Happy New Year 2009

Wish everyone a happy new year 2009. Together let us make the world a better place to live.

Weak Government in India cannot fight Terrorism

Corporate sectors have demonstrated their will and strength to stand up against terrorism by reopening the two icon hotels of India within few days of their closure due to terrorist attacks. Entire Mumbai is again vibrating with energy, children are back to school, Leopold café is back to a brisk business again and precisely we can say that almost whole of private sector has rebounded back to normalcy by working day and night and taking its own security measures to avoid such heinous terrorist  attacks in Mumbai. However, the biggest agency, Government of India, who  has a responsibility to provide safety and security to all Indians is still either sleeping or insensitive to people’s feeling.

We all remember the scenes inside the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha wherein all members vowed to remain united and to bring the perpetrators of Mumbai attacks to Justice. Every Indian, regardless of caste, creed, culture, region and religion was happy & hopeful that this time Indian Government has understood the pain of a common man and will definitely teach perpetrators a lesson for ever. Tough messages and statements emanated from Indian ministers was an indication and reaffirmation of India’s sincerity, will power and capacity to fight terrorism through diplomacy and militarily if the former fails. 

Immediately after the Mumbai attacks, there was series of visits by ministers of powerful nations and India was busy in harnessing support of international fraterinity without realising that there is no free lunch in international diplomatic parlance. Despite the fact that US Secretary of State, Madam Rice clearly said in one of her statement that US is determined to bring the perpetrators to justice because seven americans were also killed. Indian government failed to interpret the statement of Ms. Rice which clearly showed that if no American were killed, US would not have been so tough and if you see it through the political lense, there is nothing wrong in her statement. It is Indian government which wrongly expected United States to act as a police against a criminal Pakistan who has committed crime in India. It appears that either Indian government is too weak in understanding international politics or Indian diplomats are just treating their  foreign assignments as a mere picnic.

We need to give full marks to Pakistani army and psuedo political leaders who have handled their crisis so beautifully that Pakistan is now in a position to blame India! Albeit this trick of Pakistan is going to be short lived but atleast it has thwarted off the pressure from International community on fight against terrorism. It is not wrong to say that if the current strategy of India government continues, Pakistan’s trick to save itself from crisis is going to be long lived, which appears more probable in view of us not learning from  our past mistakes.

 

The biggest failure of Indian government including Indian diplomats is their inability to explain and convnice United States that billions of dollars being given to Pakistan to fight the Talibans at the Pak-Afghan border are actually being used against India and for feeding the same Talibans which are created and still supported by Pakistan. Pakistani army views these Talibans as part of Pakistani army and therefore it is clear that Pakistan cannot arrest or kill these Talibans. Recent burn-out of military equipment yard by these Talibans was actualy supported by the Pakistani army to weaken the fight against Taliban further by NATO allied forces. Recent statement from Pakistani Taliban head Beitullah Masood also confirms Pakistani army’s love for Talibans. India’s presence in Afganistan can secure enough proof that Pakistani army is actually supporting Talibans on Pak-Afghan borber and not fighting them. United States needs to know and accept that this fight on the Pak-Afghan border is actually a hinderance in fight against Terrorism for entire world. We can only hope that Mr. Barak Obama will be more wise in understanding the complex love relationship between Pakistani army and Talibans and will redefine US strategy in fight against terrorism.

The Indian government must understand that the more it delays the elimination of terrorists, terrorist camps and infrastructure inside Pakistan, the less are the chances of getting success in doing so later because with every passing day Pakistan is becoming more stronger militarily. Hence we must do it now so that we yield our objective, weaken Pakistani military power and more over give a message that India is no more in the same bracket as Pakistan. We must force Pakistan to recognize India as a force and not as a neihgbour whom it takes for granted and never listens to. Indian with a billion people, second largest army in the world can make this happen privided Indian Government has the courage and willpower to make this happen.

India must not rely too much on United States, a country that has its own interest in all and any issue and therfor until we give something to United States we need not expect any support except few statements from US leaders. Both US and Pakistan understand the language of force and we must use the same language while dealing with them.  India must tell United States, in no uncertain terms, that if within few days Pakistan does not handover the people who are wanted by India, this nation of billion plus people will strike Pakistan and this needs to be conveyed in toughest language with no hitch. This will compel US to ask Pakistan to handover those India wanted men because US does not wants India to attack Pakistan due to the same reason that US does not wants Pakistani army to be shifted from its western border to its eastern border. If Pakistan can use this weakness of US to force India to calm down India, why Indian Government cannot use this handle to secure its own purpose of getting what India wants from Pakistan? Needless to say, we need to be little selfish and strong. The international community respects power who are militarily strong and who are not unfair in their dealings. India has that image before international community ; India has capacity to show lot of restraint, India is secular, democratic and non aligned country who has always tried to make the world a better place to live. However, the international community also knows that the Government of India has no respect for its citizens, who are not given any value by their Government unlike American or British citizens. India must first demonstrate that any harm caused to any of its citizen regarldess of its position in society will be taken very seriously and India will go to any extra mile to protect its citizens.  We all remember that during IC 814 Kandhar hijack, India requested UAE to ground the plane in Dubai and allow Indian Cammandoes to carry out the operation but UAE refused to do so because UAE knew that India is a country whom it can say “No”. Instead , if US has asked the UAE authorities, UAE would have accepted the request easily.Our Indian government must introspect why UAE could say  No to India? Why Indian government has not offered some kind of support to UAE in exchange to this gesture expected? Our the then Government also did not underastand that there are no free lunch in international politics  It is not that UAE has better relationship with US than India but UAE recognizes that India is a third world country where Government does not have sincerity, will and courage to demand something and India soon forgets the history.

