daughters settling abroad leaving the senior parents helpless may be some strong supporting reasons. Self-boasting nature of women having too many domestic servants is the order of the day. Your prestige and grade in your friends' circle is based on the number of servants you have and you are highly rated! I heard my niece conversing with her friend that she was unable to maintain the house in spite of having four servants(in New Delhi). Her remark was with a punch of elation.
A close circuit and well-knit family taking care of themselves is far better than going for servants. It is very difficult to get sincere, honest, caring and duty-bound ones, for, it is a short-lived contractual relationship that cannot last long. Current scenerio witnesses these prospective helpers are greedy to the core, dishonest, viloent and of unsound mind mostly. They are further pretentitious.
It is highly essential for us to verify the credentials of the servant well in advance before employment. Many gory incidents have taken place throughout the country....senior citizens (including military officers families) baterred with iron rods and killed, servants decamping with jewellery and cash, kidnapping the children for ransom, cases like Aarushi's, drugging the inmates and killing for petty quarrels and abuses, single males misbehaving with servants in teens.
If one hires a servant just like picking up a displayed item in the mall things would turn very difficult for him/ her. It is always wise to check the antecedents of domestic help to be on the safer side. The necessity is many of them are chosen from the floating populace to the urban and suburban areas or from the migrants group about whom our knowledge and info is zero. It lands the police department into a helpless situation and tiresome hunt for them once incedents take place.
There are some suggestive steps in this angle:
1. Never hire any servant before you come to know about him/ her even if your relatives or friends recommend.
2. Do not sympathise with their look/ appearance. They may be the best actors if consigned to the Bollywood.
3. When someone is suggested, demnd their papers and pass on the papers and the servants to the nearest police station for verification.
4. Never keep them even for a day without a nod from the police.
5. Fix their wages and other non-monetory concessions well in advance. Dont deviate from that norm even if you feel impressed that they deserve more than your offer.
6. Avoid discussing your financial position in their presence whatsoever.....like leaving your debit/ credit cards unattended, leaving your cheque books, bank pass books, property documents to their reach. This might lure them to vulnerable indisposition.
7. Avoid doldrums from your end on the landline or cells when they are at work.
8. Never let them know your daily chores or itineray.
9. Don't keep servants for overnight stay. It may result in problems rather than of any help.
10. Especially married women, dont encourage the servants talking about your spouses or make them follow the husbands like the CID sleuths. This will demean your dignity and can be misuesd by the servants to blackmail you for gains.
11. Keep the servants at a distance and show them their place. Never entertain any of their relatives or friends in your flats.
12. Keep in touch with the police officers and make a request to them to monitor their movements periodically.
13. While going for shopping with them, dont allow allow them a chance to sneak into your fat wallet.
14. Keep all your safe lockers shut and dont allow the keys hanging.
15. Above all dont entertain them talking to you about your neighbours in any manner, because they may be doing so similarly with them. It may result in the estrangement and you may miss the neighbours' valuable help at the time of crises.
Finally it may be wise to keep changing them after a reasonable time because the intimacy developed results in crimes and you may be caught in them unaware! Good Day and Good Luck!!!
Choose your domestic help with care
Precaution: Domestic servants form the main intelligence source for the thugs and criminals. Information regarding your travel/ shopping plans or absence from home is passed on by cell phones to enable criminals to take advantage. Many couples proceeding on journeys for weddings/ shopping and other social functions have been robbed at the Railway Platforms, Bus Stands or driving their cars. Veterans need to be doubly cautious of Home Security. Installation of a security camera in the house is an wise option for those employing domestic servants and personal drivers.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Mumbai Mayhem: Headley's Confession Confirms Pak Handlers were State Players
26/03/2010
Headley confession shows close Al Qaeda, LeT ties: NYT
Washington: Pakistani-American terror suspect David Headley's confession about his involvement in the Mumbai terror attack reveals the close relationship between Al Qaeda and Pakistan's Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) group, according to a former CIA analyst.
Headley's revelations about an European cell of Al Qaeda were also disturbing, Bruce Riedel, who was a member of the National Security Council in the Clinton administration and is now at the Brookings Institution, was quoted as saying by the New York Times Friday.
