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India-Pakistan
A myth is now exposed
2007-07-07
By KPS Gill

The involvement of some Indian doctors and engineers - conclusive evidence in two cases is yet to be disclosed, but there now seems little doubt that one of the perpetrators of the attack on Glasgow Airport, Kafeel Ahmed, is an Indian engineer - has once again dramatically exposed the infirmities of India's orientation towards Islamist terrorism, the manner in which it is perceived and projected by the national leadership, and the counter-productive tyranny of political correctness and undercurrent of apologetics that dominates most approaches.

Tremendous political and emotional capital had long been invested in the asinine argument that there was something radically different about Indian Muslims that had prevented their engagement in any act of international terrorism. The truth, on the other hand, is that a number of Indian Muslims have long been mobilised and engaged in acts of terrorism on Indian soil - consequently there was no inflexible psychological barrier against their engagement in acts of terror per se - and it was only a matter of time before some of these individuals did, in fact, find the context and opportunity for participation in an act of terrorism abroad. This has now come to pass, and needs to be confronted directly, and not in the defensive and often evasive manner that is largely evident in prominent Indian statements after the disclosures regarding the involvement of Indians in the UK attacks.

By now it should be unnecessary - but regrettably is not - to state that none of this reflects in any manner on the larger Muslim community in India. The engagement of a handful of deviants in acts of terrorism cannot undermine the fact that an Indian Muslim population of 150 million has overwhelmingly rejected the Islamist radicalism and terror that has actively and aggressively been promoted by Pakistan on Indian soil for decades.

Nevertheless,we should recognise that Islamist terrorism is, and has for some time now been, a reality in India, and it is no use saying 'don't label Indians'. Indians have engaged in these actions and this reality must be confronted if we are to understand - and eventually neutralise - the dynamics that underlie these acts of terrorism. We should accept, equally, that a significant element within the Indian diaspora has long supported and funded terrorism in India and has been closely linked with Islamist extremist ideologies, and some elements within this diaspora have now planned and executed acts of terrorism abroad as well. These are elements that should have been under strong surveillance for a long time, and at least some acts of terrorism could be prevented by effective monitoring. Intelligence inputs are of critical significance in counter-terrorism, and the orientation of intelligence services is, in this sense, crucial. If a political culture of obfuscation and denial dominates the orientation of intelligence and enforcement agencies, we will repeatedly be caught off guard.

Even today, nearly 12 years after my retirement from the police, I continue to get information through private channels and well-wishers abroad on the activities of various radical and terrorist groups, particularly in Europe, the US and Canada. If private individuals have such information of subversive and extremist activities, intelligence and enforcement agencies cannot be unaware of them. But they are inhibited in their actions precisely by the political injunctions against 'labelling' or 'causing offence' to 'a community'. But the fact is that Islamist terrorism is squarely rooted in radical Muslim populations and institutions - just as Khalistani terrorism was rooted in radical Sikh populations and institutions. This is something that must be recognised and addressed, instead of pampering or offering a constant apologia for the 'larger community'. Such an orientation undermines counter-terrorism responses everywhere. There is a constant fear of 'offending' a 'particular community', and this cannot and must not be the basis of response to specific acts of subversion or terror.

Take the case of Mohammed Afzal's death penalty in the Parliament Attack case. The man has been found guilty and sentenced to death. A clear message needs to be sent out that such acts of terrorism will meet with no clemency. As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said in another context, "There can be no political compromise with terror. No inch conceded. No compassion shown." Yet, there is a clear policy of indecision and delay in this case. Indeed, in December 2006, in an obvious effort of obfuscation and justification of delay, Home Minister Shivraj Patil stated in Parliament: "Statistics of the past 10 years reveal that on an average it takes seven years to decide upon a mercy petition. The law will take its own course." This is arrant nonsense. These decisions take so long, not because of procedural or legal requirements, but because of policies of deliberate procrastination and sheer neglect.

