Abbottabad, a long way from New Delhi

India, considered a soft State, has yet to evolve US-like hard hitting policy

The Americans have shown to the world that they are the leaders, who can avenge any wrong done on their soil or to them.
A small platoon of SEAL commandos barged into terror-infested military-controlled Pakistan, kill Osama bin Laden and coolly fly off. The 40-minute raid will be recorded in world history as an operation that changed the world’s power dynamics.
Apart from displaying US supremacy to the world, the Abbottabad operation exposed the true face of Pakistan led by bigots and fanatics.
It is not only shameful for the Pakistani military but also criminal on the part of Generals who call the shots in that part of the land where Kalashnikovs are as common as cell phones when they were just getting introduced ten years ago in India. Everybody who has an AK-47 flashes it, and those who don’t go to Peshawar, Lahore, Quetta to buy rifles and pistols off the shelf, just like they buy an aspirin in Islamabad.
Osama bin Laden was staying in luxury in the backyard of the military district with all the facilities at his command. He was reportedly suffering from kidney problems. He needed medical care. The Pakistani Army was unquestionably supporting, protecting and looking after Osama like it does with hundreds and thousands of Osamas who dot the landscape.
Terrorism is the mainstay of Pakistan, widely considered the most dangerous place on earth. Writer Salman Rushdie has called for it to be declared as a terrorist state. Former cricketer Imran Khan acknowledges that the situation in Pakistan has gone out of control.
Pakistan today is not a country that can to be trusted by the comity of nations. Governance is negligible. Pak-occupied-Kashmir and Gilgit are two separate entities. Balochistan, FATA, NWFP and Punjab (Pak side) are infested with guns. The Americans have been using drones to kill terrorists but bombs don’t know the difference between a jihadi and a peaceful citizen.
Sooner or later, some warlord, tribal chief or even army general is going to announce running away with a part of Pakistan to form his own country.
It is no wonder that Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani warns India not to even think of “any misadventure” as he said it would lead to a catastrophe. Gen Kayani is like a weakling, who gets slapped by a strong, muscled dada on the street, and looks at the non-intrusive watcher saying man you don’t mess with me. The tough dada is still standing there ready to slap!
Undoubtedly a neighbour who is on the path of destruction, has nothing to lose, or is controlled by terrorists who maintain a military-clad façade, is a very dangerous neighbourhood to live in. It is time to beware of men of Rawalpindi!
Anyway, the point is Gen Kayani need not spend sleepless nights over a possible American-like Abbottabad attack by Indian forces. His useless bravado is aimed at addressing a humiliated audience rather than scaring Generals in New Delhi.
General Saab, India is also not considered a soft state for nothing. She will not require Pakistan’s bombs and guns like in Kargil and repeated terror-strike. On the contrary, the more you, or ISI or LeT or JeM strike, the stronger India becomes. It brings people together, it unites regions and castes and religions.
Ironically, the problem is more of political nature in India juxtaposed by a consortium of intelligence babus mired by a rotten executive structure that is unable to deliver. The politico-intelligence-babus nexus is making the country a weak and soft nation.
Our exemplary track record underlines that our national interest is just kept outside the purview of South Block. Safety, security and welfare of the citizens are of virtually of less importance.
Indian politicians arm its revolt groups by getting guns dropped in Purulia. The Lativan crew were pardoned and released. Peter Bleach too was released by a presidential pardon, allegedly due to persistent British pressure.
Anti-India and Khalistan protagonist Jagjit Singh Chauhan has been living as a free Indian citizen in Punjab, after almost dividing the people into Hindus and Sikhs and breaking up the country.
After hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight, India let off three top terrorists one of whom went on to head the JeM. Attacking Kandhar was not even a viable option discussed by security mandarins on Race Course Road when the political leadership was discussing exchanging civilians with terrorists and ransom money.
Terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir or North-East, who kill Army soldiers, are allowed to surrender and become respectable citizens, given Government jobs or even join the security forces. The Indian Government is in peace talks with NSCN and Ulfa, the two outfits that created havoc in the N-E. Chinese successfully ‘adventure’ into India and threaten Ladkahi farmers.
If India had to react, the military should have done after 7/11 Mumbai train blasts or after 26/11 strike by Kasab and his team. Or for that matter, India could have gone for hot pursuit and got Dawood Ibrahim in Karachi or hundreds of terror camps along the Line of Control.
But why Pakistan, India even failed to act against Paresh Baruah of Ulfa who was reported to be in Bangladesh for nearly two decades. India shares open borders with Bangladesh, who has been intermittingly treading Pakistan’s hostile path. What did the Indian military do?
Historically, India has never taken a tough stand except in Sri Lanka and that too when the Tamil Eelem leaders, trained by Indian military crossed the official brief.
Sadly, administratively, the country is on a sticky wicket also. So General Saab, fret not over India’s design, for it has not any.
The political will of a strong nation has yet to evolve. We are the land of Gandhi and not Subhash Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh, who do not even get a national holiday on the respective Jayantis’. Till we celebrate January 23 or September 28 as national holidays, Pakistan be assured of no surgical strikes on the part of India. And if it happens, when it happens, God save Pakistan!