They showed that "Al Qaeda still has a significant operational infrastructure somewhere in Europe", he said.
Details of Headley's activities, contained in his plea agreement with US authorities, "raise troubling questions about how an American citizen could travel for so long undetected from his home base in Chicago to well-established terrorist training camps in Pakistan", the Times said in a report from Islamabad.
Headley confession shows close Al Qaeda, LeT ties: NYT
Related news
By Ashida Vasudevan, 18/03/2010 Exclusive: Facing heat in the north, Maoists regrouping in south
Headley confession shows close Al Qaeda, LeT ties: NYT
Washington: Pakistani-American terror suspect David Headley's confession about his involvement in the Mumbai terror attack reveals the close relationship between Al Qaeda and Pakistan's Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) group, according to a former CIA analyst.
Headley's revelations about an European cell of Al Qaeda were also disturbing, Bruce Riedel, who was a member of the National Security Council in the Clinton administration and is now at the Brookings Institution, was quoted as saying by the New York Times Friday.
They showed that "Al Qaeda still has a significant operational infrastructure somewhere in Europe", he said.
Details of Headley's activities, contained in his plea agreement with US authorities, "raise troubling questions about how an American citizen could travel for so long undetected from his home base in Chicago to well-established terrorist training camps in Pakistan", the Times said in a report from Islamabad.
Headley confession shows close Al Qaeda, LeT ties: NYT
Related news
By Ashida Vasudevan, 18/03/2010 Exclusive: Facing heat in the north, Maoists regrouping in south
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
PM misguided by babus: CAT asks RAW to take back officer
The toxicity of file notings & minute sheets in the Indian context has been discussed umpteen number of times.
Now comes the clincher. In a scathing order, the Principal Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal has come down heavily upon reports presented by lower staff to the PM resulting in an incorrect decision. The Hon’ble CAT was dealing with a case of a RAW officer who was removed from service after her ‘identity’ became public. The CAT also commented that the anonymity of RAW personnel was more myth than reality.
My friends, again, beware of the note maker. One may be lurking in your very own office.
Posted by Navdeep / Maj Navdeep Singh at 5:01 AM
CAT asks R&AW to take back officer
Satya Prakash, Hindustan Times
New Delhi, March 18, 2010
The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has ordered the reinstatement of a senior officer of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), who was compulsorily retired from service for security reasons after her identity become public.
“We are of the confirmed opinion that the applicant has been treated with a large doze of arbitrariness and her statutory we well as constitutional rights stand violated,” the tribunal said, ordering the reinstatement of R&AW director Nisha Priya Bhatia with all consequential benefits.
Bhatia was given a posting in an inferior cadre in 2008. When she challenged the posting, the government told the tribunal on November 26, 2009, that she would be taken back to the executive cadre after six months. But after three weeks, she was removed from service on December 18, 2009.
Bhatia alleged that prostitution rackets were being run from R&AW office premises and funds were being misused. R&AW had denied the charges.
The government counsel argued: ”It was only after mature reasoning that the competent authority, the Prime Minister, decided to retire her from service.” The actual order, however, was signed by an undersecretary in the cabinet secretariat.
A bench headed by CAT vice-chairman M. Ramachandran said: “The Prime Minister obviously might have been acting on the basis of reports presented before him. But it could have been only one-sided, and reports have been prepared by persons who are not friendly with the applicant (Bhatia). The opportunity for hearing any other version has been virtually denied.”
It said: “So long as we are expected to uphold constitutional rights of an individual, we cannot be silent witness to at least such unpalatable happening brought to our notice.”
The bench wondered why Bhatia was not given the protection available to civil servants under Article 311 of the Constitution.
On the government’s contention that an R&AW official becomes “unemployable” once his/ her identity is made public, the tribunal said: “Anonymity of personnel of R&AW is more a myth than reality.”
CAT asks R&AW to take back officer
Related story:
IB and RAW are supposed to collate and analyse intelligence reports, but the chiefs play a game with one end: access to the prime minister.
