Daily Excelsior... Editorial

EDITORIAL

By K.N. Pandita
U.S’ crackdown on terrorists’ funding sources is now an integral part of her Operation Enduring Freedom. An estimated 200 – 300 million dollars kitty is .....more

HERE AND THERE
George’s re-entry divides Samata Party

From B L Kak
Mr George Fernandes is back in the Union Cabinet as the Minister for Defence. His clout in the ruling alliance is primarily....more

Pak will stand by Taliban

By Samuel Baid
Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf's Press conference in Islamabad on Monday should leave no body in doubt about this country's unwillingness ....more

Be on Gurad

By : Bhabatosh Chakraborty
The recent ‘terrorist attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Centre (WTC) in New York and the Pentagon in Washington have exploded the....more

EDITORIAL

US MUST PROBE PAK

Few people had expected USA to change the definition of the global war on terrorism to American war on global terrorists targetting it. In those chastising days of mid September it looked that politicking would be out of this war and that the real face and facilitators of terrorism would be the target of the world war on terrorism. Probably, the war in the eyes of most of the peoples of the world, who are clearly aligned against terrorism, is still against the terrorism as a principle. Even USA is at pains to assert that the focus of the war is terrorism, but the friends it has chosen to fight it and the finer print of 'strategies' being chalked out to wage it, belie this assertion. And uppermost in this travesty are the terms of the partnership with Pakistan that USA is clobbering. Colin Powell's recent visit underscored this in ample relief. In the first place it was a 'visit to Pakistan' not to the subcontinent. Both from the contents of this meetings and pronouncements it was clear that India was included as an afterthought, as a balancing act, but was not in the original intent of the visit. And while in Pakistan, apart from saying all that the Pakistani ear wanted to say; he made the significant announcement that the day marked a new beginning for the Pak-US relationship.

This is certainly not an acknowledgement of the Pakistan's primary role in propping up Taliban and inflicting the terrorism emanating there from upon the whole world, of which the WTC strikes were only the most horrible face. America's actual culprits may be in Afghanistan, but culprits morally and instrumentally responsible for this scourge are there in Pakistan. And, not necessarily out of the seats of power either. Even before any Osamas were born or any Taliban trained, Pakistan had envisaged for herself a role, which could be fulfilled only with a machinery like the one Taliban and Laden put together. Their aims too were the same that are proclaimed by this terrorism. And, everybody there from Jinnah to Bhutto, from Zia to Musharraf has been a faithful executor of that scheme. Though the intensity and approach have differed from Jinnah's 'tribal' incursion into Kashmir to Nawaz- Musharraf venture in Kargil, the policies of that nation have been one ceaseless implementation of that agenda. The Taliban grew naturally from it. Just as Laden found a natural breeding ground in this soil. Without this ready recipe the terrorists would not have grown so fat or so fast.

Nor has Pakistan given up this path. To take just one instance, Musharraf did not dissociate himself from the RABITA TRUST even one month after declaring his support to war against terrorism. It was only the day that America informed him that this trust was being banned for its high complicity in terrorist activities that he distanced himself from it. The 'moderate opinion' in Pakistan that is supporting Musharraf in his decision to side with America minces no words in saying that he 'saved Pakistan' from a certain disaster in this choice. What disaster? American strikes, of course. For what? For harbouring, housing, facilitating and training terrorists. What further proof of Pak complicity in terrorism in needed? USA may need Pakistan in its fight against the terrorists holed up in Taliban territory but she cannot avoid calling on accounting here. In this context the Indian demand made by Omar Abdullah in his meeting with the American envoy that America investigate the Pak role, is very apt. America must probe the role of Pakistan in fostering terrorism, facilitating it and foisting it upon the whole world. That is an imperative of the 'global war on terrorism' America cannot avoid. Else, the whole war becomes a farce. A high farce foisted upon the world to let America take revenge on the people who have struck it.

