Epilogue Press

ADNI/ G BHARAT
Is it possible that China, in its unrelenting march towards the pole position, is crushing everything that comes in the way, including neighbours like India. Our veritable PM had recently remarked that India should be prepared to deal with the new Chinese “assertiveness”, probably referring to the Chinese ‘String of Pearls’ policy, which experts feel, could choke India soon! One would not want to accuse the PM of being alarmist. However, when the normally unruffled ‘Doctor of Economics’ spoke disquietingly of ‘paying close attention to global powers exercising influence in the Indian Ocean Region’, it was assumed that he was genuinely concerned about China’s growing role. India’s closeness to the USA is the reason for China to become much more aggressive towards India Hence today, even the US is wary of the Red Dragon’s growing military capabilities and the opaqueness surrounding its new long-term intentions. For India, though its really a wake up call to act against the Chinese game plan.
Coming to the recent provocations, the continued presence of Chinese troops in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), is a cause of anxiety to New Delhi, forcing it to start strengthening infrastructure along the border. “Chinese presence in Gilgit-Baltistan and the Northern areas is increasing steadily. There are many who are concerned about the fact that if there was to be hostility between US and Pakistan, what will be the complicity of the Chinese. Not only they are in the neighbourhood but the fact is that they are actually present and stationed along the LoC”, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen K T Parnaik had remarked recently, while addressing a seminar in Jammu. As if in confirmation, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said the Defence Ministry had been asked for a detailed report on the presence of Chinese troops in PoK and their alleged transgression into Indian territory. She further added that, “there is no point in trying to raise the temperature and to accentuate tension, because that is not the way to deal with such matters”.
Another cause of worry is that China has been developing infrastructure in the border region opposite India in the Tibet & Xinjiang Autonomous Regions. This includes the Qinghai-Tibet railway line, with proposed extension up to Xigaze and Nyingchi, and development of road and airport facilities. Beijing is laying a web of roads that run across areas as distant from each other as Skardu in PoK and Kunming in China near Burma border. China has already constructed roads connecting all its highways to logistic centres and major defence installations, that dot the border with India and the LAC in southeastern J&K.
We are all aware that China has already built a railway line right upto Lhasa in Tibet and plans to extend it into Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan. While all this speaks volumes about the Chinese establishment, it is also a scathing comment on the Indian leadership which has allowed China to build roads and railways leading right to our doorstep –a serious threat indeed! But our leaders continue to be obsessed with one troubled western neighbor in an effort to please one trans-Atlantic country, all the while ignoring friends, both existing and potential ones, in the region. Need one say more!
India’s suspicions that China’s Army is now securing its land route to the Arabian sea via PoK have nonetheless grown, given that China has also wrested control of the Gwadar port back from the Singaporean Port Authority. These developments are meshed with the fear of India being choked by a ‘strategic string of pearls’ – a US Defence department term for China’s ambitions for bases in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) with Gwadar in Pakistan, Hambantota in Sri Lanka, Chittagong in Bangladesh, and the Sittwe port in Myanmar as the mainstays of the policy.
Coming closer, to Nepal, Chinese interference to influence its policy makers is in continuance of its plan to encircle India and establish its influence in this small but strategically important, Himalayan state, which will ultimately lead to loss of India’s hegemonic presence in South Asia. The problem with India is that it always has maintained distrust of the Nepalese political establishment. This is unfair. Its not easy for the Nepalese policy makers to be anti-India, because, a large number of Nepalese depend on India for their bread and butter. China is also occupying a substantial space in post-LTTE Sri Lanka through economic aid. In Myanmar it is an all China affair, where due to its blessing, the military junta has managed to survive for so many years.
Its not that China is encircling India, rather it is also actively challenging India’s sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh and also Kashmir. It criticized our PM’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh in 2008 ,and actively stopped the grant from the Asian Development Bank, which was required to fund its hydel projects. Now, assertively it is poking its nose in the affairs of J&K also. The denial of visa to Lt. General Jaswal was part of this gameplan.It is also issuing stapled visas to people from J&K and Arunachal Pradesh, because it considers these areas as its part ; so its residents do not require visas to visit China.

China has also deployed nuclear capable missiles facing India near to its eastern border with India, which is not normal. The building of Karakoram highway and rail lines, connecting Pakistan side of Kashmir with China, can be easily used to mobilize the Chinese troops near the Indian borders, adjoining Pakistan.

