Pakistan's Quid Pro Quo, India's headache

Renewed focus on the Afghan war theatre was welcomed by the Afghan President Hamid Karzai. And its not difficult to understand why.

US President Barack Obama, breaking away from the laser sharp focus on the economy, brought out the much awaited new Afghan policy. And this is what Pakistan's Prime Minister had to say.

"We also want a regional approach because regional issues can be resolved with the support of regional powers. We are in favour of this policy. They (Americans) have accepted our position (that) army action alone is not a solution for all these problems."

Why would he not want a regional approach. America's renewed focus will give Pakistan another reason to milk the American cow. And this time it will be more than just money.


A lot has been written about Obama's Afghan policy and what he is willing to give Pakistan for cooperation. During the Bush years, India enjoyed an hands-off Kashmir American policy. But now, the Indian leadership is working out all possible nightmare scenarios for Indian diplomacy in the coming years.

The US point person for Afghanistan-Pakistan when asked about US interests in the Indo-Pak row, said the US was not interested in interfering. That put to rest any immediate American adventurism. However that does not rule out Pakistan asking for its pound of flesh when pushed against the wall.

These are tough times for the next government in India. Whether they like it or not, the "Global War Against Terror" is expanding into Pakistan right onto its border with India, especially on the Jammu and Kashmir side. Just as the Taliban retreated into the Afghan-Pak border to regroup amid supporters, the renewed pressure from America could push them to explore other safe havens or trouble spots. China's restive Muslim dominated provinces could be one and so could Jammu & Kashmir laden with sympathizers.

So, India will need all of its diplomatic skills to keep American at bay but when it comes to containing the spillage from across the border, India will need something more innovative.

Case for an Indian Confederate

The recent and continuing terror attacks against the Indian nation seems to have exposed the utter failure of the Indian nation top to bottom.

Fractured parliament, reflecting the fractured people, has not been able to put partisanship aside to tackle this ever growing gangrene. They are short of sense, a vision, and leadership. Sixty years after independence and the creation of the republic, India is still groping in the darkness trying to turn the light switch on. And every time she tries, she accidentally sticks her finger into the power socket, getting a big power jolt. Selfish reasons is preventing the so called leaders of the country from using their "soul light" to illuminate the path.

The immediate fallout of these blasts is panic and fear. Followed by a political blame game. The media would gleefully chime in. The government will try to act all serious until the media attention fades.

The long term fallout is political and economic instability. Some of the more economically prosperous states will feel the heat. Governments will feel inadequate to protect the state's interests alone and will look to Delhi for help. And Delhi, unfortunately, has been on vacation for a few decades now.

Progressive states, unable to tackle the menace successfully on their own and with no help from Delhi will come together on a common cause - Economics & Security.


To begin with the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh with setup a coordinating police committee to coordinate investigation and intelligence. These states would then attempt to pool in money to strengthen this arrangement into a full fledged security apparatus.

In the meantime, other states encouraged by the success of this model, will opt to join in. States such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana will join this informal security structure. This bonhomie will then expand to coordinate on economic and finance matters.

Slowly but surely a sub-nation within the Indian republic will take shape. New Delhi, unable to get its act together will prove too weak to address this challenge.

One fine day, the Chief Ministers of these states will meet in Mumbai to form what could be the new Confederate States of India (CSI).

A new constitution will be established giving considerable powers to the member state governments. A quasi-parliament will be formed, similar to the Continental Congress, to handle foreign policy, Internal security and Economics. The rest will be state subjects.

Wild imagination or a possible nightmare ?

Unless India wakes up and acts fast, we will see something similar to the above very soon.

Jai Hind.

Vande Maataram

Whither the Indian Security establishment

Yet another shocking serial blasts in New Delhi, the national capital. I cant find a better word than shameful to describe the security apparatus in the country. Barely a few weeks after the recent blasts across the country, the terrorists attack us at their whim.

What more is needed to kick the useless security establishment in its behind ? Do they need a nuclear blast from the country's own stockpile to kick some much needed but totally lacking sense between their ears ?

If this continues, the Indian state would eventually decay and whither away and perhaps would be shortest united Indian nation in history.

Perhaps we really need outsiders to keep us together and united (the British and the Moguls). I really hope I am dead wrong.

Squeaky squeaky soft

Remember those soft toys children play with, the squeaky variety. The ones that are soft and squeaky when pressed much to children's amusement.

Well, thats exactly how India should feel right now.

Bangalore, Jaipur, Bangalore again, Ahmedabad, then Surat, the list goes on. And everytime there is a blast, the government squeaks up these "strong statements". "We shall not be cowed down". "We will give terrorism a tough reply". Blah Blah Blah !!