SPRUCING UP JAMMU

Jammu is the winter capital, alright. But it is also one of the two major cities of the State. The city alone is home to a million people. It is the headquarter of one whole province that is twice the land area of Kashmir, a hefty third of the whole State. Yet the impression is hard to avoid that the importance of Jammu is from the sole fact that the 'rulers' come to soak in its tepid climes for the winter months, when it gets too chilly in the Valley. Or how else can you explain the heightened care and concern of the authorities from municipality to PWD to PDD to all other agencies on the eve of Durbar move. For the rest of the year it is as if either the agencies do not exist or the city of Jammu does not exist on the map. Everything is one long neglectful slumber extending the whole of six-months. Neither the roads see any repairs, nor the lanes any cleaning. The paint jobs are nowhere being done. Half the time the residents are out on streets and roads protesting against the 'burnt' transformers that have not been replaced for weeks after being lifted.

Were it not for the blazing heat that would plainly scorch the people to death, and create manifest trouble for the Government, the city would, probably, go without any electricity at all. Half of it gets water only on alternate days, then. But come October and everybody gets, almost insanely, active. The municipality sweeps out dust and dirt of half the year, the PWD gets busy with the roads and lanes and drains. Everywhere you see men-at-work-signs hampering traffic and movement. The pavements get painted and polished. The signboards are repainted and made conspicuous. Parks are spruced up and fountains begin spouting water. Even the dead fish in Bagh-e-Bahu tanks get mysteriously alive. Jammu becomes a bride for the nigh suitors. And residents become happy that at least they have this 'safeguard' against perpetual neglect. But isn't all this partiality and prejudice shameful, if not sinful? Doesn't Jammu have an existence apart from being a temporary abode for rajas of our day? Don't the citizens here deserve attention all the year round, which would also include the high care for this 'royalty'?

Terrorism and the Big Money

By K.N. Pandita

U.S’ crackdown on terrorists’ funding sources is now an integral part of her Operation Enduring Freedom. An estimated 200 – 300 million dollars kitty is allegedly controlled by the prime suspect OBL and his operatives. The money trail is global and proliferates across dozens of nations, thousands of business entities, charities, and trusts. Transfers are made clandestinely under various labels. A company in Sudan, charities in the West Asia, banks in London or hawala traders in Chandani Chowk may be the conduit, the fact is that big money is at once everywhere financing global terrorism.

The question is whether the US action of freezing the bank accounts of such organisations as have been declared terrorist is really an effective method of denying them access to huge funds? Will it stop the nations that are aiding militancy from providing funds covertly or overtly? Iran, Libya, Pakistan and Afghanistan are reported to have institutionalised the raising of funds in the name of Islamic jihad.

Intelligence sources say that financing militancy in Kashmir requires rupees 30 to 40 crores a month. A large militant organisation like the Hizbul Mujahideen alone needs around rupees 3 to 4 crores a month. If we accept Pakistani figures, then there are 10 – 15 groups of militants in Kashmir to whom a share from the jihad funding should account for 45 crore rupees a month.

According to the US investigators, Osama’s Al-Qaeda group, the prime suspect in the recent New York and Washington attacks, spent less than $ 500,000.00 for the 11th September terrorist attack on NY and Washington.

The public route is perhaps the easiest and the safest way to raise money. Thousands of trusts, charities, and other fronts of militant groups collect money through donations in the name of religious and other causes. Some of the funds raised in this way are spent on building schools and religious places, but a big chunk is channelled to the militant organisations.

Pakistan –based Markaz-al-Dawa-wal-Ershad, for example, is a religious organisation that puts out regular advertisements in its monthly magazine called Al Dawa. The ad urges the Muslims to donate frugally for Kashmir jihad fund. This organisation has sponsored Lashkar-e-Toiba, which often owns responsibility for violent attacks on civilians in Kashmir. In November 1998, the Markaz organised its congregation at Muridke, near Lahore in which it decided to raise rupees 3 crores for purchase of arms and ammunition to be supplied to those engaged in Kashmir jihad. One crore was earmarked for training the jihadis, one crore for the rehabilitation of Kashmiri refugees in PoK.

