Author: Vishwa Mohan
Publication: The Times of India
Date: June 9, 2008
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-3111892,flstry-1.cms
An internal document of the government, meant
for restricted circulation, has painted a worrying security scenario with
no letup in threats to India expected till at least 2025.
It warns not only against ISI's plans to keep
terrorism in Kashmir alive and stoke fundamentalism but also against the increasing
belligerence of left-wing extremists.
Despite recent efforts at peace, there is
no change in ISI's objectives, which include the "liberation" of
Kashmir; revival of militancy in Punjab; use of the Bihar-Nepal border for
smuggling arms, explosives and fake currency; cooperation with ULFA; control
of insurgent networks from Bangladesh and using certain madrassas in border
states like West Bengal.
The overview of internal security challenges
in "perspective plan of training in CRPF" provides a hard-headed
analysis of the emerging challenges to the security establishment.
Though many of the threats are not new, the
document makes the point that these are increasingly interlinked and need
an equally determined, well-thought-out response.
It argues that big changes in demographics
in terms of an illegal influx from Bangladesh cannot be ignored. This population
often shelters anti-India elements and provides a steady recruitment to jihadi
modules.
This immigrant population, it says, can influence
up to 20 assembly seats in Delhi, while six districts in Assam are also similarly
affected.
Setting up of terror cells in south India,
and liaising with the underworld in Maharashtra and Gujarat are other aspects
dealt with in some detail.
The document speaks of the continuing influence
of two major covert operations - Operation Topac and Operation Pin Code -
launched by ISI to destabilize India which the Pakistani establishment still
holds valid.
Though these operations are known to intelligence
experts, official training manuals have seldom mentioned them in terms of
the evolving internal security threats. It is clear that the Indian security
establishment has not seen any change in the directives issued to ISI.
The George C Francis Committee report, which
the document draws upon, is part of the materials for specialized training
to paramilitary forces deployed for counter-insurgency operations in Jammu
& Kashmir, the northeast and other parts of the country.
Talking about demographic invasion, the 68-page
report in its second chapter - Contemporary Appraisal of Internal Security
Scenario - says that the concentration of Bangladeshi illegal migrants starting
from the 24 Parganas district in West Bengal to Barpeta in Assam is more than
50% of the local population which could influence as many as 25 Lok Sabha
seats in the region.
The government's public stance has often been
one of denial as far as the numbers of Bangladeshi illegals are concerned.
A figure for Assam once handed out by minister of state for home Sriprakash
Jaiswal was promptly denied.
The committee, headed by senior paramilitary
force officer George C Francis, has, in fact, mentioned the "demographic
invasion" in the light of the vulnerability of the Bangladeshi illegal
immigrants in terms of being used by ISI.
The committee has taken into account information
gathered by India's intelligence agencies after neutralization of ISI cells
in the country during 2001-06. About ISI's activities beyond J&K, the
report says that the ISI has been funding the construction of madrassas in
the Terai region of UP from where it recruits people.
The menace of money laundering, tax evasion,
existence of rogue off-shore banking facilities on behalf of small countries,
circulation of fake Indian currency at the behest of ISI, and the role of
underworld-ISI nexus in Maharashtra and Gujarat are some of the main points
which have found adequate space in the report.
Being specific about money laundering-terrorist
linkages and the modus operandi, the report says: "The intricate route
of financing terrorism in Kashmir is highlighted by the fact that the money
from ISI, NGOs and charity organizations in Pakistan is transferred to carpet
dealers of Kashmir in Dubai who, in turn, transfer it to hawala operators
in Delhi - from where it is sent to Srinagar."
The report also refers to the current situation
in the country in terms of polarization of Hindus and Muslims and says that
it does not augur well for the security climate of the country.