Daily Excelsior... Editorial

EDITORIAL

Few would fail to mark how different the fifty-sixth Independence Day of Pakistan must look to the Pak people and the Government from the one they celebrated a year ago. Over these twelve months the world may not have changed much expect for the color of flag in their neighbourhood across the Khyber, yet the perceptions of the world and its way of looking at itself have changed drastically. So have the perceptions of the people there, their rulers, media, men and everything save the mulish obstinacies, which somehow stick to their old obduracies. Thus they continue to breed terrorists, and feel for them where they are constrained not to stand behind them as they did for years before. Their agendas are not weakened, nor accepted as wrong though they are faced with a full-scale barrage from the wide world. Nor do the brash assumptions appear to have seen their fallacy though it is written all over their nation.Probably, it all depends on how the promise of a nation is seen. The world of this enlightened age sees humanism and development, freedom and rights as the pinnacle.......more

Country needs
defence agents

By Maj Gen V K Madhok (Retired)
The arms race is very much on the Indian subcontinent. The United
States, Israel, South Korea, Russia, Ukraine, UK, France, Brazil and China ......more

Ultras’ pinpoint
operations in J&K

By B L Kak
One more alarming radio intercept: "Aap ka kaam theek chal raha hai. Laykin ab waqt aaya hai apni raftaar ko aur badaana hai. Utho aur garam goloon.....more

India's uranium mines facing dangers

By Amlan Home Chowdhury
The uranium fields of Jaduguda in Jharkhand, key to India’s nuclear programme, currently stands exposed to dangers as it has become the main target of the international terrorist outfits including AI Qaeda, global .....more

EDITORIAL

Breeding terrorists, still!

Probably, it all depends on how the promise of a nation is seen. The world of this enlightened age sees humanism and development, freedom and rights as the pinnacle. There may be pitfalls in the realization of these lofty goals; the world may not have become the place the idealists wished it to be. Poverty has not been eliminated, freedom for all the reverence it commands is not a perfect reality, and crime, corruption and criminals stalk the world. But it is a much better world than it ever was. The nations that have chosen to see this vision are much better off though they have a long way still to go. But the places that have not hearkened to this calls are doomed to blunder around at their own peril. Now if the nations do not see this as a peril but a constraint imposed by an adversarial world, they have nothing but their visions to blame. Pakistan on this anniversary of its founding may or may not see itself a round failure, there are little doubts on the point that it has to invent more sustainable, more plausible visions for itself than it has had.

If the aim and object of the Pak State was to keep pulling India down she has succeeded inspite of all her failures. Then it would not matter if the literacy rates in that country were actually coming down while they are going up at a fast pace all around her. There it would not matter if the poor there may not find their lot much better than it was at the dawn of freedom, nor would it matter that the nation is yet to find a polity for itself. If the be all and the end all of the Pakistan was to keep India suitably constrained, it has had a modicum of success. It has held on to half of one of the Indian states. It has put three quarters of the land under a neo-colonial rule calling it 'Northern Territories' as if they were lands won by Changzi hordes to be kept and used as it liked. There it does not even pretend to have a Government, using commissioner appointed by the federal authority to control those people in unmitigated slavery. The chief of the KLF Amanullah Khan, who has his shoulders ‘burdened’ with the ‘duty of liberating all of Kashmir,’ incidentally comes from these backwaters. He in a way epitomizes the Pak ‘success’ in taking a part of the Indian State and enslaving the people there to the extent that they consider the Pak perversion as their chosen objective!