That one big wuss sitting and heading the Home Ministry should be unceremoniously stripped off this post. Shivraj Patel has been a utter miserable failure.

The Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi visited the injured in the hospital. A routine journey that has little meaning these days.


So what should we do to tackle this recurring senseless violence ? I am no security expert but I have seen violence long enough and have seen other nations tackle it effectively and I have learnt a thing or two from it.

So here is my money's worth.

First - We need to respond to every attack with a counter attack. The counter attack need not be like what the BJP government did after the Parliament attack. These counter attacks should be punitive, quick and precise. Ever watched the movie Pearl Harbour ? After the bombings, the US took months to prepare before entering the war. But President Roosevelt called upon his nation to report to duty with these words.

...From Berlin, Rome and Tokyo, were have been described as a nation of weaklings and playboys who hire British or Russian, or Chinese soldiers, to do our fighting for us. We've been trained to think we're invincible, and our people think Hitler and his Nazi thugs are Europe's problem. We have to do more. Does anyone think that victory is possible without facing danger? At times like these we all need to be reminded who we truly are. That we will not give up or give in.

Note the words in bold. The President not only spoke but he acted. The Americans flew a one-way bombing mission over Tokyo and landed in China. Roosevelt likened it to pin pricks but nevertheless pin pricks right into Japan's heart.

The one thing great powers dont do is not respond when attacked. Not responding will only embolden the attacker to come back for more. Indians know that quite well. Thats exactly why Israel never lets a punch go unpunished. The Gandhian / Buddhist philosophy perhaps will never work against a fanatical enemy. The British were a different kind. For all their faults, they were still human.

Second - India needs to strengthen her internal security structure. Which means she needs to overhaul the CBI. Give it more powers, more funds and expand its access. Right now the CBI requires an invitation from the state government. The new law should do away with it. I am advocating something similar to the FBI. I would like to further propose that the IB and the CBI be combined into one federal crime investigating and intelligence agency - answerable to Parliament.

Third - The right wing needs to tone down the anti-minority rhetoric. Its not helping. While they may be right in some areas, but this is not the time. There are other ways to express one's views. Btw, this goes both ways. Just as the Muslims expect magnanimity and understanding so should they also be prepared to give the same when required. The current problem in J&K about the Amarnath Shrine is a case in point.

Finally - The whole nation should be sensitized to the threat of terror. Whenever I get into the metro station here in Washington DC, I always here a polite voice over the public address system, announcing instructions on what to do to be a vigilant citizen. The general public are always on the alert looking for suspicious objects or people. Its no small wonder that mainland United States has not been attacked even once after 9/11.

I hope good sense prevails and the government finds the guts to push through much needed reform to revamp and revitalize the police force, crime investigating wings and the judiciary.

Terror strikes and intelligence failure

Yet another blast rocks India and Hyderabad.

It has, for most Indians, become a routine. Some years ago we used to hear of such incidents only in J&K. It later spread to the national capital and surrounding areas.

Now, finally it has moved down south. The south always escaped such terror strikes but now even this region is not spared.

I have been reading the comments by rediff readers expressing their deep anguish with this act and their anger at the Indian governments impotency. The need to use an Israeli model of retaliation is more and more gaining ground.

One relevant fact I would like to point out at this juncture is Intelligence. After the terrible 9/11 attacks, there has not been a single strike against the US mainland. It is not just the threat of retaliation that has prevented this, it is the intelligence gathering system that has worked overtime to prevent the attacks.

The terrorists, have now moved on to other weaker targets like Europe and Australia so as to hurt America indirectly.

The point I am making here is the lack of Intelligence information or leads that could have been used to stop such acts in India. After all, the plotters and attackers do not come from far away lands. They live amongst us in the country or are from our neighboring countries.

If our Intelligence system is not able to get vital actionable intelligence information from our neighbors then I really dont understand what is it that they are up to.

What is the point in being all muscular when our most vital 'organ' wouldn't help us when needed the most !!

All this bullshit of being a regional power and getting a seat in the UN, etc is all tall talk. We need to get our act together. Islamic militancy and the Naxalite problems are eating the core of the Indian state and all that we can do is morn and groan.

If we don't have the guts to retaliate then we should at least have good intelligence agencies that are able to provide early information so that these attacks can be prevented in time.

The IB is busy spying on the opposition leaders at the governments behest and the RAW is busy covering its "A" with high profile defections from its ranks.

Perhaps, I am being too hard on these organizations. But at the end of the day, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. No point gloating over past successes when the present is all messed up.

We need credible intelligence please.