Introduction: The jehad brigade – Pakistan, Taliban and bin Laden – is closely linked with Kashmiri terrorists
Five terrorist groups in Kashmir gave a call for a strike protesting against the US bid to get the world's super terrorist Osama bin Laden. It is evident that they are all sympathy for him. Along with terrorists based in Pakistan, they too have expressed their support to him and to the 'taliban that has harboured him.
What is the connection between our terrorists and Osama bin Laden? There is no proof that Osama is funding the terrorists in Kashmir. This he is doing as a part of combined operation with Pakistan. There are thousands of unemployed young men in Kashmir -desperate and even hungry. The state government has not done enough to help in their struggle for survival. There is no need to brainwash them. They do not have to be motivated by the jehad call. It is sheer survival that makes the youth become a militant. There is no commitment, no conviction.
Mr. Anupam Srivastava, a South Asia scholar at the University of Georgia: “There is an organic link between Pakistan-backed terrorists operating in Kashmir and the Afghan-based terrorists.
Evidence available clearly provides proof of this. It will not be a surprise if Osama is bearing major part of the militancy expenditure in Pakistan.
Breeding militants.
The Taliban of course is in it in a big way. The Taliban chief Omar is definitely helping Pakistan to grab Kashmir. It is also certain that there are camps for training militants in Afghanistan. Among the militants that are being pushed into Kashmir are Afghans.
Remember the hijacking of the Indian plane? The hijackers did not take it to Pakistan, they took it to Afghanistan. It was clear that the whole operation was masterminded by the Taliban. And what did the hijackers want? Release of militants in Kashmir.
There have been recently suicide bombings in Kashmir. The suicide missions in principle resemble those carried out in New York and the Pentagon'
The entire Kashmir state is under attack by Pakistan and its close ally -- the Taliban.
In the American list of terrorists figure two organisations -- the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Al Rashid. Their accounts have been freezed in the US. There should have 'been a few more names in the terrorist list. Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizbul Mujihideen, for instance. The Lashkar operates not only in Kashmir but is looking for opportunities to strike other parts of the country.
And it has been established that the Lashkar has links with Osama bin Laden. He has given massive funds for building a complex near Lahore -- the Markaz Dawa Wal Irshad. The fighting arm of this organisation is the Lashkar-e-Toiba. And bin Laden is said to have addressed the Markaz over the telephone.
Why are the Kashmiri militants supporting the Taliban and Osama?
The Hurriyat Conference leaders did not take part in protests by groups denouncing the American declaration it would target Osama and the country which harboured it. What has this American move got to do with the so-called freedom struggle in Kashmir? The militants receiving financial support from the Taliban and its chief guest wants to express its solidarity with them. Their “freedom struggle” is evidently linked with the Taliban. And it is also clear that they will go all out for this Islamisation of Kashmir.
The biggest terrorist India has to deal with is Pakistan's Inter-services Intelligence (ISI).
It is conducting destabilising activities in many parts of the country. It is the “foreign hand” which has been posing a big danger to our security and development. It has been able to get Indian recruits for its operations. It would not be a surprise if it is conclusively established that terrorist Dawood Ibrahim carried out its deadly mission in Mumbai with the active connivance of the ISI.
We have no terrorist agency operating in Pakistan to create trouble there. We pose no problem to Pakistan. We are sincerely interested in stability and progress in that country.
Pakistan however has sinister designs in India. It has let loose a pack of hounds which are causing great damage and posing a threat to our security.
If the US wants to really eliminate global terrorism, it should also include ISI in the terrorist list.
The ISI is very much active in Kashmir and Delhi too.
For furthering its mission, the ISI recruits Muslims, Hindus and people belonging to other religions as well.
The temptation held out is -- money. The ISI knows there are thousands of people in India who can be bought. The fire in the belly makes people forget moral considerations and make them even work against national interests. This is a terrible thing to happen and this is, a reality which we must not ignore. It is quite frightening.
The ISI is in the look out for groups, organisations and individuals who can be induced to work for it.
It could be an organisation like, the SIMI.
It is not known whether SIMI is actually linked with the ISI and extreme groups in Pakistan and Afghanistan. It has however shown it has sympathy for the Taliban.
The Delhi must have found enough evidence about the undesirable activities of SIMI. Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and some other states have proof of SIMI's dangerous activities.
The ISI would consider SIMI as an ideal organisation for carrying out its various destabilising operations.
Is the ISI which is monitoring terrorism-Kashmir. It is the decision maker. It tells the militants when to organise bandhs, where to arrange a bomb blast. It is in close touch with the militants trained in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
We are, hoping that the US will join us in our moves for dealing with terrorism in Kashmir and other parts of India. We have the same perceptions, aims and objectives of the US.
The big, pertinent question however is whether the US will be able to help us in our fight against terrorism. It would of course like to and maybe eventually do it. It has a big problem: when it needs Pakistan's cooperation in getting Osama dead or alive, it will not be able to strike at terrorists based in Pakistan. General Musharraf is protecting the terrorists in his country. He might temporarily dismantle their camps and even perhaps put on hold militancy in Kashmir. They will be there however as large as life posing a threat to India.
Nuclear bomb
The US will not, cannot say so now, but it knows that Pakistan is a rogue, terrorist state.
Imagine what will happen if a terrorist like Osama bin Laden or the Taliban's Omar get hold of a nuclear bomb. If they persuade the Pakistani military dictator to part with just one such bomb, they can pose a big threat to India and countries like the. US as well. They seem to have the capacity to penetrate the US. The attack on the Pentagon and the WTC buildings has shown that. Any nuclear mission to India will be child's play to them. They can be ruthless. That was also demonstrated by the mass massacre (over 6000) in New York.
Is there any guarantee that the nuclear bomb will not get into their hands?
We have been making a big mistake in our campaigns against terrorists in Kashmir. A handful of militants and foreign mercenaries are carrying on a war. They are all pro-Pakistan and they want to create an impression that all the people of Kashmir are against India and want to join Pakistan. We have not done enough to change this perception.
And we cannot apparently deal with cross-border terrorism by ourselves. We need the US cooperation. We have been victims of terrorism for over a decade. After the New York attack, the US is likely to appreciate our problem better.
The US can help us cut off the Pakistani,
Taliban and Osama connection.