The same can be said for the small fringe around Muzaffarabad that forms the so-called Azad Kashmir. How free and how Kashmiri that part is today, is something the inhabitants alone know. But that would not matter with Pakistan. The thralldom it has inflicted on that part is no less exacting, though it is not so harsh as the one the ‘territories’ have been subject to. But it has been made to acquice in a different abuse. It is the breeding ground of the terrorists who overrun the territory as if it were a fief of theirs, created solely for their pleasure and, of course, subversions. It is now an open camp to train terrorists and to serve as one large transit camp for their foray into the Indian State. The Pak success is so thorough that the people not only do not object to the inhuman operation but occasionally even to raise useful slogans to justify the terrorist cause. Making an occupied part to part with its people and psyche, to become a willing tool in the ‘Pak State design' is a clear ‘success.’

The State of Jammu and Kashmir must be listed as the third of these Pak successes. Pakistan has almost succeeded in ruining one of the more prosperous of Indian States, has succeeded not only in destroying the institutions of the State but has largely degraded the culture and ethos of the place. As a subversive mission Pakistan has succeeded as gloriously here as in the occupied parts. Like in the PoK, she has a minority that is ready to give up everything for the Pak interest and cause. In this the Pak State has sacrificed the promise it made to its people, the prosperity and progress it could have had and the status of a State that it inevitably had, though these things would not matter if the sole purpose of the Pak State were to keep India adequately bowed down. But can a people take those agendas as the end of its creation and promise? Can a State be satisfied with fighting to destroy another State no matter what happened to itself? Rather, should a people rightfully be made to court destruction and depravity as their chosen goal? That is what the Pak State has brought upon its people.

If that is the aim the Pak State had before her people, it has been a success. She has enormously succeeded in devastating the State of Jammu and Kashmir. And has, kept bleeding India. But if Pakistan is to be more than a shackle for India this Independence Day must beget a contemplation by the Pak people as to what they have aimed, what they've achieved, where they have reached in this evil quest.

Country needs defence agents

By Maj Gen V K Madhok (Retired)

The arms race is very much on the Indian subcontinent. The United
States, Israel, South Korea, Russia, Ukraine, UK, France, Brazil and China are vying with each other to sell military equipment and weapons to the nations in this region.

State or private industries of these potential arms suppliers would need the services of defence agents. These agents function would not only be to sell products, but also to advise the manufacturer, scout for opportunities, priorities items of sale and forecast defence requirements within and outside the client country over the next five to 15 years.

DEFENCE DIARY

India has made up its mind to purchase 60 advance training jets - a Rs 45 billion deal- to continue the search for a self propelled gun and components of the Arjun tank, 35 percent of the parts which make up this tank have to be imported at present. Besides, India also needs to purchase spares for its defence equipment of Russian origin. One major departure from the past is India's setting up joint projects with Israel, Russia and the US. similar trends are visible in Pakistan. Hence the scramble for defence contracts is not destined to recede in the near future.

To give a veneer of respectability to defence deals, India tried a Government to Government approach. Defence delegations led by bureaucrats or politicians were sent out. And now a Defence Acquisition Board has been set up last year. The defence agent was left looking immoral if not a criminal. But the Government landed itself in quagmire of scandals from which politicians and bureaucrats are yet to extricate themselves.

The Bofors gun deal has acquired a phoenix like quality which is unlikely to vanish soon. In the processes, Mr Win Chadha and others of his ilk were condemned while red carpet receptions were accorded to Mr Adnan Khashoggi, the Saudi Arabian arms delaer in the Nineties.

A recent realisation has been that defence deals, whether imports or exports are virtually impossible to handle without skillful defence agents. In the light of intended liberalisation of defence production efforts are afoot to bring in the civil entrepreneur and to let the private sector handle defence exports or use machinery lying idle in the ordnance factories- the defence agent's prospects have brightened. Therefore, his services would be much sought after with the readymade arms markets waiting to be exploited. A defence agent, besides being a skillful negotiator has to be a diplomat. His vocation makes him a favourite of intelligence agencies. So he must be shrewd enough to deal with the Intelligence sleuths within and outside his country.