Why our spies fail us
Now comes the clincher. In a scathing order, the Principal Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal has come down heavily upon reports presented by lower staff to the PM resulting in an incorrect decision. The Hon’ble CAT was dealing with a case of a RAW officer who was removed from service after her ‘identity’ became public. The CAT also commented that the anonymity of RAW personnel was more myth than reality.
My friends, again, beware of the note maker. One may be lurking in your very own office.
Posted by Navdeep / Maj Navdeep Singh at 5:01 AM
CAT asks R&AW to take back officer
Satya Prakash, Hindustan Times
New Delhi, March 18, 2010
The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has ordered the reinstatement of a senior officer of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), who was compulsorily retired from service for security reasons after her identity become public.
“We are of the confirmed opinion that the applicant has been treated with a large doze of arbitrariness and her statutory we well as constitutional rights stand violated,” the tribunal said, ordering the reinstatement of R&AW director Nisha Priya Bhatia with all consequential benefits.
Bhatia was given a posting in an inferior cadre in 2008. When she challenged the posting, the government told the tribunal on November 26, 2009, that she would be taken back to the executive cadre after six months. But after three weeks, she was removed from service on December 18, 2009.
Bhatia alleged that prostitution rackets were being run from R&AW office premises and funds were being misused. R&AW had denied the charges.
The government counsel argued: ”It was only after mature reasoning that the competent authority, the Prime Minister, decided to retire her from service.” The actual order, however, was signed by an undersecretary in the cabinet secretariat.
A bench headed by CAT vice-chairman M. Ramachandran said: “The Prime Minister obviously might have been acting on the basis of reports presented before him. But it could have been only one-sided, and reports have been prepared by persons who are not friendly with the applicant (Bhatia). The opportunity for hearing any other version has been virtually denied.”
It said: “So long as we are expected to uphold constitutional rights of an individual, we cannot be silent witness to at least such unpalatable happening brought to our notice.”
The bench wondered why Bhatia was not given the protection available to civil servants under Article 311 of the Constitution.
On the government’s contention that an R&AW official becomes “unemployable” once his/ her identity is made public, the tribunal said: “Anonymity of personnel of R&AW is more a myth than reality.”
CAT asks R&AW to take back officer
Related story:
IB and RAW are supposed to collate and analyse intelligence reports, but the chiefs play a game with one end: access to the prime minister.
Why our spies fail us
Monday, September 21, 2009
Cops salute drug lords: CBI Director
In a candid admission before an august gathering, the Director CBI, Mr Ashwani Kumar, a career Police officer, stated that in view of the nexus between drug lords and the police, he was in favour of the defence forces taking on the drug mafia since the police had failed in the task. He also passed some other not-so-kind remarks about our police and administrative officers.
Mr Kumar clarified that he was speaking from the heart. Amongst others, the gathering consisted of a Supreme Court Judge and the Chief Justice of the Punjab & Haryana High Court.
Though the already stretched defence forces would be the last to feel good about this thought process, the story can be accessed by clicking here. (Only a part of the story now remains visible on HT's e-edition)
Posted by Navdeep / Maj Navdeep Singh
Indian Military Information Blog
Mr Kumar clarified that he was speaking from the heart. Amongst others, the gathering consisted of a Supreme Court Judge and the Chief Justice of the Punjab & Haryana High Court.
Though the already stretched defence forces would be the last to feel good about this thought process, the story can be accessed by clicking here. (Only a part of the story now remains visible on HT's e-edition)
Posted by Navdeep / Maj Navdeep Singh
Indian Military Information Blog
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Defending India: No compromise, no concession
The Indian Army, Air Force and Navy need to be strengthened in view of rapidly changing regional and global realities. Tragically, the services have been ignored by the Congress and failure to address the concerns of the Army, Air Force and Navy has bred undesirable discontent. The BJP will address all pending issues immediately. It will be guided by the following solemn commitments while dealing with the defense of India:
1. The long-pending acquisition of military hardware will be expedited through absolutely transparent means in a time-bound manner.
2. Budget allocations for defense forces will be spent without being allowed to lapse. The criminal negligence of the defense forces by the UPA Government has resulted in nearly Rs 24,000 crore by way of budgetary allocations being allowed to lapse over five years. This not only endangers the lives of our soldiers but also the security of the nation.