The underlying concern in the Afzal case appears to be the appeasement of the 'Muslim community'. But in thinking that Indian Muslims would be 'appeased' by clemency to the likes of Mohammed Afzal, advocates of such a policy do grave injustice to, and deeply insult, this larger community. Mr Manmohan Singh has noted, "A terrorist is a terrorist and he has no religion or community." But the actions, statements and orientation of his Government put such a perspective continuously in doubt.

There is an urgent need to look closely at the dynamics, the patterns, the networks and the processes of Islamist terrorist mobilisation wherever they occur, without the imposed inhibitions of political correctness and appeasement of particular communities. Many acts of terrorism could be neutralised long before they occur if action is taken at the right time against the processes of subversion, and the organisations engaged in radicalisation.

It is not enough to lose sleep over the trauma and predicament of the families of terrorists. The crisis of belief and education in this country, and across the world, should far more be a matter of national and international concern. If educated men are able to misread history in such a manner and to engage in acts of terrorism to vicariously punish nations and communities, this is a terrible slur on our educational system.

It is also necessary to pay close attention to our youth in India and the diaspora, to see that they do not lose contact with civil society, and are not drawn into the dark and conspiratorial world of organisations drawn from 'Osama territory' - radicalised Arab and Pakistani elements. All this demands intellectual clarity, and not the patterns of justification and apologetics that have dominated the perspectives of India's feeble intelligentsia.

KPS Gill is the former Director-General of the Punjab State Police. He is credited for crushing the Khalastani insurgency in the 1990s. He is widely feared by criminals throughout India because of his "bullet for bullet" campaign that saw thousands of terrorists simply 'disappear'. He dismisses calls for a 'political solution' for terrorism, noting that Sikh terrorism did not end because of political negotiations. It ended because his policemen killed all of the terrorists.
Posted by:John Frum

#10  Dino, for a long time the leftist governments in India were hostile to the US and very cozy with the USSR. That's changing, but there are still significant pockets of influence in India who dislike the growing alliance w/ the US.
Posted by: lotp   2007-07-07 19:41  

#9  Indian Muslims carry out less acts of terror because they have been made aware that there is a cohesive network of Hindu militants who would exact revenge if they did. Nevertheless, Deoband is a hotbed of Islamofascism. As is Gujurat. Muslims are passive when they have to be; aggressive when they have the numbers.

Note: Pakistan's borders contained about 20% Hindus at Partition; that has been reduced to 1%.
India's borders contained 8% Muslims at Partition; that has increased to 15%. America is friendlier to Pakistan than it is to India. That is f---ed up!
Posted by: Dino Pholuque2950   2007-07-07 18:12  

#8  I like the garden snakes on my property. They keep the rodent population in check and are otherwise harmless. Would hate to kill them off *if* the occasional viper nest could be cleaned out otherwise.

Without wishing to be argumentative, what if your garden snakes looked exactly like the vipers? Would you be willing to osrt them out if the only way to do it was by paying $100.oo per snake to make the determination?

Delicately sorting between whatever "moderate" Muslims there are and the radical they have such a difficult time bringing themselves to out on their own would likely require 27—7 surveillance of each suspect individual. Just as with my observation regarding your snake analogy, the expense of sorting through them would be prohibitive.


Irshad Manji mentions in her article, "Religion is the root cause of terrorist threat":
Although the vast majority of Muslims aren't extremists, it is important to start making a more important distinction: between moderate Muslims and reform-minded ones.

Moderate Muslims denounce violence in the name of Islam but deny that Islam has anything to do with it. By their denial, moderates abandon the ground of theological interpretation to those with malignant intentions, effectively telling would-be terrorists that they can get away with abuses of power because mainstream Muslims won't challenge the fanatics with bold, competing interpretations. To do so would be admit that religion is a factor. Moderate Muslims can't go there.

Reform-minded Muslims say it's time to admit that Islam's scripture and history are being exploited. They argue for reinterpretation precisely to put the would-be terrorists on notice that their monopoly is over.

Ms. Manji has it right. After over a half-decade of deafening silence, being a "moderate" Muslim no longer carries any weight. Through their continued silence they have unadmittedly or intentionally facilitated Islamic terrorism.