Mr Khashoggi was one of the most successful agents in the world. His country, Saudi Arabia, continues to be the largest importer of foreign arms. He dealt with kings, diplomats, politicians and professionals without whose direct or indirect participation it would be impossible to clinch defence contracts. They were also his chief targets.

The significance of such contracts can be understood if we compare them to the sale of the Indian light combat aircraft, likely to test fly next year, that can fetch up to Rs 500 million apiece or that of the Arjun tank, likely to fetch Rs 70 million each when ready for sale.

A lot of manoeuvring goes into convincing defence delegations to sign contracts. But this is only one aspect of a defence agent's job. He must possess the expertise and knowledge to buy influence and, above all, implement his country's or company's export policy.

Further, a knowledge of the industrial, economic and foreign policies of the buyer countries an ability to detect the type of weapons the target country would need immediatley or in the next war and the state of its current military technology are important inputs he must have. This may be obtained from experience or contacts prior to negotiating defence deals.

Therefore, a defence agents area extends far beyond the boundaries of arms companies, distributors and controllers. It encompasses diplomacy, influence, intelligence and the use of every skill he possesses. The profession as such needs the best among experienced professionals and diplomats and not mere shopkeepers.

There are opportunities galore for defence agents in India and the neighbouring countries for a number of reasons. First, there is a need to scout and diversify defence purchases from abroad to avoid repeating past mistakes of confining defence deals to a single source. Such dependency landed India in the current dilemma of shortages in tanks, guns, aircraft and their spares. Indian armed forces will be doomed should Russia shut off sale of new equipment, replacement or spares.

The second reason defence agents would be in demand is the induction of military technology as armed forces move from a conventional to high technological warfare capability. Third, a serious and programmed effort is necessary to get down to indigenisation since India, and the others in the region, cannot afford to continue with purchases from abroad.

We in India have so far been prejudiced primarily against the bribery and the commissions associated with defence agents. What is not realised is that the ''think tanks'' of foreign arms companies had visualised India's present scenario at least a decade ago and have been aware of every new development. Besides, for them selling arms is like trading in any other commodity.

These companies philosophy is simple: as long as nations have armies, navies and airforces they would need to be equipped. Without arms, countries will be defenceless. Moreover, more profits mean more jobs. This is their trade.

Accordingly, the knowledge of a buyer country's policies is not only an asset but a necessity for which the defence agent must fight. The arms companies must look at the next war, its probable flash points and define conflict zones.

Atleast for the next ten to twenty years the US will have to sell arms. On the other hand, Russia is already in the process of disposing off its mothballed equipment and space memorable to earn hard currency.

With a technological base set up in the last 45 years a sound industrial complex the third largest pool of scientists in the world- India also remains the third largest importer of arms. It is yet not in a position to export any worthwhile equipment except small arms and clothing.

To change this, one of the primary requirements would be clever and knowledgeable defence agents. The country must also realise that for the sale of their expertise defence agents are fully entitled to commissions, and their use of money as a tool is a practice followed in all business deals.

Ultras’ pinpoint operations in J&K

By B L Kak

One more alarming radio intercept: "Aap ka kaam theek chal raha hai. Laykin ab waqt aaya hai apni raftaar ko aur badaana hai. Utho aur garam goloon aue gooliyoon kaa istimaal kartay roho. Apnay dushman ko hila do. Unkay thikanoon ko udaa do (Your work is going on satisfactorily. But it is time for you to intensify your activity. Arise and make use of high-grade bombs and bullets. Rattle your enemy. Destroy their camps)".

This radio intercept from Kandi section of Rajouri district in Jammu region was apparently meant for the militants belonging to the two dreaded outfits, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Contents of the intercepted message, naturally, led to high-level discussions in New Delhi, followed by fresh instructions from the Ministries of Home and Defence to the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly Rajouri and Poonch sectors, for "necessary action".