FIRs filed by the Kashmir police in 1997 indicated that senior leaders of the Hurriyat Conference receive donations from abroad. In October 1995, one of its leaders and the chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Kashmir, Syed Ali Shah Geelani received rupees 10 crores as an office bearer of Jamaat. The Jamaat website convasses for donations to aid the cause of Kashmir. The site asks people to "donate your sadaqat (voluntary donations) directly." In account No. 01121306 for Pakistan rupees and 01800319 for the US dollars at Lahore based bank Al-Falah.

Militants, including those operating in Kashmir, receive endless remittances from overseas. Ali Shah Geelani’s son-in-law, Altaf Shah, is said to have illegally received foreign contributions, 20 lakh Saudi riyals from Kashmiris in Saudi Arabia. Ghulam Ahmad Lone another Hurriyat leader, reports The Herald of October 2001, is alleged to have received rupees 10 crores from Kashmir American Council, a US-based trust and headed by Ghulam Nabi Fai, for the reconstruction of the Chrar-e-Sharif shrine, which was set on fire by Mast Gul, the Pakistani-Afghani gunman operating in Kashmir in 1995. One FIR states that in early 1990s, Lone had received help from several organisations in Saudi Arabia, the UK and the US during his visits to these countries.

Mufti Merajud-Din Farooqui and Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh were arrested in 1992 for giving rupees 60 lakh to Kashmir-based militant groups like the JK Liberation Front, Muslim Janbaz Force and Al-Umar. Both the accused siphoned off money from the accounts of Jhelum Valley College of Medical Sciences. Farooqi was one of the trustees handling KMT's finances and Sheikh was its administrative officer. The funds came from a corpus of about 6 crore rupees that was made up of donations from over 300 students, each paying 1 – 3 lakh rupees. No action has been reported against the accused.

According to reliable sources, Saudi Arabia doles out 10 billion dollars annually through its ministry of religious works for religious cause. According to a report of the Institute for Counter-terrorism (ICT), Iran hands out around 100 million dollars every year through its state-owned office of revolutionary movements to religious trusts and institutions that propagate Islamic revolution.

The International Islamic Relief Organisation (IIRO) is an official donor agency in Saudi Arabia. According to its website, between 1987 and 1996, the IIRO donated over 400 million dollars for several projects.

Of that amount, interestingly, there are not any details of donations worth 140 million dollars. In September 2000, a paper presented by Reuven Paz, academic director of a global think-tank, the International Policy Institute for Counter Terrorism (ICT) argued that a part of this money might have un-intentionally gone to militant groups. Egypt and other Arab nations have accused the IIRO of having links with Muslim World League, another Saudi Arabian-based outfit. It may be mentioned that the Muslim World League has over 100 branches in 30 countries and is believed to aid militant groups globally.

It will be recounted that in the famous Jain hawala case, Ashfaq Lone, a Kashmiri militant, was arrested with 23 bank drafts in the names of Kashmir-based residents. Some of those to whom the drafts were made out were not traceable. While others maintained that they did not know about the money. Kashmir police had also arrested a vegetable vendor in Srinagar who had several bank accounts. According to J&K police, the money in these accounts came through hawala and was to the tune of one crore rupees.

Enormous construction activity has been going on in Kashmir over the past decade of militancy. Common people wonder wherefore did the windfall come that suddenly made so many people in the valley multimillionaires engaged in real estate business. This is also the reason for the soaring land prices in Kashmir.

HERE AND THERE
George’s re-entry divides Samata Party

From B L Kak

Mr George Fernandes is back in the Union Cabinet as the Minister for Defence. His clout in the ruling alliance is primarily because of his Samata Party. True, he is considered to be the esprit de corps of the Samata Party. But his re-induction as the Defence Minister is certain to have a fallout on the Samata Party.

In the wake of the change, the power equation in the Samata Party will change dramatically. Already, senior Samata leader, Mr Prabhunath Singh, has objected to the re-induction of Mr George Fernandes into the Cabinet.