3. Our forces are performing a service to the nation and deserve better pay and privileges.
Towards this end, the BJP is committed to the following measures:
The pending issues of pay and privileges will be revisited and resolved to the satisfaction of the defense forces. The modalities for setting up a separate Pay Commission for the forces will be expedited
All personnel of the Army, Air Force and Navy, as also paramilitary forces, will be exempt from paying income tax on their salaries and perquisites
The honorarium for winners of gallantry awards like Pram Vir Chakra, which is abysmally low at Rs 500 to Rs 3,000, will be increased ten-fold to Rs 5,000 to Rs 30,000. This will be done with retrospective effect; the honorarium will be tax free The principle of one rank, one pension will be implemented
Incentive-based steps will be taken to make joining the defence services an exciting proposition for young men and women to overcome the shortage of officers
Incentives will be offered to State Governments for ensuring honourable settlement of retired personnel of the defence services.
4. The present shortage of defence personnel at all levels will be met by making the Services an attractive career option. This would include competitive pay and privileges, and pension benefits. This task will be completed in a time-bound manner.
5. The capacities of Defence Research and Development Organisation will be enhanced. The PPP route will be explored for conventional defence production bearing in mind the nation’s needs and to make India a competitive player in the global market by 2020.
BJP Manifesto
Comment: If BJP manifesto is sincere and not a vote bank gimmick it is bound to win the elections. If it is a vote catching gimmick it will surely lose. The Defence Forces today need to be addressed in all angles to ensure security of the Nation.
1. The long-pending acquisition of military hardware will be expedited through absolutely transparent means in a time-bound manner.
2. Budget allocations for defense forces will be spent without being allowed to lapse. The criminal negligence of the defense forces by the UPA Government has resulted in nearly Rs 24,000 crore by way of budgetary allocations being allowed to lapse over five years. This not only endangers the lives of our soldiers but also the security of the nation.
3. Our forces are performing a service to the nation and deserve better pay and privileges.
Towards this end, the BJP is committed to the following measures:
4. The present shortage of defence personnel at all levels will be met by making the Services an attractive career option. This would include competitive pay and privileges, and pension benefits. This task will be completed in a time-bound manner.
5. The capacities of Defence Research and Development Organisation will be enhanced. The PPP route will be explored for conventional defence production bearing in mind the nation’s needs and to make India a competitive player in the global market by 2020.
BJP Manifesto
Comment: If BJP manifesto is sincere and not a vote bank gimmick it is bound to win the elections. If it is a vote catching gimmick it will surely lose. The Defence Forces today need to be addressed in all angles to ensure security of the Nation.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Mumbai Mayhem: Pakistan epicentre of world terror
The United States has put a $5 million bounty on his head, and he says militants under his control are planning a terrorist attack in Washington that "will amaze everyone in the world."
And he isn't Usama bin Laden. Baitullah Mehsud, commander of the Taliban in Pakistan, told The Associated Press in an interview Tuesday that his group was responsible for Monday's attack on a police academy in his country that killed seven police officers and injured more than 90 others.
He also said, chillingly: "Soon we will launch an attack in Washington that will amaze everyone in the world."
In an interview with local Dewa Radio, which was obtained by The Associated Press, Mehsud identified the White House as one of the targets.
FBI spokesman Richard Kolko told FOXNews.com that the bureau is not aware of a specific or imminent threat to the United States. He added, without elaborating, that Mehsud has made similar threats to the U.S..
But terrorism experts call Mehsud a "rising young star" who is linked both to the December 2007 assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and the bombing last September that killed 54 people in the Marriott hotel in Islamabad -- and they say his threat to carry out an attack in Washington should not be discounted.
"It should be taken seriously because [Mehsud] has ordered the deaths of many Pakistanis and Afghans and has a close alliance with Al Qaeda," said James Phillips, a terrorism expert and senior research fellow for Middle Eastern Affairs at the Heritage Foundation.
"It's not too much of a stretch to think he might be involved in an attack on the U.S. if he's able to get his followers inside the United States. He's a militant extremist whose threats cannot be ignored."