The growing closeness of India with America is a source of tension to Chinese policy makers. It clearly wants to stop the active American presence in Asia. The recently held US-Vietnam war exercise in its backyard has confirmed its worst fear-that US is not going to leave Asia for China. Vietnam is not a power which matters most to China because it does not have enough military and economic infrastructures to challenge its potential. But India has potential to challenge its global as well as continental hegemonic presence.

For India’s policymakers, it was only after 1962, that a realization dawned that it will be difficult for two divergent systems to co-exist and cooperate, and this has shaped India’s strategic preparedness for any future threat from China. “Increased economic inter dependence between the countries could act as a counter balance to avoid future conflict,” says a strategic affairs expert. As if for proof- India’s trade with China now occupies the second spot, even ahead of the US.
To mend the broken fences, China is thus, trying to win over its estranged neighbour. During his recent India visit, the Chinese Premier had made an oblique pitch for defence cooperation, saying, “China is ready to work with India to intensify exchanges and multi-level consultations between political parties and in the military field, to enhance political and strategic mutual trust.
Finally, it can be said in hindsight, that it’s the fault of our leaders, that China has marched so far ahead of us. Right from Pandit Nehru to the present day leadership, everyone has aimed for occupying global platform, thus ignoring the region. They have forgotten the lesson that every power has to be regional hedgemon first then a global power, which has proved blessing to Chinese, who are occupying the political space in South Asia by outdoing India. By doing this, they are also containing India within its region. It’s time that Indian policy makers awoke from their slumber and became more assertive towards China. Otherwise, they should be ready to lose the tag of regional hedgemon to minions like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Thanks to Dhoni and his team, at least we beat them on the cricket field!—(ADNI)

BIKASH SARMAH/ADNI
Both the Centre and the Assam Government would describe the expression of desire by the Arabinda Rajkhowa faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to join the mainstream as one of the greatest success stories in the drive against militancy in Assam, but the fact that the outfit’s all-powerful self-styled commander-in-chief, Paresh Baruah, continues to be on a terror mode must prompt both New Delhi and the new government to be formed at Dispur, after the Assembly election results are out on May 13, to ponder as to whether peace could be durable without Baruah’s participation in the peace process.

The other question, more importantly, is whether in the prevailing unemployment scenario — Assam has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country — peace is possible at all. The huge and swelling crowd of the unemployed and the unemployable lot form a community that Paresh Baruah & Co finds it easiest to add to its rank and file. After all, militancy or terrorism, euphemistically called ‘insurgency’, is a wonderful career option for the community in question. And the likes of Baruah are classic players when it comes to exploiting the fact of unemployment and unemployability in a State notorious for being one of the most corrupt ones in the country, which is responsible for lack of development, unemployment, resentment against the system, and the consequent drift of the frustrated youth towards terrorism.

There are reports that the anti-talks faction of the ULFA led by Baruah has launched a recruitment drive across the State in an attempt to regain the lost ground. Intelligence sources have been quoted as saying that the group has recently recruited at least 50 youth from the upper Assam districts of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Jorhat and Golaghat and the twin north bank (of the Brahmaputra) districts of Lakhimpur and Dhemaji.

As reported, the ULFA anti-talks faction is targeting youth from different ethnic groups, particularly Morans and Muttocks, as also the tea community. Paresh Baruah is from the Muttock community. The group is trying to exploit the growing anguish among ethnic communities like Muttocks, Morans, Tai-Ahoms, Chutias and Sonowal-Kacharis, as well as the tea community, against government apathy. These communities have been demanding ST status for quite a long time. The tea community of Assam can be considered one of the most backward in the whole country. There are also reports of Maoists trying to ramify in Assam by taking advantage of the chronic poverty and backwardness of the tea community. This community has only been treated as a vote bank, especially by the Congress.

The government, both at the Centre and in the State, cannot afford to overlook the Paresh Baruah factor, the fact of unemployment and unemployability, and the deep resentment among the disadvantaged sections of the society against the system. Short-term gains, as are being attempted by initiating peace processes with the ULFA without its real boss’ participation, as well as with other militias in the State, without solving the problem of unemployment, weeding out corruption at all levels of governance and administration, and without addressing the genuine grievances of poor and backward people, will only be to the advantage of political executives; the State will only lose.

That an elected government should refuse to draw lessons from events across the world and be still unwilling to prioritize development politics, is sickening. There would not be Naxalites, for instance, if there were reasons for them to believe that they were citizens of a functioning democracy before their non-state avatar — it is another matter that they have now mutated to terrorists who must be defeated, but even as they are being defeated the government must ensure that the parallel track of development politics is firmly in place.