Mr Prabhunath Singh has reiterated that Mr Fernandes should not have resigned over the Tehelka tapes and that he should have waited for the Venkataswami Commission probe to absolve him of all charges. Out of power, Mr Fernandes had been losing ground, both within the Samata Party and in Bihar, following Railway Minister, Mr Nitish Kumar’s emergence at the helm of affairs.

The first call from "highly placed sources", it is now said, went to a senior correspondent of a wire service. The tip to him was simple: Prime Minister is likely to have a Cabinet expansion. Why does not he check with Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee after the investiture ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan?

The journalist promptly took the tip, asked the Prime Minister, who confirmed that he was looking at a likely expansion "soon, very soon". And that is what opened the Pandora’s box of who would be the Defence Minister in place of Mr Jaswant Singh. Mr KC Pant ? Or Mr George Fernandes?

And after he took over as the Defence Minister, the NDA convenor, Mr George Fernandes, decided to "stick my neck out once again so that we don’t run into a situation where the nation’s security is in danger". And no, Mr Fernandes was not talking about sticking his neck out in relation to Pakistan but in the context of speeding up defence acquisitions in the coming months.

By all accounts, the Congress rally at Lucknow, addressed by Ms Sonia Gandhi the other day, was a success. The lady of 10 Janpath was pleased art the turnout. AICC general secretary, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, was elated, and Mr Salman Khursheed was astounded.

Clearly, the numbers were far in excess of what Messrs Azad and company had planned for. As they like to say: "It was a spontaneous and emotional outpour of feelings". Characteristically, Ms Sonia Gandhi used the occasion to launch a full-scale attack on the NDA Government for the shamelessness with which Mr George Fernandes had been brought back. She warned: "Defence is in danger".

There was a huge upsurge of Muslims at the rally, considering that this enthusiasm was seen for the first time after the demolition of the Babri Masjid in December 1992. Does it show that Muslims are moving in numbers to the Congress? Is the talk of the Samajwadi Party consolidating the minorities a figment of someone’s imagination?

After Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, it is now time for generation next in Uttaranchal. The other day, Union Home Minister, Mr LK Advani, and former BJP president, Mr Khushabau Thakre, told Uttaranchal Chief Minister, Mr Nityanand Swamy, that it was time for him to pack his bags. Chief Minister for alomost 10 months, Mr Swamy seems to have frittered away all the goodwill that the BJP had in the hill State.

Here, the name of Mr KC Pant has once again been referred to. After all the fuss over his likely induction as Defence Minister, he is now being mentioned as a possible replacement to Mr Nityanand Swamy. Mr Pant is a man of the BJP. But a section of the BJP in Uttaranchal considers Mr Pant an outsider.

Union Surface Transport Minister, Mr BC Khanduri, will not be useful because it will mean giving up a Lok Sabha seat. Or maybe Mr Khanduri could be Chief Minister while retaining his Lok Sabha seat for four months and seeing the results and then making up his mind.

But the BJP high command seems reluctant to take that option. Reports are that the BJP is also looking at the possibility of retiring BJP Rajya Sabha member, Mr Manohar Kand Dhyani, taking over as Chief Minister for the interregnum. But is he generation next? And will he be able to deliver the goods?

Pak will stand by Taliban

By Samuel Baid

Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf's Press conference in Islamabad on Monday should leave no body in doubt about this country's unwillingness yet to snap the umbilical cord with Taliban no matter what contrary signals might have come from Islamabad since September 11. This Press conference came a day after the joint United States-United Kingdom air attacks began against terrorist camps in Afghanistan and therefore one thought now was the time for Pakistan to snap diplomatic ties with Taliban as had been done by the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia a few days ago.