Mehsud, 35, is the senior leader of Tehrik-e-Taliban, or the Taliban Movement of Pakistan, and is a key Al Qaeda facilitator in the tribal areas of South Waziristan in Pakistan, according to the U.S. State Department. A $5 million reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction was announced just last week.
Taliban Leader's Washington Threat Is Credible, Analysts Say
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Mumbai Mayhem: Was the army ready for war?
Manoj Joshi
New Delhi, January 17, 2009
The Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy were ready to strike almost immediately after the Mumbai carnage on November 26 — the former activating its forward bases and the latter fuelling its anti-ship missiles.
But, the government stayed its hand when the Indian Army apparently indicated to the government that it might take it several weeks before it could prudently begin the operations.
In September 2002, after the crisis that developed following the December 2001 attack on Parliament had waned, President Pervez Musharraf travelled to the US and in an interview with the Christian Science Monitor , had this to say: “…my military judgment was that they [Indians] would not attack us… Militarily… there is a certain ratio required for an offensive force to succeed. The ratios that we maintain are far above that — far above what a defensive force requires to defend itself...”
Cocky Musharraf was not wrong. Fireeaters across the country have been egging the government to go to war with Pakistan over the Mumbai massacre. But could it be that India have an Army that is simply not ready for one? Who is responsible for this? Everyone, from the generals who have become progressively bureaucratised, to the bureaucrats whose only concern is over their empanelment and time- scales. And, above all, their political bosses, who are content to let things be the way they are and allow hundreds of thousands of crores of rupees to be spent for an armed force that is not ready when needed.
Extracts from: Was the army ready for war?
New Delhi, January 17, 2009
The Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy were ready to strike almost immediately after the Mumbai carnage on November 26 — the former activating its forward bases and the latter fuelling its anti-ship missiles.
But, the government stayed its hand when the Indian Army apparently indicated to the government that it might take it several weeks before it could prudently begin the operations.
In September 2002, after the crisis that developed following the December 2001 attack on Parliament had waned, President Pervez Musharraf travelled to the US and in an interview with the Christian Science Monitor , had this to say: “…my military judgment was that they [Indians] would not attack us… Militarily… there is a certain ratio required for an offensive force to succeed. The ratios that we maintain are far above that — far above what a defensive force requires to defend itself...”
Cocky Musharraf was not wrong. Fireeaters across the country have been egging the government to go to war with Pakistan over the Mumbai massacre. But could it be that India have an Army that is simply not ready for one? Who is responsible for this? Everyone, from the generals who have become progressively bureaucratised, to the bureaucrats whose only concern is over their empanelment and time- scales. And, above all, their political bosses, who are content to let things be the way they are and allow hundreds of thousands of crores of rupees to be spent for an armed force that is not ready when needed.
Extracts from: Was the army ready for war?
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Satyam Collapse and Terror Strike Scare of IT Companies
By siliconindia news bureau Monday,05 January 2009, 14:28 hrs IST
Bangalore: The corporates have become the next target of terrorism with six prominent IT companies in the city receiving mail threats, including Wipro and Infosys. The terror mail has threatened to blow up the premises of the companies.
The mail has induced a definite alarm among the firms who immediately informed the police about the e-mails. "The companies have informed the police two days ago about the e-mail and investigations are on," said Joint commissioner of Police B Gopal Hosur, without revealing any further details.
The terror threat may cause more alarm among the firms, as earlier the city's private security firms warned about the in adequate facilities available to deal with terror, at a time when the Karnataka government had suggested the firms to arrange for their own security.
Such threats on the companies have been witnessed earlier too. It was in January 2007 that security personnel had arrested a suspected Lashkar-e-Tayiba (LeT) terrorist in a village near the city of Bangalore and recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition from their possession. More significantly, they had found a map of Bangalore and several other strategic locations including the airport, Wipro and an Infosys facility for likely target. Moreover, terror strike on the Indian multinationals or Indian companies will not only affect service operation in India but will also have impact on the business of other countries as well. It can affect business operations directly as well as indirectly, as cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune and Mumbai are off late home to several foreign companies particularly in its IT zone.
