It was indeed a big triumph over terrorism when terror king bin Laden was terminated. The success of Operation Geronimo made one of the biggest news of the century. It sends a strong message to the whole world, that we can achieve a desired goal to contain terrorism if we are determined enough. The garrison town of Abbotabad in Pakistan where the Al Qaeda leader was killed by the US Navy SEAL commandos is located very near India. The town’s location is of significance as it is nestled in close proximity to India’s Jammu & Kashmir which the bone of contention for India and Pakistan and an area of cross border terrorism. He lived there for more than five years. So it also connotes that the highest value terrorist of the world lived well beside India and India didn’t even get wind of it during these five years or so!
India has been one of the worst sufferers of terrorism for a long time and as such India has a vast experience in dealing with terrorism. The experience can definitely work in favor of India. Various terror outfits in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in India are linked to the world’s most dreaded terror outfit Al Qaeda which is responsible for the 9/11 attack on the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York city. The US executed Operation Geronimo thousands of miles away from its mainland with astounding precision. But can India even fantasize of carrying on an operation like that and that too in a place very near to it? If India has the capability and would not opt for such type of operation is a different stance altogether. The idea is not blame India for anything. India might have never been interested in zero in on bin Laden instead of Dowd Ibrahim as Laden or his Al Qaeda have never been directly involved in activities against India. But at the same time various terror outfits in J & K or from across the border are linked to Al Aqaeda in some way of the other which pose a threat to India’s internal security as well. It si of utmost necessity for India now and in the current scenario is that it must tremendously upgrade its terror fighting capabilities basically on its own although doors of cooperation with other nations are always open. Although bin Laden’s termination was the biggest blow to global terrorism, we cannot assume that India’s own terror problem would be on the wane and in fact the problem will linger on. The scourge of it is far from dead anywhere. India must attach due weight age to its own terror problem to tackle it. Assam is one of the states in India that is for long brushing with the terror headache. Unless and until the country intensely draws up its long term terror control strategies, we cannot contain the scourge of it. However it is a fact that terrorism or the overall law and order scenario in India and especially in Assam is much better which is obviously a silver lining. But complacence can take a toll. On the other hand The Assam government too should prepare it own plans to eliminate terrorism in the state. Another positive feature is that now the people of Assam is more politically mature, economically better off and much more aware and alert of her security and law and order scenario compared to the what it was a decade ago. We cannot welcome political bickering or for it to continue for a longer time which will deteriorate the law and order situation in the state. India is surrounded by hostile or not-so friendly neighbors. Assam and the northeastern region are surrounded by unstable regimes and hostile nations. We cannot yet say we have good relations with Bangladesh or Myanmar. Bangladesh is a terrorist infested nation and is loaded with numerous Jihadi groups. Of late the India’s relations with Bangladesh have considerably improved which bodes well for the region. And you can never tell how Nepal will act in the future. Another neighbor China is powerful nation and this country is not Pakistan! Bhutan is the only nation India can trust which is already proven and tested. It is of utmost strategic necessity for India to upgrade her diplomatic clout while continually and considerably upgrading her defense infrastructure and technology. The trajectory of events provides a pointer that the nation must also create a formidable world class elite army as well.
The Pakistan Pandemonium
And Pakistan? What can be said of that country? Everyone, even the layman is aware that the nation has become synonymous with terrorism. It’s a pity and it’s a shame the neighboring nation of ours has become a hotbed of terrorism. After the bin Laden episode Pakistan’s embarrassment reached its pinnacle. Pakistan has the unique and notorious distinction of having the highest density of terrorists in the world! If that is not enough the international community has already labeled Pakistan as thenumero uno terror harboring nation. It is pretty unfortunate that India’s neighbor and one time integral part has become a terror breeding ground. So can India live peacefully? Pakistan is our neighbor we should always have friendly relations within that country for the sake of peace. The country has now ended up being the laughing stock. Its pride has razed to the ground. Pakistan has paid a heavy price for not controlling her terrorism problem long back. It is now hard to digest the fact that the Pakistan was once a part of India! What a strange, fatal fate!
The Post Laden mathematics has just begun!
Indo-Pak relations have gone sour after Laden’s death. Both countries are throwing tantrums at each other. Pakistan has sternly reacted to India’s statement that India too can execute an Operation Geronimo type mission if necessary. China is reacting in a subtle way that tends to only comfort Pakistan. Now that the Pak-US relations have gone awry, Pakistan is trying hard to salvage it by allowing the CIA to interview the four wives who are now in Pakistan’s custody.
The entire bin Laden episode up to its deadly end should be an eye opener for India. India can learn from the ‘mission to terminate Laden’ and can draw many conclusion probing and interpreting from India’s angle. The nation cannot afford to remain complacent, tardy and lethargic. Last but not the least India needs to overhaul its intelligence machinery.
Definitely we now find ourselves in post Laden era but not in post terror era where we all the peace loving lot can live peacefully in a peaceful and safer planet. Today bin Laden is dead, but not terrorism…
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