Through inaction "moderate" Muslims have evolved into being part of the problem. There is so much that they could do to assist in the eradication of terrorism and yet so little is done. While a snake may not be able to change its stripes, Muslims can agitate for change here in the safety of America's legal system.

Unfortunately for all concerned it would seem that America's—and the world's—"moderate" Muslims have chose to play chameleon instead. They adopt whatever protective coloration suits their own aims best without regard for the well-being of their host country. Protection of Islam outstrips any possible appeal to a sense of loyalty or patriotism.

I am not prepared to have our government spend untold billions patiently sorting through Muslims who refuse to voluntarily differentiate themselves on no uncertain terms. The ambiguity that they purposefully cultivate—even if by default—is intolerable. They have no problem posing a gigantic drain upon our overburdened social services structure yet cannot bring themselves to be supportive of the government that provides those selfsame vital services.

This sort of Muslim ingratitude is repeated upon the world's stage each and every day. It signifies only one thing, a deep and abiding allegiance to Islam above all else and a refusal to actively pursue reformation of this intolerant creed.

Ms. Manji is absolutely right to discern between "moderate" Muslims and reformers. Only one of them can claim to be part of the solution. Far too many American Muslims elect to remain part of the problem and for that willful lack of cooperation they need to begin paying a penalty. The deafening silence of "moderate" Muslims facilitates terrorism and is therefore wholely unacceptable.
Posted by: Zenster   2007-07-07 17:59  

#7  Brownistan looks increasingly likely.

I'm waiting till he does something really cowardly.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2007-07-07 13:21  

#6  Hey Bright Pebbles, I was thinking you used to sign as "Bright Pebbles from Blairistan." Is it now "Bright Pebbles from Brownistan?" Just curious. Lot of fun with Brownistan, eh?
Posted by: JohnQC   2007-07-07 12:20  

#5  " He dismisses calls for a 'political solution' for terrorism, noting that Sikh terrorism did not end because of political negotiations. It ended because his policemen killed all of the terrorists."

I think this guy has figured it out!

Al
Posted by: Frozen Al   2007-07-07 11:37  

#4  The one difference, Dan, is that there has never been a Muslim government here

There never been a Muslim goverment in "Palestine", lotp---doesn't stop "Palestinians" from being most enthusiastic, if not the brightest, Muzzi terrorists.

IMO, the only thing that can prevent Muslim terrorism is fear of retaliation. That's why there are "classical" terrorist attacks in Spain & Britain but only SJS in USA and car burnings in France.
Posted by: gromgoru   2007-07-07 09:21  

#3  > Oh, I know that loonies will claim that once there's a mosque anywhere, they should have full rein for shari'a

That's why mosques should be removed from civilisation.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2007-07-07 09:14  

#2  The one difference, Dan, is that there has never been a Muslim government here, as opposed to the Muslim conquest and rule of much of the Indian subcontinent for centuries.

Oh, I know that loonies will claim that once there's a mosque anywhere, they should have full rein for shari'a etc. But that has zero resonance among the (yes) moderate Muslims I know.

Could that change? maybe. Are the nutso fundamentalists among us who are dangerous as vipers if allowed to be? You bet - and the Sauds among others are nurturing them and feeding them bile. Nests need clearing out.

OTOH I like the garden snakes on my property. They keep the rodent population in check and are otherwise harmless. Would hate to kill them off *if* the occasional viper nest could be cleaned out otherwise.

Wipe out the terror networks, hard and thoroughly. Gotta agree we've been less than convincing on that.
Posted by: lotp   2007-07-07 08:24  

#1  I'm afraid the same can (will?) be said about US muslims. Right now, we say the same kinds of things as the Indians:

. . . there was something radically different about Indian Muslims that had prevented their engagement in any act of international terrorism.

It's the pundits who say that the US has done a good job of assimilating muslims. But frankly, that's just commentary. All we really know is that they haven't done anything. Yet.

What we DO know is that there are many angry muslims in the US with the same propensity to seethe and blame. We do know that US mosques preach the same wahabbi bulls*it as all the other ones.

So, I'm not convinced that our muslims are "different."

I guess we'll find out.
Posted by: PlanetDan   2007-07-07 08:16  

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