India’s dream of becoming a superpower cannot be achieved until it starts respecting it citizens. Today countries like Bangladesh and Nepal do not cooperate with Indian Government and instead carry out nefarious design against India because they know that India is champion of showing restraint and Indian government does not even know how to express its anguish if hundred Indians are killed. India must first convey to its neighbours that the new India now means business and will not tolerate any anti India activity being carried out by its neighbours. Stern warning is essential followed by tough economic and trade sanctions and finally military if all actions prove unyielding.

However, we as a citizen are equally  responsible for present situation of Indian government ecause when it comes to electoral voting, we keep in mind the caste, religion and the political party to which the candidate belongs. We do not elect good leaders, we actually elect Parties, religion and caste to lead us. The result of our own choice made earlier is now confronting us only. The saying is true: What you sow , so you reap!

 

 

Is Indian Congress fighting Terrorism or BJP?

It is believed that India has conveyed to Pakistan, through British PM Mr. Brown, to handover Masood Azhar above Dawood and Lakhwi. It is to be noted that Masood Azhar is not being blamed for Mumbai attacks on 26 Nov this year but Congress is pressurising Pakistan to handover Masood Azhar rather then pressurising for handover of Lakhwi and Dawood first who are being blamed for recent Mumabi atacks. This casts a doubt on Congress Government about its real intention for asking for Masood Azhar. Albeit it is true that Masood Azhar is a fugitive, terrorist and involved in many attacks in India but not blamed for Mumbai attacks by investigating agencies. Then why Congress Government is so anxious to get custody of Masood Azhar? The answer to this  lies in IC 814 Hijack incident when the then Indian Government ( ruled by BJP led NDA) released Masood Azhar as part of  exchange of release of passengers and aircraft from hijackers in Kandhaar. Now by bringing back Masood Azhar back to India from his existing hideout in Pakistan, Congress Government wants to score a massive political point over its political rival BJP. This is precisely the reason why Government is putting so much pressure on Pakistan to handover Masood Ajzhar ( he is now above Dawood on India’s most wanted list!). Actually by adopting this strategy, Government has diluted India’s Most wanted list. Instead of asking just one person immediately, Goverment should continuously pressurise Pakistan for all fugitives which India is looking for and their should not be any compromise on this list.

Instead of asking first for Lakhwi and Dawood, Congress government is trying to satisfy and implement its own political agenda of scoring a point over its rival BJP in upcoming General elections in 2009. This once again clouds present Indian government’s intention and will power to fight terrorism which has brought lot of insecurity to India people.

Indian State elections

The revolt and anger in common man against the Indian political leaders after the Mumbai attacks was covered by immature Indian television media in a way not expected by society. However, the good percentage of voter turnout in all five states has reaffirmed strength of Indian democratic system and the faith of people in electoral principles.

The results of these elections also shows that Indian Voter has finally started casting vote based on developmental and good governance rather than emotional issues like Temple- Mosque, Regionalism, casteism etc. This is a direct result of media reaching every home not only in urban areas but also rural blocks.

Indian Television media need to be more fair and work  judiciously as to improve the lifes of people in India and not work against the Indian social fabric.

Pakistani intentions against Terrorism

Post 26/11 terrorists strike in Mumbai, Pakistan refused to acknowledge that the terrorists came from its soil, however, under intense pressure from US, India and other Nations, Pakistan is compelled to take action against the terrorist organization and elements. As we watch the television stories emanating from Pakistan, we get more and more confirmed that all this action is just a drama from Pakistani establishments. It is surprising that there was no resistance shown by Terrorists to any action against Pakistani army. It appears that Pakistani army and ISI have told the militants that due to pressure they have to take action but after few weeks they will be set free as usual. This is precisely the reason why Pakistan is not agreeing to Indian demand of three terrorists handover to her. Though Pakistani Civilian Governement and the common man in Pakistan is against terrorism, because both have suffered at the hands of former, however, Pakistani Army’s support to terrorism is leading Pakistan to a disaster. It is unfortuante that the West is still unable to understand the real problem in Pakistan. It is high time, Pakistani Civilian Government, behind the curtains, supports India to root out the camps of terrorists because there is no other way to control the terrorists. Pakistan must understand that India fully understands and believes that a prosperous and stable Pakistan is in the interest of India. Also, any country in the world which can really help Pakistan is India because of similarity in culture and common man. This is good way to avoid surgical strikes by India and to improve Pakistani image among the world nations.