Author: Vijay Dutt
Publication: Hindustan Times
Date: September 2, 2007
Experts and officials dealing with counter-terrorism in the United Kingdom not only empathise with their counterparts in India, but exchange security and intelligence information too. They recognise the threat from groups based in Pakistan and Bangladesh and say the UK is going to maintain its position on terror in the subcontinent.
Paul Beaver, counter-terrorism analyst and adviser to various governments, says that out of the belligerent neighbours of India, Bangladesh is emerging as a major worry He says, "The developing terror bases in . Bangladesh are now a major concern for Britain, Nato, Europe and America as well."
Dr Paul Neumann, director of the Centre for Study of Defence Strategies at King's College, would rather focus on the traditional enmity He says, "The situation . in Pakistan is now more problematic than in the Middle East. India... has become a soft target for Al Qaeda, which has bases in the urban centres of the country (Pakistan) and uses Lakshar and Jaish to launch attacks in India." The two terrorist outfits are increasingly operating from Bangladesh too.
Dr Peter Lehr of the department of terrorism studies at St Andrews University says, "Although they would deny, it is an open secret that Pakistan - rather, the ISI - is waging a proxy war against India using terrorist organisations."
He adds: "India does not just face the grave risk of state-sponsored terrorism, it is already a victim of it. It also means that India is already targeted by Al Qaeda through affiliated organisations."
On the reasons for Al Qeada to target India, Dr Neumann says, "The economic progress, secularism and democracy that India enjoys are anathema to Al Qaeda, which stokes its prejudices towards the country India is seen as a part of the West, . its darling, and thus one of the countries in the global conspiracy against Islam."
That's why, the stress on cooperation with India in the fight against terrorism remains as much a priority now under Gordon Brown as it was during Tony Blair's time, assure diplomats.
VDutt@aol.com GLASGOW: When someone rammed a bomb-laden Jeep Cherokee vehicle into the façade of the city airport's departure lounge, the investigators' tracks led to Bangalore, among other places.