In fact, a functioning democracy or a welfare state precludes rebellion from erupting by virtue of its dedicated pro-people systems; it does not wait for rebellion to take a solid, terroristic shape and then ponder possible solutions — something which has happened in India, especially in the Northeast with disastrous consequences.

But where are the signs that our political executives are prepared or willing to change their trajectory?—(ADNI)

Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shanker, who is also member of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, that pilgrimage duration is strictly according to religious scriptures and 15 June date declares by some groups is a bad omen.
In a statement, Sri Sri said “It has come to my notice that some people are creating rumours that the board came under pressure from anti-religious elements to curtail the duration of the Yatra. As a member of the Sri Amarnathji Shrine Board, I would like to say that these allegations are baseless.
The date of commencement of the Yatra was determined with a view to ensuring, as far as possible, that the Yatris are not stranded as in the past. The date was also determined to secure the safety and convenience of lakhs of pilgrims who travel long distances, from various States in India to undertake this holy Yatra.
Considering the weather pattern during June in the past years, the Shrine Board was not inclined to commence the Yatra before 1st July. However, the Shrine Board decided that the pilgrimage should begin on 29th June 2011 as this day is a Wednesday, Maasa Shivratri, Rohini Nakshatra and Subha Yoga, which is good for the commencement of the holy Yatra.
I appeal to all those who are planning to undertake the forthcoming Yatra to start the Yatra on 29th June. 15th June which is Jaisht Poornima day is not a good day for commencement of the Yatra as it is Dwanksha Yoga.
I also request people not to be swayed by rumours and not to do anything that would disrupt the peace and harmony of the region.
The Shrine Board has issued detailed guidelines for all intending Yatris to seek Registration for undertaking the Yatra on a specific date and preferred route from 29th June 2011 onwards.
I once again request all yatris to cooperate with the decision of the Shrine board and not to play into the hands of those who want to disturb the peace.

GHAZUNFUR BHATT/ADNI
The arrival of spring in Kashmir is keenly looked forward to by the people in the state, as also in the rest of the country. For those in the state, particularly in the Kashmir Valley, it is the time when gardens bloom, fruits ripen and tourists arrive.
This year, the arrival of spring has seen the state holding Panchayat elections after nearly a decade in Jammu and Kashmir.
The last Panchayat elections in 2001 had varied participation in different regions of the state. While it evoked a good response in Jammu and Ladakh, with participation ranging from 70 to 80 percent, elections in the Kashmir Valley were called a ‘paper exercise’, with participation ranging from 32 percent in Srinagar to 48 percent in Baramula. Kupwara was an exception with 66 percent participation.
The Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and the All Party Hurriyat Conference urged people to boycott the elections.
When Panchayat elections were announced this year, speculation was rife as to whether people would participate. The All Party Hurriyat Conference asked people to boycott the polls.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah sounded the right note at the start of the elections by saying the elections were an exercise in the decentralization of the administration.
Over 80 per cent people cast their votes, even in villages dominated by the Hizb-ul- Mujahideen. People participated in elections, even after militants brutally murdered a lady candidate.
The response of the people indicated, as Dr Manmohan Singh said on the occasion of National Panchayat Diwas in the capital, that people wanted to decide their fate themselves.
The new Panchayat leaders will have a say in the running of schools and hospitals and the state government would need to ensure that funds allocated are spent for the purpose they were meant for.
Militant threats did not deter people from participating in Panchayat elections, and this clearly indicated that separatist influence is on the wane in the state.
It would be wrong, however, to assume that people are satisfied with the status quo.
As indicated by the three central government appointed interlocutors — Dileep Padgaonkar, Radha Kumar and M. M. Ansari — people want a change, but that change differs from region to region.
The interlocutors have met over 500 delegations from different parts of the state, and a majority of them hold the view that a political settlement in Jammu and Kashmir must ensure unity and territorial integrity within the Indian Union. All delegations have demanded a fresh delimitation of constituencies based on the criteria of the size of the area and population.
The interlocutors also offered to meet the separatists, but the All Party Hurriyat Conference barred the separatists from meeting them. They asked separatists to send them their published documents which explained their stand on political settlement in the state, but in vain.
It is time that the interlocutors understand that separatists have little to offer. They do not represent anybody except themselves and some of them are receiving directions from their patrons from across the Line of Control.
The interlocutors could meet Moulvi Abbas Ansari, the suspended Hurriyat leader. Ansari reacted to his suspension by saying that it was ‘Azadi’ for him and the Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen to come out of the Hurriyat.
He told the interlocutors that he favoured a dialogue and added that for it to be meaningful, it should be acceptable to all parties – India, Pakistan and the Kashmiris. He also wanted the security forces to remain in their camps.
Dileep Padgaonkar has denied a report that says the interlocutors are likely to recommend that the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir should be elected and that the Chief Minister should be called Prime Minister.
The interlocutors have been able to establish that they are apolitical and are keen to find solutions to the various problems confronting the state. They are convinced that the people of the State want more autonomy and the three regions in the state want a change in the status quo. In the final analysis, that would mean delegating powers to the three regions.
It would also be necessary to create institutions to empower the regions. Before finalizing their report, the interlocutors will hold two roundtable conferences at Jammu and at Srinagar.
It is a wiser Omar Abdullah who would be looking forward to a peaceful spring and summer in Kashmir.
Past experience shows that even the slightest excuse is good enough for emotions to be roused. The state went through turmoil in April over the granting of the ‘Dogra certificate’, which was supposed to help in recruitment to the security forces by relaxing physical standards. The desire to gain political mileage fuelled an explosive situation.
In the final analysis, Jammu and Kashmir wants ‘Azadi’, which means different things to different people. In the final analysis the state wants ‘Azadi’ from the terrorists who promote violence.—(ADNI)