Wipro, Infosys threatened to be blown up
Question: Can the companies have trained armed guards to combat terrorists? No private security guards at present are armed with weapons and especially trained for this purpose. Therefore the only option is to requisition Police Force or CISF who are already burdened with outstretched commitments. The Private Companies are faced with dual problem; apathy from the Government and Terror Scare. Surely now that Satyam has come as a Shocker, further scare of IT companies being struck by Terrorists will surely have a cascading effect of collapse of the harbingers of economic prosperity. Only solution that lays ahead is to have specially pooled Ex Servicemen who are already experts in the field to protect the Private Companies and Installations. Of course, this entails investment and expenditure (weapons, ammunition, protective gear, closed circuit TV monitoring) and wages commensurate with risk to life. Surely it is a costly business but certainly it is a measure to thwart the designs of the Terrorists.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Superpower India: Don’t just talk, act like one
The series of events after 26/11 (including the January 1 Guwahati bomb blasts) have left no one in any doubt about a few facts. Any naval specialist will agree that the manner in which the 10 terrorists attacked Mumbai, including the transit in the Indian fishing boat Kuber, could only be possible with the involvement of the ISI, the Pakistani Army and Navy.
Media reports indicate that about 70 per cent of my proposals made in various articles in this paper since May 2008 have been accepted by the government. I hope that they are implemented urgently, especially since the recent roller coaster — initial “vehement denial” followed by “yes, Kasav is Pakistani”), ISI leaflets given to Pakistan Army about dismembering India by 2020 — indicate that Pakistan does not have peace on its mind. Poonch firefighting indicates the shape of things to come from the “epicentre of terrorism”.
The manner in which the Pakistani military, hell-bent on destabilising and dismembering India, took over the decision-making process from President Asif Zardari and his nascent government to win public support for the discredited military and from the terrorists to “defend Pakistan” in case of war, has left no one in doubt that the Pakistan Army Chief, General Ashraf Parvez Kayani, is the decision-maker in that troubled land, with the Pakistani government acting as his spokesperson. Indeed, temperatures went up last month when Gen. Kayani said, “Pakistan will respond in minutes,” and things cooled down only when, on December 29, he said, “There is a need to de-escalate”.
Why did Gen. Kayani raise the war hysteria pitch to such levels, and why did the media report that the Pakistani Army had withdrawn some troops from the Afghan border? The answer may not be too difficult. Unlike India, the Pakistani military machine has been kept well oiled with the $10 billion in aid received in the last seven years. It is, indeed, amazing that Pakistan, despite being totally bankrupt, has managed a $8 billion IMF loan, asked for a $60 billion “grant” to boost its economy, is acquiring three German-type 214 submarines, co-producing 150 Chinese FC-17 light fighter jets, inducting 36 Chinese FC-20 (J-10) heavy fighter jets, three Chinese frigates, Swedish and Chinese AWACS, F-16 fighter jets, artillery and Brazilian SAMs.
There is no doubt in my mind that buoyed by the “success” of the 10-man terrorist strike on 26/11, and emboldened by the “civilised and diplomatic” response of the Indian government and international community (the US is planning to give Pakistan another $15 billion), the Pakistani military, ISI and various terrorist outfits would be planning more devastating attacks in the near future. These attacks could be from the sea, air or land, or a combination which would aim to saturate India’s response mechanism, cause maximum damage and pull us into the “failed state quagmire” of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
So how does India prepare for this “doomsday” scenario. The answers are complex. The government has taken a few punitive steps by introducing the National Investigating Agency (NIA) and making the 1967 Act stiffer.
Vice-Admiral Arun Kumar Singh retired as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam
Read more: Superpower India: Don’t just talk, act like one By Arun Kumar Singh
Media reports indicate that about 70 per cent of my proposals made in various articles in this paper since May 2008 have been accepted by the government. I hope that they are implemented urgently, especially since the recent roller coaster — initial “vehement denial” followed by “yes, Kasav is Pakistani”), ISI leaflets given to Pakistan Army about dismembering India by 2020 — indicate that Pakistan does not have peace on its mind. Poonch firefighting indicates the shape of things to come from the “epicentre of terrorism”.