Emphasis on "all preventive measures" in the districts of Rajouri and Poonch will have to be studied in the context of two developments. First, of course, is the reported presence of over 3,000 trained militants across Poonch and Rajouri sectors-each one of them waiting to be pushed into Indian territory. Second development is in relation to Pakistan-aided ultras’ changed strategy to resort to pinpoint operations against Indian security forces, political activists, surrendered militants and informers.

Gen. Parvez Musharraf’s loud talk against terrorist organisations notwithstanding, Pakistan Army hasn’t so far been stopped from aiding and abetting anti-India elements and groups. New Delhi is in the possession of evidence, clearly suggesting the involvement of at least four brigades of Pakistan Army in the task of encouraging insurgency, infiltration and militancy in Rajouri and Poonch districts. Two of these brigades are from Pakistan’s highly inflated 12 Division, while the remaining two are from 23 Division.

The two brigades of 12 Division have been identified as 6 PoK and 2 PoK. The other two from 23 Division are 3 PoK and 4 PoK. Equally sensational piece of information made available to India: A highly strategic centre, already established at Kotli across Rajouri, has been, in recent times, strengthened with a view to enabling its operators, most of them owing allegiance to the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence), to induct into Indian territory trained subversives and jihadis.

Continuing rift between New Delhi and Islamabad and the reiteration of anti-India threats from Pakistan-based Islamic radicals can be easily held responsible for unusual activity on this side of the Line of Control. Indian forces have been put on alert at as many as 60 posts in Rajouri and Poonch sectors. Pro-active role by Indian security personnel is also to ensure that Pakistan-sponsored infiltrators and militants, presently hiding in different parts of Rajouri and Poonch districts, are not able to move to Jammu sector, Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar and Kashmir Valley.

India has, undoubtedly, improved its defences across Jammu and Kashmir. But much success hasn’t been achieved against ISI’s widespread network. Officials do no fight shy in admitting that the ISI continues to play active role while purchasing guides on the Indian side of the border, particularly in Rajouri, Poonch and Udhampur districts to facilitate inland journey of Pakistani intruders.

Intelligence specialists have already established that the chain of command of militants has gone in the hands of foreign mercenaries, who have been found ‘active’ in far-flung areas of Pir Panjal ranges, dense forests of Kupwara, Bandipur, Ganderbal, Tral and Anantnag sectors. Indian intelligence community, in fact, has, on more than one occasion in recent times, talked about the presence of LeT and JeM militants in these areas as well.

In spite of the two organisations having been banned by the Pakistan Government, the LeT and JeM have, once again in the second week of this month, vowed to continue what they called "freedom struggle" in Kashmir. There is sufficient evidence to suggest that the Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed have defied the ban slapped on them by the Musharraf regime. And if the evidence is any guide, the LeT and JeM have initiated ‘secret’ parleys to launch a joint Islamic front with the other outlawed groups to strengthen their position in Kashmir.

Indian Premier, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, and Deputy Prime Minister, Mr LK Advani, cannot be faulted for their opposition to talks between New Delhi and Islamabad at a time when Pakistan has not abandoned its support to cross-border terrorism. And India is not to blame for the kind of surveillance Pakistan has been put under.

Can Pakistan deny its involvement in the smuggling of advanced weapons, including rocket launchers, into Jammu and Kashmir for militants and subversives? The Washington-based Human Rights Watch (HRW), a non-Governmental body though, has let it be known that these weapons are to enable the militants to carry out fierce attacks on Indian security forces and anti-Pakistan sections of the civilian population.

The report of HRW contains equally significant finding: Militants in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the Valley, have, in recent years, committed numerous serious violations of humanitarian law, including direct attacks on unarmed civilians, indiscriminate attack, summary executions, hostage-taking, rape, threats to commit bodily harm and the use of religious sites for military purposes. The report states that while Kashmiri militants have used advanced weapons in the course of attacks on civilians and Indian security personnel, the militant arsenal has contributed to their ability to instill terror in the civilian population, particularly local Hindus, tens of thousands of whom have already fled the Kashmir Valley.