In his more than one hour Press conference the only said Pakistan would maintain its ties with Taliban to keep a channel of communication open with them. But elsewhere during the Press conference he made it very clear his Government had in mind a role for Taliban in a new political dispensation if the Taliban Government fell. He said deposed King of Afghanistan Zahir Shah was acceptable to his Government as the head of this new dispensation but the Government should be broad-based giving the 6 per cent Pushtun population its due in the Government formation. Pakistan, he said, wanted a friendly Government in Afghanistan and, therefore, would not accept the Northern Alliance as an alternative to Taliban in Kabul. He had impressed on the United States that the Northern Alliance should not be allowed to take advantage of the attacks on Afghanistan.

Until this Press conference an impression was sought to be given that Pakistan was getting ready to snap diplomatic ties with the Taliban regime. In his September 19 address to the nation Gen Musharraf regretted Taliban's recalcitrance and refusal to see danger in not handing over Saudi fugitive Osama bin Laden to the United States or a third country to face charges of his and his party Al Qaida's involvement in the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Five days after this address Pakistan recalled its diplomatic staff from Kabul and on October 1 Gen Musharraf agreed in an interview to the BBC that the days of the Taliban regime were numbered. And then his Government said it was convinced of the FBI's report that established Osama's and Al Qaida's involvement in the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

It is notable that the two main religious parties which have been carrying on a campaign against Gen Musharraf's support to the United States against Osama and Taliban are Jamiat-ul-Ulema-i-Islam and Jamaat-i-Islami. Their campaign may not be very serious to the military Government because the two are known to have enjoyed the patronage and largesse of the Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the past. In fact, during the Afghan war (1979-89) they also received American funds and arms through the ISI. It may be presumed that the military Government would not allow these parties exceed limits. Of course if there are no dissensions within the Army itself about the future course of US operations. There are already reported that a section of the army is opposed to the Government policy of supporting the United States against the Taliban regime. But Gen Musharraf does not seem to be much perturbed so far.

He claims that a majority of the Pakistani people support his policy. He surely has direct or indirect support from all mainstream non-religious parties. Pakistan People's Party self-exiled leader Ms Benazir has repeatedly said the military Government must distance itself from Taliban. The Muslim League , too, supports the Government policy with some reservations, though. The Mutteheda Quami Movement (MQM), the Awami National Party and the Pakhtunkhawa Milli Awami party have all supported the US action against the source of terrorism in Afghanistan.

Gen Musharraf has repeatedly claimed that only an inconsequential minority was opposing his support to the USA. Now the question is if the army and the ISI are really against terrorism why should they not cut off or even suspend their diplomatic relations with Taliban? They will not to it because Taliban are the end - product of a policy of encouraging Islamic militancy as a tool of foreign policy in the region. It was Mr Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who in the early 1970s thought of jehad as a tool to counter Soviet influence in Afghanistan. With this aim in mind he followed a policy of confrontation against the Afghan Government as also against the National Awami Party (NAP) of Khan Abdul Wali Khan because of its close relations with the Afghan Government. In 1973 he threatened in a frenzied voice that Pakistan would hoist its flag on Kabul.

Mr Bhutto feared that after the overthrow of King Zahir Shah by his own cousin Sardar Mohammad Daud in July 1973 the Soviet influence would increase in Afghanistan and within Pakistan the Pakhtunistan movement would receive a boost. Daoud was an advocate of Pakhtunistan as like any other Afghan he rejected the Daurand Line between Pakistan and his country.

To counter this development Bhutto invited Afghan fundamentalist leaders Ahmed Shah Masud, Gulbadin Hikmatyar, Burhanuddin Rabani along with their followers and started training for Afghans. They were given military training by the Flite Special Service Group of Pakistan. Maj Gen Naseerullah Babar who later became Ms Benazir Bhutto's Interior Minister, was associated with this project.

Afghan refugees started flooding Pakistan after the 1978 Saur revolution in which Daoud was killed and a Communist Government took over. This Government banned the practice of Mehr (money promised or given by the bridegroom to his bride at the time of marriage) on the plea that this was a big cause of rural indebtness in Afghanistan. This brought money lenders and mullahs together who condemned the ban as un-Islamic. Thus it was said Islam was in danger in Afghanistan and Pakistan started clandestine training camps for Afghan refugees. After the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan to stand by the Taraki Government in December 1979 against the increasing Islamic challenge, Afghan exodus to Pakistan became massive. It is all history how Americans joined this war saying. Now Christians will fight for their Muslim brothers."