EPILOGUE PRESS
Srinagar, May 09 – The Planning Commission of India has fixed May 23, 2011 for Working Group Discussion for Annual Plan 2011-12 for Jammu and Kashmir State to be held at New Delhi.
In the wrap up meeting, the State Government team of officers will be led by Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal and the team of Planning Commission by B. K. Chaturvedi, Member Planning Commission. The date for high level meeting between the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission and J&K Chief Minister will be communicated immediately after the May 23 meeting.
The Planning Department in order to help boost execution of development programmes has authorized utilization of 50 percent of outlay of 2010-11 for the ongoing schemes included in the Annual Plan 2011-12 vide its order dated 29.04.2011.
As a result of this the authorization for both revenue and capital components is now 50 percent of the last year’s outlay. The authorization in respect of capital expenditure has been increased from 25 percent of last year’s outlay authorized previously vide Planning and Development Department’s order dated 01.04.2011.

EPILOGUE PRESS
Srinagar, May 09 – Dedicating next six months to ‘work’, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Monday urged the Council of Ministers and Administrative Secretaries to focus on good delivery of governance, administration and development.
“Attention to the public requirements should be the first response of the Political Dispensation and Civil Administration keeping law and order machinery on back seat”, he said. “The day to day grievances of people on account of electricity, drainage, roads, water supply, etc should be addressed by the concerned departments on priority and promptly without getting these inflated as law and order problems”, he asserted.
Addressing the joint meeting of Council of Ministers and Administrative Secretaries here on the first day of opening of offices after Annual Darbar Move, the Chief Minister said that the vision envisioned by the political dispensation for all round development of the State has to be realized and implemented by the administration putting in befitting efforts.
“When competence, experience and judgment are put together to address the issues and carry forward the development agenda, there should be no option of any failure on the part of administration”, he said adding that any administrative lapse ultimately finds its way to the political dispensation and ends at the door steps of the Chief Minister. “Any failure starts with you and ends up with me”, he said stressing on pro-active dealing by the administration to ensure meaningful results of schemes for public good and responding to the public needs.
“I do not shy away from responsibility and admitting mistakes if any. I also do not believe in micro-managing. My over all job is to feed the directions. The Ministers and the Administrative Secretaries are competent enough to deliver effectively and efficiently”, he said adding that the ultimate goal should be to reach out the people and ensure success of development process.
On Panchayat elections, the Chief Minister said that the transfer of functions, functionaries and funds should follow the elections. He directed the Urban Development Secretary to formulate the schedule for the elections to the urban local bodies adding that the current fiscal should be the year of empowering people at lower levels and strengthening the democratic institutions.
Omar Abdullah underlined the need for operationalizing the Public Service Guarantee Act to ensure timeline delivery of important services to the people adding that it would make the administration prompt and help curb red tap and malpractices. He asked for strict adherence to the procedures and rules by the government departments while making decisions regarding the development works. “Temptation of taking easy routes often land us in trouble while tougher routes make the tasks perfect”, he said asking for measures to effectively curb the corrupt practices at all levels.
“People have enormous expectations with the government and they have faith that the delivery of services on all fronts would improve year after year. We have to come up to their expectations and be pro-active and responsive to the public requirements”, he said.
The Chief Minister specifically directed the R&B department for taking measures for early completion of road upgradation and improvement works in Srinagar city. “I know the people in the city face lot of inconvenience for want of good road communication. The last year’s unrest has caused great harm to the development of road sector. I want immediate action this year to set the roads right and redress the grievances of citizens”, he directed.
Highlighting the importance of regular tours by the Administrative Secretaries to the villages and far-off areas, Omar Abdullah said that the first hand information gathered during the visits would help them work out area specific and need based development strategies. He said that he has also asked the Ministers to make tours to various areas as a regular feature of their working schedule. He, however, said that the tours by the officers should not hamper the working at their headquarters. “You have to balance your visits with the working load at the headquarters”, he told the Administrative Secretaries.
Speaking in the meeting Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand said that the development strategy of the coalition government has started showing results on grounds and further impetus is required to push up the pace on works.
Tara Chand said that the last year’s losses due to disturbance have to be made good by putting in additional efforts and gearing up administration at all levels. He said the Omar Abdullah led government is committed to the welfare and equitable development of the State and administration has an important role to play in this direction.
Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal in his speech presented the resume of development agenda and said that the next six months would be focused on faster development. He pinpointed the guidelines for carrying forward the development process and reaching out the people in all areas on development fronts.
All the members of council of ministers and administrative secretaries were present in the meeting.
On his arrival in the Civil Secretariat, the Chief Minister was received by the Members of Council of Ministers, senior officers and representatives of employees union. He was given guard of honour by the J&K Police contingent. He also addressed a press conference.
The Chief Minister inaugurated Core Computer Centre in Planning Department, Computerized Clerical Halls of AIR, Education and Health Departments. He also opened 16-room Forest and Rural Development Unit besides 11-room block for Education Department in the Civil Secretariat. These constructions have been made by the Estates Department during the last six months at a cost of about Rs. 2 crores.

