GUWAHATI, Feb 17 - It is high time India prepares a proclaimed counter-terrorism doctrine and only reactive actions will not bring an end to killings, said noted security analyst Lt Gen (Retd) DB Shekhatkar. He also lamented the fact that till date, India does not have a clear cut policy to deal with terrorism and insurgency.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, Lt Gen Shekhatkar, who had dealt with insurgency for a long time as a Major General in Jammu and Kashmir from 1995 to 1997 and as a Lieutenant General commanding the 4 Corps of the Army from 1998 to 2001, said that the country must have a clear cut declared policy to deal with terrorism and insurgency. He pointed out that India�s security policy is always reactive and action is initiated only after an incident occurs. He said that the policy to deal with terrorism and insurgency must be pro active and insurgents should be dealt with before they manage to strike.
Lt Gen Shekhatkar also said, �terrorism in Kashmir, insurgency in North East and activities of Maoists in the central part of the country etc have become cottage industries and many people including some political parties and a section of people working in the system of governance are getting benefits from it. That is why, it is more difficult to deal with the problem. Moreover, no matter which party is in power at the Centre or in the concerned states, no Government is trying to root out insurgency and they are only trying to manage the situation.�
Expressing his concern over the recent gruesome attack in Kashmir, Lt Gen Shekhatkar pointed out that it is time, the Government of India tries to go to the root of the problem so that terrorism can be rooted out. He expressed the view that from the way the suicide attack was carried out proved that must have been planned for months. Moreover, the suicide attacker was fully aware of the movement of the CRPF convoy and it is clear that someone must have been giving a running commentary on the movement. On the other hand, immediate efforts should be made to find out the owner of the vehicle. He also pointed out that such huge quantity of sophisticated explosives must have been brought from Pakistan in small consignments.
The security analyst also pointed out that the whole country is now condemning the attack, but the unfortunate fact is that whenever there is no major incident in any of the insurgency hit states, the Government and the security forces lower their guards. He expressed the view that some political parties of Kashmir also thrive on insurgency and they do not want that to end.
Lt Gen Shekhatkar said that Pakistan is fighting a proxy war against India and insurgency in Kashmir would come to an end the day Pakistan stops supporting the insurgents. He pointed out that America hunted out Osama Bin Laden after three years of the twin tower blasts and eliminated him. India must adopt such a kind of approach to instill fear in the minds of the leaders of the terrorist groups who are instrumental in killing innocents by sitting in other countries.