During the early 1980s hundreds of new madrasas were set up where military training was provided to students who came from Afghan refugees camps or poor Pakistani families. Indoctrination was provided by the ISI and the CIA. The American Press started describing the young fighters as "mujahids" instead of rebels as they were earlier called. The war came as a Godsend for Gen Zia-ul-Haq for perpetuating his rule. Thus his allout support to these madrasas as part of the war efforts.

When Ms Bhutto returned to power in 1993, her Government pursued the policy of encouraging friendly Islamists in Afghanistan. During Gen Zia's rule it was openly suggested to use the Afghan territory for strategic depth. Ms Bhutto's Government went a step further when her Interior Minister Naseerullah Babar trained the madrasas boys to fight and control Afghanistan. These boys were first known as Taliban in October 1994 when they freed Pakistani consumer goods from Afghan warlords who tried to loot them at Spin Boldak on way to Turkmenistan.

That was the trial run of the Taliban to seen if they could make the land route from Quetta to Central Asian States through Kandahar and Herat safe for Pakistani commerce. Before this incident Babar had travelled to the Central Asian States through Afghanistan to see if the land route was all right. There is tone of material to say that it were Pakistani army and the ISI which helped Taliban to over-run most of Afghanistan. There are reports that Pakistani and Taliban together slaughtered about 8000 Shias when they captured Mazar-i-Sharif in 1998.

In 1997 when the Muslim League, headed by Mr Nawaz Sharif returned to power, it adopted a policy of placating Taliban by taking steps such as the introduction of Sharia bill in Parliament and closure of universities in Peshawar that admitted Afghan refugee girls. Taliban had banned education for women. The result of this policy was spread of fundamentalism in Pakistan. Some called it Talibanisation of Pakistan specially in its Frontier province and Baluchistan.

But his backwardisation of the Pakistani society was acceptable to the rulers, the army and the ISI because it was also affecting Kashmir Pakistani rulers seem to be living on the hope that they can grab Kashmir only through Taliban-like tactics. Terrorists operating in Kashmir have links with Taliban.

The army and the ISI fear that if they drop Taliban their Kashmir policy, which is terrorism - based will fail. Gen Musharraf has made it very clear that it is basically for Kashmir he is supporting the United States. He had hoped that by supporting the USA, he could save the Taliban rule in Afghanistan - and save Pakistan's Kashmir policy. If the Taliban Government falls there could be a serious unrest within the Pak army.

Be on Gurad

By : Bhabatosh Chakraborty

The recent ‘terrorist attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Centre (WTC) in New York and the Pentagon in Washington have exploded the myth about the American invincibility and have contributed to a rethink on the security scenario. These dastardly acts have breathed fresh life into the Northern Alliance (NA) to take on the might of the Taliban with support from Russia, Uzbekistan Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kirghistan.

Washington, which had created the Taliban in its short-sighted geo-strategic considerations of the eighties, has now made a u-turn to rally behind the NA. What is more the US is actively pursing the option of reinstalling King Zahir Shah in Kabul.

The Islamic terrorists have given a clear message. If they could hit the WTC, a symbol of the US economic supremacy and strike at the Pentagon, the seat of the US defence establishment, they could strike anything, anywhere, anytime on the globe to teach a lesson to their 'enemy’.

The terrorists used minimal manpower and bare minimum resources to accomplish an unnerving mission. No sophisticated weapons. No nuclear weapons. No huge outlay. In hindsight it all looks like a child play of handful of people - hijack a plane and slam into a building to convert it into an inferno. Dare devilry it was but motivation was supreme.

Thirty years ago, brave Vietnamese defeated the mighty US army without using any sophisticated weapons. What propelled the Vietnamese boys was nationalism. That is the only difference between then and now.