KALYANI SHANKER/ADNI
India does not need to be soft while dealing with terrorism or terrorists sheltered by Pakistan. Nor should India’s politicians reduce national interest to what will fetch them votes in elections.

While announcing the elimination of Osama bin Laden, US President Barack Obama has said with satisfaction that “justice has been done” to the 9/11 victims. It took almost 10 years for the US to relentlessly pursue the Al Qaeda leader and kill him in his hiding place in Pakistan in a dramatic manner.

Mr Obama and the Americans have much to rejoice. They have been able to teach a lesson to those who dared to attack the US. For them the security of every American is more important than anything else. While the Republicans and the Democrats are politically opposed, they work in unison where national security is concerned. In fact, the US law-makers have already begun to put pressure on the Obama Administration to get Islamabad’s explanation about the presence of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. The US has provided more than $20 billion in aid to Pakistan since 9/11. But Washington, DC needs Islamabad for its Afghan strategy.

Mr Obama is sure to get a second term for his courageous decision to go after Osama bin Laden hiding for the past five years in a villa surrounded by houses of retired Pakistani military officers in Abbottabad, 60 km away from Islamabad. However, the extent of collusion between Osama bin Laden, the Pakistani military and the intelligence agencies is a matter of debate.

Is there a lesson for India to learn from the elimination of Osama bin Laden? What about justice to our own victims of the Mumbai terror attack? What about justice to the victims of the Parliament House attack in which security guards and Parliament staff gave their lives while dealing with the terrorists.

One might argue that New Delhi has adopted the due process of law. Agreed that these culprits have gone through the judicial process but why is not justice being done after the courts have pronounced the death sentence to Afzal Guru who has been held guilty of plotting the attack on Parliament House? The mercy plea is still awaiting a presidential decision. How come Dawood Ibrahim, mastermind of the Mumbai 1993 bombings, is walking free in Pakistan?

Already people have started questioning the delay in punishing Afzal Guru and the murmurs will grow further in the coming months after Osama bin Laden’s killing. India’s political class is hesitant to use force to punish terrorists. India’s military chiefs had suggested surgical strikes across the border after the Mumbai terror attack and Parliament House attack but the political leadership on both occasions lacked nerves and capitulated under pressure from the US and other foreign Governments.

Unfortunately, the politicians seem to be confused about justice to the culprits and their vote-bank politics. This is true of Afzal Guru or Ajmal Kasab as the politicians worry more about their votes rather than giving exemplary punishment to the terrorists. The national parties like the Congress and the BJP are seen to be pleading for or against the punishment to Afzal Guru, keeping in mind their vote-banks. What is the religion of terrorists? Things that affect the national security should not be confused with religion or vote-banks. Politicians should allow the law to take its own course. India should learn a lesson or two from the Americans and the Israelis who have shown time and again that non-state actors who indulge in terrorism will not be tolerated.