Who is to blame for the mess?

A man recently lost his life due to traffic mismanagement in place for the convoy of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who had to attend the Congress party plenary at Burari in Delhi.
This is not the first death due to traffic blockages in place for the PM and that too when he did not take the route. Two other deaths have been reported, one from Chandigarh and another in Kanpur, due to traffic blockades of the PM. Perhaps, this will not be the last, if adequate measures not adopted and soon at that.
Without questioning the need of security for the PM, it raises a pertinent question – Do we value the life of a citizen of the country? If yes, has anyone been held responsible for the deaths? Why has no officer or the PM been held guilty of murder? Who is to blame?
Why can’t we have systems that enable unhindered movement of the PMs and also respect the right of the citizens to live and move freely, and not die or at least reach emergency services in time?
The answer lies in the fact that we do not value the life. A death is just a small news item or a passing mention in the briefs.
We are still living in the mindset of British slavery. Today, in our system, we treat district magistrates as lords and police officials at unbridled dictators. Judges and netas are Gods. Bow down mister, or else…
That leaves us - you and me in a crappy hole. Just run a reality check. We travel in overcrowded buses and metros, bear stench of open nalas, walk in uncleaned streets, beg gas wallahs to deliver our cylinders, traffic is in a mess and we plead cops not to challan … all because most of the bureaucrats and leaders are lethargic, corrupt and work in self-centered mode. Corruption is omni-present and bribe is the way to get your file moving. Governance is in pits. A day in the life of the nation is filled with greed, graft, bribery, dirty money. We are still rated among the most corrupt in the world. Human rights, not the Arundhati-Kashmir variety type, are only for thesis papers.
Corruption at the top – 2G scam, CWG… Corruption at the bottom – at the thana level or in the courts. Can you get a driving license made without getting through the dalal? You have paid the court staff to even see your court file? Can you get a government contract without paying good percentages upfront? Nah, I not only doubt, but am pretty certain that exceptions apart, money is the rule of the game.
So if one of us dies, who cares?
Take it easy. We all have our faults. Its not so bad, argue many who always like to see the picture through the prism of air-conditioned logic.
Why blame the system, since it is so rotten and so irreversible that you too have become a part of it. Agreed, we all have paid bribes or resorted to some sort of corruption somewhere. But we have to stand up.
They take advantage of us being disunited. We have to take the responsibility, here and now. It will take a revolution, perhaps a civil war to cleanse this rot. Perhaps, it will take a few decades but lets start. Today! Dayafter we can reap the benefits and not die because the bloody PMs have to suck the nation’s thumb.

Lahore Attack - Time to move

Pakistan once got the taste of its bitter poison when the terrorists killed eight cops while ambushing the convoy in which Sri Lankan cricketers were travelling.
According to Indian intelligence experts, LTTE with support from Markat-u-Mujahideen is possibly carried out the attack. Though the terrorists failed to get to their targets (the cricketers), they killed eight people, including a driver.
Pakistan is on the verge of being declared a failed state and it is just time before the Taliban/al Qaida and other groups openly start ruling the Muslim mindset. from Lahore to Peshawar or Karachi to Gilgit.
The Americans are already actively operating in parts of Pakistan with impunity. The Pak military and the ISI can do little stop to the Americans, except getting NATO vehicles burnt by crony militants.
Ironically, our home minister P Chidambaram says the terrorists could plan something dramatic during elections.
The question is what the hell is the government of India doing to stop Pakistan and the terrorists from taking any steps against India? Indian babus and mantris have to stop working against the interest of the nation and start taking Pakistan, the ISI, terrorists and even the US (if it comes to that - but this cannot happen) head on.
India will have to respond, and soon.