For strategic and historical reasons, Pakistan has a far more active interest in Kashmir than in Punjab or anywhere else in India. Pakistan has, over the years, established a programme of military training, weapons supplies and political support to assist militancy in Kashmir. Human Rights Watch has pointed out that it is widely accepted by Western and non-Western experts that the ISI of Pakistan is the "main body facilitating movement of weapons across the border to Kashmiri militants".

The US body’s equally significant finding: Muslim guerrillas fighting Indian Government in Kashmir have acknowledged that they are receiving arms and training from Pakistan as well as from Pakistan’s ISI. The level of Pakistani assistance has been substantial and steady since early 1994.

India's uranium mines facing dangers

By Amlan Home Chowdhury

The uranium fields of Jaduguda in Jharkhand, key to India’s nuclear programme, currently stands exposed to dangers as it has become the main target of the international terrorist outfits including AI Qaeda, global narcotic cartels, ’Islamic ‘Jehadis and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Immediately after the demolition of the World Trade Centre and partial damage of The Pentagon in USA, the Jaduguda mines became the target of pro-Taliban elements and the ISI-aided drug cartels of South East and South West Asia who now insist on getting payments in uranium in lieu of cash. Having their bases in Mayanmar, Thailand, Nepal,- Afghanistan and Pakistan, the global drug lords currently are taking payments for their psychedellic consignments in uranium because they can sell it to Pakistans nuclear centres at very high prices.

The two uranium-related events taking place in 2001 prove that the Jaduguda mines have become a victim of silent invasions from certain external quarters of the Indian sub-continent: find in a of the consignments of uranium in the hideouts of Islamic terrorists in Afghanistan and sending of anthrax- germ filled letters to Jaduguda.

In December 2001, several boxes containing highly radioactive uranium were abandoned by the fleeing AI Qaeda militants in their secret caves dotting Kandahar pocket of Afghanistan. That was the time when two Pakistani scientists were also arrested by the Afghan Government for allegedly helping the AI-Qaeda develop nuclear weapons. The abandoned uranium ‘probably, belonged to Jaduguda.

Owned by the public sector Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), the security around the Jaduguda-mines had always been extremely tight. However, the theft of radioactive uranium from the high-security mines had been going on for a long time. But the cases of theft suddenly took a massive spurt after 1988- 89 — the year when Pakistan launched feverish efforts to embellish its nuclear arsenal with lethal warheads, nukes and atomic weapons. The smuggling had been going on since 1978-79.

That also was the period when Pakistan frantically tried to globalise the issue of "Islamic Bomb". The declaration of war by USA on the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in 2001 further jeopardised the uranium mines.

The intelligence wings of Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal have already apprised the Union Home Ministry about the dangers faced by the Jaduguda mines due to ‘certain external forces’ who are eyeing on the radio-active elements. It now stands confirmed the uranium of Jaduguda is getting smuggled to Gen. Parwez Musharraf's Pakistan via Nepal and Bangladesh. The main route of uranium smuggling happens to be Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

The nature’s wonder material uranium can be used both for peaceful and destructive purposes. It is the basic raw material for the preparation of nuclear weaponry. India’s entire nuclear programme both for defense and peaceful purposes are dependent on the Jaduguda uranium mines of Jharkhand. This extremely scarce and rare material just cannot be found anywhere else in the country. As Jharkhand shares common boundaries with West Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, these states are-the main smuggling routes’ of this radio active material.

The three countries where the smuggled uranium is dumped are Nepal, Bangladesh and Mayanmar. From these countries, the uranium is sent to Pakistan mostly by drug lords, international arms dealers and terrorist outfits. It is no more a secret that the ISI acts as the main middle man in the uranium deals between Pakistan and the smugglers.