The manner in which the Pakistani military, hell-bent on destabilising and dismembering India, took over the decision-making process from President Asif Zardari and his nascent government to win public support for the discredited military and from the terrorists to “defend Pakistan” in case of war, has left no one in doubt that the Pakistan Army Chief, General Ashraf Parvez Kayani, is the decision-maker in that troubled land, with the Pakistani government acting as his spokesperson. Indeed, temperatures went up last month when Gen. Kayani said, “Pakistan will respond in minutes,” and things cooled down only when, on December 29, he said, “There is a need to de-escalate”.
Why did Gen. Kayani raise the war hysteria pitch to such levels, and why did the media report that the Pakistani Army had withdrawn some troops from the Afghan border? The answer may not be too difficult. Unlike India, the Pakistani military machine has been kept well oiled with the $10 billion in aid received in the last seven years. It is, indeed, amazing that Pakistan, despite being totally bankrupt, has managed a $8 billion IMF loan, asked for a $60 billion “grant” to boost its economy, is acquiring three German-type 214 submarines, co-producing 150 Chinese FC-17 light fighter jets, inducting 36 Chinese FC-20 (J-10) heavy fighter jets, three Chinese frigates, Swedish and Chinese AWACS, F-16 fighter jets, artillery and Brazilian SAMs.
There is no doubt in my mind that buoyed by the “success” of the 10-man terrorist strike on 26/11, and emboldened by the “civilised and diplomatic” response of the Indian government and international community (the US is planning to give Pakistan another $15 billion), the Pakistani military, ISI and various terrorist outfits would be planning more devastating attacks in the near future. These attacks could be from the sea, air or land, or a combination which would aim to saturate India’s response mechanism, cause maximum damage and pull us into the “failed state quagmire” of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
So how does India prepare for this “doomsday” scenario. The answers are complex. The government has taken a few punitive steps by introducing the National Investigating Agency (NIA) and making the 1967 Act stiffer.
Vice-Admiral Arun Kumar Singh retired as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam
Read more: Superpower India: Don’t just talk, act like one By Arun Kumar Singh
Terror: Army calls off Poonch operation after eight days
Press Trust Of IndiaPoonch, January 09, 2009
The security forces late on Thursday night called off its operation against militants who were holed up in caves inside a dense jungle of Jammu and Kashmir's Bhati Dhar near the LoC for eight days and said the ultras may have slipped out.
"The operation has been called off. The possibility of militants having escaped cannot be ruled out", said Defence Spokesman S N Acharya capping the futile search for the militants whom the security forces had engaged in a battle.
The encounter, which has been going on since January 1, has claimed the lives of four militants and three security personnel including a Junior Commissioned Officer.
Army calls off Poonch operation after eight days
Tailpiece:
Intercepts available with the security forces suggested that there were about ten militants, some of them top commanders of Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Lashkar-e-Taiba. One wonders if they are the same outfit who carried out the Mumbai Mayhem? Certainly we ought to be trained to outsmart the Terror Outfits by superior tactics and technology!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Mumbai Mayhem: Is there a way to tame Pakistan?
It is nobody’s case to start a war with Pakistan and launch any kind of strikes against that country when this has all the portents of escalating into a larger conflagration. Yet India cannot baulk away from this possibility and let itself be bled indefinitely. In the event of a larger conflagration, India must be in a position to inflict crippling damage on Pakistan in the shortest possible timeframe, before world powers and the UN intervene to bring an end to the hostilities. Given the prevalent state of the IAF and the morale of the military, this may not be possible.
India’s options are extremely limited. The US and Britain cannot put pressure on Pakistan beyond a point to end terrorism. Rushing to the UN Security Council just to seek a declaration on the Jamaat-ud Dawa as a terrorist outfit is an exercise in futility. The Lashkar-e-Taiyaba (LeT), too, is an outlawed terrorist outfit in Pakistan, but it is still operating. Given the long record of terrorist acts against India by groups aided and abetted by Pakistan (the ISI, the army and the government included), we should have at least demanded that Pakistan must be declared a terrorist state. Though the world knows that Pakistan is the fount of worldwide terrorism, it was not likely to be declared a terrorist state due to other compulsions. But India would have made a strong point and opened an avenue for another action.
