Harsha Kakar
Post the Pathankot terrorist strike, in a conference chaired by the Home Minister and attended by the defence minister, as well as the heads of various security agencies, a decision was taken to conduct a security audit of all security establishments in a time bound manner. Over the weekend, part of the details of the audit was announced. The attack exposed the inherent weaknesses which existed at the base, as also in a number of establishments of the military and the government,in terms of capable and trained security staff to deal with such attacks.
Like the air force base, which is primarily guarded by the Defence Security Corps (DSC), other important civilian establishments are guarded by the Central India Security Force (CISF). The DSC comprises of retired military personnel, drawn from all arms and services, who re- register for service post retirement. They are primarily responsible for static duty at the gates and various other observation towers. Due to being senior in age, as compared to serving personnel, their capability and ability to counter a strike is limited. Further, where establishments occupy large areas, parts of which are unused, thus resulting in wild growth of grass, there is a need for mobile troops, to physically patrol and monitor these areas. The CISF, visible at all airports, is also trained for security duties. However, when tasked to counter known terrorist attacks, their capability would be in doubt.
In Punjab and in J and K, most defence establishments are located on the main highway to Jammu. This is because this axis has been the main artery linking the state of J and K to the rest of the country. For security forces, defence of this axis would ensure that vital supply lines to J and K are always open. This axis is close to the border and any action to cut off this axis would threaten the movement of troops and supplies to the state and the forces deployed there. Most attacks by terrorists, including Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Samba have occurred along this axis.
In a recent letter, written by the army commander of the Western Command to the State Governments of J& K and Punjab, he has requested that the road from Dhar to Udhampur be developed as the alternate artery to the state. This road, being in depth, is automatically protected and secure, as also would ensure that an alternate route is open, even during hostilities, when enemy shelling could make the main road ineffective. Thus all future installations needing security could then be based along this axis.
Any security audit, to be effectively conducted, should be based on a possible threat perception. The threat perception could be under two different scenarios, one during actual hostilities and the other during peace time. During peace, the threat could be a terrorist strike as witnessed recently, whereas during hostilities, it could be a raid by Special Forces tasked to degrade the effectiveness of the installation. Therefore, prior to giving broad directions on the conduct of an audit, ideally the government should nominate a team, which would evaluate the worst threat, which could manifest against such installations under conditions of peace and war and then evaluate the preparedness.
For regular assessment of the capability of forces guarding important installations, there is a requirement to conduct realistic exercises to test their alertness. The same is regularly conducted at airports and other military installations. These ensure that those responsible for such tasks are aware and prepared to deal with any eventuality. They make the staff aware of their responsibility and expose weaknesses which are then rectified. It would also test the reaction and capabilities of first and second responders.
Simultaneously is the need to enhance reliance on electronic means to add strength to existing arrangements. Any deviation of change from normal patterns should immediately ring an alarm. In the case of Pathankot, two lights were facing upwards, thereby permitting the terrorists to enter. Had there been regular exercises and the staff well aware, this change from normal should immediately have rung an alarm, that something is not right, and needs to be corrected.
Each state and its security forces maintain a list of important installations, termed as vulnerable areas and vulnerable points.These are installations which could be targets for enemy strikes.Troops are earmarked to be deployed for their protection, whenever any threat inputs are received. In the last incident too, such troops would have been earmarked, however for varying reasons, were neither deployed nor moved into the area.
The Home Minister also remarked on enhancing the strength and capability of the NIA and other agencies. This again is a step in the right direction. However, what is of greater importance is to enlarge and strengthen the capabilities of intelligence agencies. The state and the centre have their integral agencies, working in the same area. While there are regular meetings on sharing of inputs, however coordination is lacking, as each tries to justify its existence and budget. Therefore valuable time is lost as inputs move first vertically before being distributed laterally, whereas actionable intelligence needs to be distributed laterally, simultaneously with the vertical channel. This is another key area which needs central intervention to ensure effective and immediate action.
A security audit in isolation is not the answer alone. Especially for a region, which has been struck many times in the recent past, there is a requirement of a holistic assessment and all relevant and co-related issues to be analysed. Only by a joint effort of the centre and the states could security be enhanced and casualties minimized in future terrorist attempts.
(The author is a retired Major General of the Indian Army)
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