Very alarming it may sound, the international drug syndicates operating from Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Mayanmar, Thailand and other countries now insist on getting the payment in uranium in place of hard currencies or gold in their bid to maximise their profit margin. They sell the uranium to Pakistan that does not have any mines of the element. Poverty-stricken Pakistan pays the highest price to buy uranium.

After smuggling the uranium from Jaduguda, the consignments are sent to Nepal or Bangladesh via Jharkhand-Bihar-West Bengal route. It is also despatched to Mayanmar via North Eastern India through jungle routes. Manipur is the main base of the uranium smugglers as far as its dumping ground of Mayanmar is concerned. It is now known that the uranium is carried to Pakistan in the diplomatic bags that are not subjected to checks as per international covenants. The Nepalese capital Kathmandu, the biggest base of the ISI in South East Asia, now has emerged as the main underground market for uranium. The "Gray Uranium Market" of Kathmandu is now thriving due to Pakistani demand. It is suspected that the ISI pays upto Rs. four crore per kilogram of the uranium of "Jaduguda Grade" (JG). The JG is considered as the "best" in the world. No other uranium mine in Asia can match the Jaduguda fields.

The public sector Uranium Corporation of India Limited mines and processes the uranium. It prepares the ‘Yellow Cakes, from the uranium. It is these ‘cakes’ that are used in the nuclear reactors. The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre has set up an office and an unit in Jaduguda.

The change in the mode of payment for narcotics and use of the traditional ‘drug route, for sending the consignments of uranium to Pakistan proves that the demand for Indian uranium is rising sharply in that country to run its 15 nuclear centres. The uranium smuggling now stands interwoven with drug peddling the ‘carriers’ and couriers, of the consignments follow the ‘drug routes’ to Nepal, Mayanmar and Bangladesh.

The Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology is located in Rawalpindi. Pakistan also has uranium enrichment centres at Kahuta, Sihala, Golra Sharif and Wah. It also has a nuclear reactor at Karachi besides having "Nuclear Milling" centres at Issa Khel, Lakki, Dera Ghazi Khan and Lahore. While Pakistan’s heavy water centre is located at Multan, the fuel fabrication centre is based at Kundian. The nuclear testing site of Pakistan lies at Chagai Hills.

The nuclear programme bled Pakistan white in such a way that on June 7, 1998, the ousted Nawaz Sharief Government floated a "National Self-Reliance Fund’, (NSRF) to meet its soaring costs. The diplomatic missions in Nepal, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and other Islamic countries even installed sealed boxes, on their premises to collect donations a la an international faqir (mendicant). To collect funds under the NSRF, the Nawaz Sharief Government even went to the extent of appealing the top Muslim-led business houses in Pakistan and other Islamic countries to liberally donate to his nuclear programme.

The danger that Jaduguda mines faces can be fathomed from the fact that from 1989 to 2002 [ending June], there had been over 32 cases of uranium smuggling involving Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal. Though the Union Home Ministry had been instructing these four states repeatedly for the last 10 years to lay special emphasis on crushing the uranium smugglers, the stealing of the radio active element had been going on unabated. The issue now has taken a very tricky turn with uranium smuggling getting linked with the coal: different coal cities dotting Jharkhand and West Bengal currently are acting as dumping grounds of uranium. The coal smugglers and illegal coal miners too are getting involved in the uranium smuggling due to Jaduguda's close proximity to the coal belt in these two states.

The West Bengal Police unearthed an uranium smuggling ring at the tiny coal town of Salanpur. The kingpin of uranium smuggling Maheshwar Deo Singh was also arrested. A top agent of the ISI, Singh had been regularly stealing uranium from the Jaduguda mines and sending them to Kathmandu in Nepal and other countries of South East Asia through special couriers’. From him, the police could get some clue of the modus operandi of the uranium smugglers. The uranium consignments are first dumped into small coal towns immediately after their lifting from Jaduguda. From these cities, the consignments are clandestinely sent to other SAARC countries.