Suicide squads are not new to the world. These are not the invention of Osama & co., Japanese pilots carried out suicidal missions in the Second World War quite too often with deadly precision.

Both Indian sub-continent and the Middle East are familiar with suicide attacks. Human bombs had claimed lives of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sri Lanka leader Premadasa. Car bombs are a phenomenon well tested in the killing streets of Beirut.

The suicide Pilot mission undertaken by four-Osama squads, who had hijacked commercial flights in the United States, undoubtedly, opens a new chapter in international terrorism. Before September 11, no one in his sane mind ever thought that the US security could be breached or subverted.

Obviously, the Americans also gave in to this belief and this had led to a complacency of the worst order at their airports and it had facilitated the hijacking that had punctured the American bubble.

The Americans have since retaliated at the symbols of global terrorism. Most countries whether they are directly in the line of fire from terrorist guns or not have closed ranks with the US to end the new scourge.

Both the Americans and the rest of the world will do well to make a clear distinction between terrorism and Islam. Because both are not the same despite an umbilical chord of sorts that links them together.

We, in India, have been experiencing cross border terrorism for more than fifty years. Pakistani support to the militant activities on our soil is a reality. We have been asking the US for several years by now to declare Pakistan as a terrorist state; Americans have always appeared to share our concern and perceptions.

Yet, the rulers of Pakistan have managed to get away. And have been merrily going around arming, aiding and abetting militants in Kashmir through their chosen instrument, the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI).

As the September 11 heat began to spread, mercenary groups operating in Kashmir halted their heinous crimes for a while. They have again resumed attacks on soft and sensitive targets in the border state. Yes, the American resolve to finish the training camps of terrorist groups has not provided the relief India has been looking for in its fight against terrorism.

The ground reality is that the Taliban's have achieved all their successes against other Afghan groups because of the supported provided by the 151. Pakistan is the only country that recognises the Taliban today. UAE and Saudi Arabia have distanced themselves from Kabul regime though they had bankrolled the Taliban, and gave recognition to the regime.

There is no denying that the ISI has grip over the Taliban and monitors all its activities as also of Osama bin Laden. Had the ISI shared vital inputs on Osama with the US, the New York tragedy could have been averted.

When Pakistan President Gen Musharraf was told that he had to choose between the Taliban and the USA he came down on his knees. He booted out the ISI chief and appointed another in his place.

Are we in for a new look Musharraf and a departure from the past? Too early to say, but if past experience is the guide, we may not.

There is a possibility that the US armed forces may operate from the Pakistan soil to hit out at the Taliban. At some point of the conflict, Indian territory may become vulnerable to strikes. This is a contingency India should be prepared for. If the terrorists could strike in New York and Washington, they have no dearth of soft targets in Delhi Mumbai and other Indian cities.

We should be mentally prepared to face such a threat. We should educate every citizen in no uncertain terms that the threat is real and ensure that the entire country sees it with one perspective.

The Home Guards and Civil Defence set up should be revamped without any delay. Emergencies of the nature we have witnessed in New York call for level headedness, not panic, unity of purpose, not bickering and recriminations.

The Vajpayee government should tread in the matter cautiously. It should take major political parties and groups into confidence on the threat perceptions. More over, regular consultations with the opposition parties will help the government to face the current critical situation in a more focused manner.

New Delhi should not be seen to be in a hurry to shake hands with the Bush administration and offer all its secret dossiers on the terrorists. Unsolicited advice or help is often not appreciated whether it is between two individuals or two nations.

Atal Behari Vajpayee allowed Musharraf to take away the Agra cake while he remained a tight-lipped host. It was a blunder. Now the government has made another blunder by offering all help to Washington and unwittingly gave an opportunity to the Musharraf regime to turn a hopeless situation in its favour.

Once Osama bin Laden is caught, the US urgency to wipe out terrorism will be over. That is advantage Pakistan. We better remain on our guard.

--Syndicate Features