Second, Osama bin Laden’s exit and the way he was eliminated has provided an opportunity to India to send a message to Pakistan and the world on 26/11. It is bound to put pressure on the Manmohan Singh Government to rework its Pakistan policy as well as AfPak policy. As Mr Obama and his Secretary of State, Ms Hillary Clinton, hinted after the announcement of killing of Osama bin Laden, it is clear that the Americans need logistical support of Pakistan to deal with Afghanistan while Pakistanis need the American dollars for improving their economy and military strength. This mutual dependence on each other is going to continue for some more time and therefore the US will not push Pakistan beyond a point. New Delhi must use this opportunity to impress upon Washington and the international community the need to force Pakistan to deal with other terrorist outfits in a firm manner. Otherwise, Osama bin Laden may be dead but the jihadi terrorism may continue.

Third, while the US can declare with satisfaction that it has hunted down Osama and killed him, there is no such relief for New Delhi as we are still expecting Pakistan to deliver to the perpetrators of Mumbai terror attack. Moreover, proxy war on the Kashmir border still continues. Now is the time to build international pressure on Islamabad to deliver perpetrators of 26/11-terror attack to justice.

It is clear that so long as the Pakistan Army controls there could be no real change in India-Pakistan strategy. When the ISI could manage to keep out the American agencies from discovering the hiding place of Osama bin Laden for five years, how can one expect that it would deliver Lashkar-e-Tayyeba? One lesson from the American experience is that New Delhi should also explore other avenues, as simply depending upon Pakistani authorities is not going to yield results.—(ADNI)