That action is to put Pakistan on notice for the annulment of treaties, and the first of these will be the Indus Water Treaty. The World Bank could have been informed in this regard.
India should give Pakistan six months to stop terrorist attacks and dismantle the terrorism-related infrastructure in that country, failing which we will annul the Indus Water Treaty. Simultaneously, start a survey of the projects to divert the waters of the Chenab. This simple move can make Pakistan realise that some of its canals will go dry. A threat to convert dams on the rivers Chenab and Jehlum from the “run of the river” to a “storage reservoirs” should be conveyed to Pakistan. This should be done in a manner to appear that India means business.
Lt Gen Harwant singh (Retd)
Extract:
There’s a way to tame Pakistan. Rushing to the UN will not do
Related:
LeT’s admission. Can Pakistan still deny its involvement?
Pressure enough?
Singh wants international pressure to persuade Islamabad to dismantle what it says are terrorist training camps on Pakistani territory and extradite 40 suspects.
"The terrorist attack in Mumbai in November last year was carried out by a Pakistan-based outfit, the Lashkar-e-Taiba.
"There is enough evidence to show that, given the sophistication and military precision of the attack, it must have had the support of some official agencies in Pakistan," Singh added.
India has said it suspects that the Pakistan military spy agency, ISI, gave some support to the attack....Reuters
Read more...
Mail and Guardian online
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Mumbai Mayhem: Pakistan Whipping Up War Hysteria
The PM ups the ante and says, 'States that use terrorism as an instrument of foreign policy must be isolated and compelled to abandon such tactics... there is enough evidence to show that, given the sophistication and military precision of the attack it must have had the support of some official agencies in Pakistan...'A strong sense of nationhood is important to withstand both these types of threats. Our nation is clearly united in our determination to defeat both external as well as internal security challenges. Our determination and sense of nationhood derives from our inheritance of a great historical experience of a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-caste and multi-lingual society. To-day, even as Pakistan engages in whipping up war hysteria, our nation remains steadfastly united and, if anything, the process of national consolidation is becoming stronger.
'Whipping Up War Hysteria'
Related articles:
'More than 30 terror outfits operating in Pak'
'FBI hands over 26/11 attacks evidence to Pak'
Don't Enhance Pak's Army, Indo-American Group tells US
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Smash terror hideouts wherever they are, says Kalam
Sunday, January 04, 2009Former President A P J Abdul Kalam on Sunday advocated a three-pronged strategy to combat terror which included raiding and smashing militant hideouts both inside and outside the country.
Firstly, a vigorous national campaign, involving every citizen, should be launched to tackle the terror menace, he said interacting with students here.
Secondly, Kalam advocated carrying out raids to destroy terror hideouts both inside and outside the country.
"Terror can be be eliminated by raiding and smashing militant hideouts both inside and outside the country," he said.
Lastly, there was need for speedy trial of cases relating to terrorism to punish perpetrators of such crimes, he said.
The "Missile Man" voiced concern over rising incidents of terror in the country which, he said, were posing a "big threat" to the country.
The former President was answering questions, ranging from the terror scourge to his personal life, fielded by students representing several schools in Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh.
Later, addressing annual convocation of the National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur, Kalam emphasised the need to make NITs a partner in development of the country.
© Copyright 2008 PTI. All rights reserved.
Smash terror hideouts wherever they are, says Kalam
Mumbai attacks an “act of war,” says Rushdie
Hasan Suroor LONDON: Novelist Salman Rushdie, who grew up in what was then Bombay and insists on calling it by that name, has described the attacks on Mumbai as an “act of war.”
“There is no question that this was Pakistan. You could see it as an act of war,” he told The Times on Saturday urging the West to be “tougher” on Islamabad.
Accusing Pakistan of misleading the world into believing that it was fighting terror, he said: “It is trying to play both ends against the middle — to look like the friend of the revolutionaries, on the one hand, and a friend of the West in the fight against terrorism [on thes other]. It can’t be both things. This country [Britain] should make clear that as long as Pakistan harbours terrorists it’s not going to get any western aid.”
Mumbai attacks an “act of war,” says Rushdie
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