WILSON JOHN/ADNI
America ignored evidence of Pakistan being a rogue state for over decade — to its own peril. But after Sunday’s Abbottabad operation, Washington has to answer to the community of nations why the ISI shouldn’t be declared a terrorist entity.
Even the last excuse for not declaring Pakistan Army and its intelligence arm, Inter Services Intelligence Directorate, as global terrorist entities, disappeared with the two bullets that killed world’s most wanted terrorist, Osama bin Laden, in a house adjacent to Pakistan Military Academy in Abbottabad, just about two hours drive from the ISI headquarters in Aabpara, Islamabad.
As per the guidelines prescribed by the UN Security Council Committee Concerning al Qaeda and the Taliban and Associated Individuals and Entities (Resolution 1267{1999}), five conditions are necessary for any entity to be listed under the Sanctions List of Terrorist Entities — 1) Participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing or perpetrating of acts or activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf of, or in support of al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden or the Taliban, or any cell, affiliate, splinter group or derivative thereof; 2) supply, selling or transferring arms and related material AQ, OBL or the Taliban, or any cell, affiliate, splinter group, or derivative thereof; 3) recruiting for AQ, OBL, or the Taliban or any cell, affiliate etc: 4) otherwise supporting acts or activities of AQ, OBL, or the Taliban etc; and 5) Other acts and activity associated with AQ, OBL, or the Taliban, etc.
Participating in the financing, planning: The fact that Osama bin Laden was living in the protective custody of ISI for over five years should fulfil this first condition. There may be doubts about how much did the Army know about the US Special Forces’ covert action in Abbottabad in the wee hours of May 2 but there cannot be any doubt that the Army was well aware of Laden’s safe house near the military academy. Abbottabad is not only a garrison town but also the headquarters of a Brigade belonging to Army’s 2nd Artillery Div. (Gujranwala XXX Corps). Interestingly, it also houses Army’s Mountain Warfare School where Special Services Group commandos are trained in HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) courses. Several senior retired Army officers have residences in the district which also has quite a few military establishments and officers’ messes.
A mysterious building of the magnitude of the Waziristan Haveli, as the locals called it, could not have come up without alerting the local intelligence, Army and police officials. By all accounts, the Waziristan Manzil was constructed in 2005, a period when Pakistan Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani was the head of ISI and was part of the CIA-ISI operation to hunt down Osama bin Laden. Kayani, who succeeded in getting close to General Pervez Musharraf, and Pentagon after the 9/11 attacks, was largely instrumental in protecting ISI’s ‘strategic assets’ among the terrorist groups. One such asset, as recent events have revealed, was al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.
The direct role of ISI and Pakistan in the Mumbai attacks of November 2008 and the July 2008 attack on the Indian Embassy in Kabul should be regarded as ‘perpetrating of acts’ in conjunction with AQ, Laden and Taliban. The aim of both the attacks was to help AQ and Taliban escape the intense military offensive launched by the western forces in Afghanistan-Pakistan areas by creating a ‘hot spot’ elsewhere.
Supplying, selling or transferring arms to AQ, Taliban: Besides Osama bin Laden, Pakistan Army and ISI have been hand in glove with the Taliban for over 10 years, helping them with safe houses, recruitment bases, training and weapons. Their alliances have been effectively documented not only by the Indian security agencies but also by different western security and intelligence agencies. Of the several documented nexus between the Taliban-al Qaeda and ISI, a less known instance is worth quoting here. Well known Pakistani author Ahmed Rashid quoted a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) report on Operation Medusa (September 4-17, 2006) in Panjwal district, Afghanistan, which accused the ISI of shoring up the Taliban’s military capability. So intense was the firefight that the Taliban, according to NATO, used 400,000 rounds of ammunition, 2,000 rocket-propelled grenades and 1,000 mortar shells. The ammunition dumps discovered by the NATO and Afghan forces revealed that the Taliban had over 2 million rounds of ammunition in Panjwal alone. The NATO force captured 160 Taliban, most of them Pakistanis who detailed the ISI’s support for the Taliban, including setting up two training camps outside Quetta. It was also revealed that the Taliban recruits were housed and indoctrinated in madrassas run by radical groups supported by ISI.
Recruiting for AQ, Taliban and affiliates: It was during Kayani’s tenure as DG ISI that new training camps were set up in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for terrorists leaving for Kashmir and Afghanistan. In June 2006, reports emerged about the fresh recruitment drive launched by the terrorist groups and the sprouting of training camps. Dozens of aspiring recruits from Khyber Pakhtunwa and FATA towns were sent each month to training camps in Wana in South Waziristan. According to the report, at least three major terrorist groups maintained their liaison and recruitment offices in the Timergara area of Lower Dir District. These included the Hizb-ul Mujahideen (HM), Al Badr Mujahideen, renamed as Al Suffa Foundation, and LeT, renamed as Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD). For instance, after the October 2005 earthquake in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) when terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Tayyeba (LeT) lost their training infrastructure and other facilities it was ISI which facilitated the mass transfer of LeT cadre and leadership to safer areas of Dir and Upper Dir in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These camps were utilised to recruit cadres for the Taliban and al Qaeda forces fighting the western alliance in Afghanistan.
Supporting AQ, Taliban etc: In fact, Kayani, contrary to the image he has managed to create in the western capitals of a professional soldier, has been assiduously cultivating terrorist groups as ‘combat reserves’, protecting them from international scrutiny and allowing them to recoup and regroup in different parts of Pakistan. When al Qaeda and Taliban leaders and cadre fled the US bombing of their hideouts in Afghanistan after 9/11, Kayani was the Director General of Military Operations in charge of the US-Pakistan alliance in the Global War on Terror. It is now fairly well documented that al Qaeda and Taliban managed to eke out a sanctuary on both sides of Durand Line between 2002 and 2007, the period when Kayani was DGMO and DG ISI.

As DG ISI, Kayani was also responsible for the release of over 2,000 terrorists arrested from different parts of Pakistan on American insistence. Among them were Harkat-ul Mujahideen chief Fazlur Rehman Kahlil (December 2004) and Harkat-ul Jihad al Islami chief Qari Saifullah Akhtar (May 2007), two of the Afghan jihad veterans who were instrumental in reorganising terrorist strategies and operations on behalf of the Army. Akhtar was an adviser to Taliban chief Mullah Omar till October 2001. No less important is the fact that a close confidante of Akhtar was Illyas Kashmiri, whose role in several recent terrorist incidents is no secret.

In fact, there is no dearth of evidence to prove that Pakistan and ISI could be declared as terrorist entities. The Abbottabad incident has only added weight to an urgent need to impose severe sanctions on these two entities if the world wanted to be rid of the scourge of terrorism.—(ADNI)

Wilson John is Vice-President and Senior Fellow, Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi

Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda, and a terrorist who’s responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women and children.
It was nearly 10 years ago that a bright September day was darkened by the worst attack on the American people in our history. The images of 9/11 are seared into our national memory. Hijacked planes cutting through a cloudless September sky.
The Twin Towers collapsing to the ground. Black smoke billowing up from the Pentagon. The wreckage of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania where the actions of heroic citizens saved even more heartbreak and destruction.
And yet we know that the worst images are those that were unseen to the world. The empty seat at the dinner table.
Children who were forced to grow up without their mother or their father. Parents who would never know the feeling of their child’s embrace.
Nearly 3,000 citizens taken from us, leaving a gaping hole in our hearts.
On September 11th, 2001, in our time of grief, the American people came together. We offered our neighbours a hand, and we offered the wounded our blood. We reaffirmed our ties to each other and our love of community and country.
On that day, no matter where we came from, what god we prayed to or what race or ethnicity we were, we were united as one American family. We were also united in our resolve, to protect our nation and to — to bring those who committed this vicious attack to justice.
We quickly learned that the 9/11 attacks were carried out by al Qaeda, an organisation headed by Osama bin Laden, which had openly declared war on the United States and was committed to killing innocents in our country and around the globe. And so we went to war against al Qaeda, to protect our citizens, our friends, and our allies.
Over the last 10 years, thanks to the tireless and heroic work of our military and our counterterrorism professionals, we’ve made great strides in that effort. We’ve disrupted terrorist attacks and strengthened our homeland defence.
In Afghanistan, we removed the Taliban government which had given bin Laden and al Qaeda safe haven and support. And around the globe, we worked with our friends and allies to capture or kill scores of al Qaeda terrorists including several who were a part of the 9/11 plot.
Yet, Osama bin Laden avoided capture and escaped across the Afghan border into Pakistan. Meanwhile, al Qaeda continued to operate from along that border and operate through its affiliates across the world.
And so shortly after taking office, I directed Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA, to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority of our war against al Qaeda. Even as we continued our broader efforts to disrupt, dismantle and defeat his network.
Then last August, after years of painstaking work by our intelligence community, I was briefed on a possible lead to bin Laden. It was far from certain. And it took many months to run this thread to ground.
I met repeatedly with my national security team as we developed more information about the possibility that we had located bin Laden hiding within a compound deep inside Pakistan.
And finally, last week, I determined that we had enough intelligence to take action and authorised an operation to get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice.
Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties.
After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body.
For over two decades, bin Laden has been al Qaeda’s leader and symbol and has continued to plot attacks against our country and our friends and allies.
The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat al Qaeda.
And his death does not mark the end of our effort. There’s no doubt that al Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must and we will remain vigilant at home and abroad.
As we do, we must also reaffirm that the United States is not and never will be at war with Islam. I’ve made clear just as President Bush did shortly after 9/11 that our war is not against Islam. Bin laden was not a Muslim leader. He was a mass murderer of Muslims. Indeed, al Qaeda slaughtered scores of Muslims in many countries including our own.
So his demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity. Over the years, I’ve repeatedly made clear that we would take action within Pakistan if we knew where bin Laden was. That is what we’ve done.
But it’s important to note that our counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan helped lead us to bin Laden and the compound where he was hiding. Indeed, bin Laden had declared war against Pakistan as well and ordered attacks against the Pakistani people. Tonight I called President Zardari, and my team has also spoken with their Pakistani counterparts. They agree that this is a good and historic day for both of our nations. And going forward, it is essential that Pakistan continue to join us in the fight against al Qaeda and its affiliates.
The American people did not choose this fight. It came to our shores and started with the senseless slaughter of our citizens. After nearly 10 years of service, struggle and sacrifice, we know well the costs of war.
These efforts weigh on me every time I, as commander in chief, have to sign a letter to a family that has lost a loved one or look into the eyes of a service member who’s been gravely wounded.
So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when our people have been killed. We will be relentless in defence of our citizens and our friends and allies. We will be true to the values that make us who we are.
And on nights like this one, we can say to those families who have lost loved ones to al Qaeda’s terror, justice has been done.
Tonight we give thanks to the countless intelligence and counterterrorism professionals who’ve worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome. The American people do not see their work nor know their names, but tonight they feel the satisfaction of their work and the result of their pursuit of justice.
We give thanks for the men who carried out this operation, for they exemplify the professionalism, patriotism and unparalleled courage of those who serve our country. And they are part of a generation that has borne the heaviest share of the burden since that September day.
Finally, let me say to the families who lost loved ones on 9/11, that we have never forgotten your loss, nor wavered in our commitment to see that we do whatever it takes to prevent another attack on our shores.
And tonight, let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11. I know that it has, at times, frayed. Yet today’s achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people.
The cause of securing our country is not complete, but tonight we are once again reminded that America can do whatever we set our mind to. That is the story of our history. Whether it’s the pursuit of prosperity for our people or the struggle for equality for all our citizens, our commitment to stand up for our values abroad, and our sacrifices to make the world a safer place.
Let us remember that we can do these things not just because of wealth or power, but because of who we are, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
Thank you. May God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.