Front PageAl Qaeda Declares Jihad On India
Submitted by K Prabhakar Rao on Mon, 06/18/2007 - 20:52. al qaeda india jihad kashmir
Prof Dr Colonel (retired) K Prabhakar Rao
The Kashmir problem has been Achilles heel in the Indian Sub continent ever since the two nations were created in 1947. Pakistan and India have already fought three major wars on the issue of Kashmir in 1948 (immediately after independence), 1965, 1971 and the fourth undeclared war of Kargil intrusion by Pakistani militants and regulars in 1999. Unable to win, Pakistan has resorted to export of terrorism in the valley of Kashmir and since nineteen eighties; the Kashmir valley has been engulfed in terrorist activities. Numerous terrorist outfits such as Lashkar e Toiba (LeT), Jaish e Mohammed(JeM), Tehrik-e-Hurriyat-e-Kashmir and Mutahida Jehad Counci (MJC), Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen (JUM) and Lashkar-e-Jabbar (LJ) ,Jammu and Kashmir Liberation front( JKLF) and many other lesser known militant outfits have been organizing terrorist attacks not only in Kashmir, but also in other parts of India as intimidating tactics. Army aided by Police and Para military forces has been battling these Pakistan backed terrorists in Kashmir. Now and then in past, there was news that Al Qaeda is making presence in Kashmir putting all in spin.
In the recent development, renowned Jihadi Group led by terrorist and criminal, Osama Bin Ladin Al-Qaeda on June 08, 2007 declared Jihad against India (Ailan-e-Jahad-e-Hind). In a statement Abu Abdul Rahman Ansari who claimed to be the spokesperson of ’Al Qaeda Hind' warned all Mainstream and Separatist political organizations to stop deceiving the people of Kashmir.
“With the blessings of Almighty Allah we declare a Jihad against the Indian occupation in Kashmir, and we warn the all political and militant organizations operating in Kashmir, not to mislead Kashmiris”.
Srinagar journalists received the copies of Video CDs in which the Al Qaeda spokesperson disseminated the message. This has sent shivers down the spines of all circles including the State and Central government and put the police and intelligence officers in spin. Army of course is putting a brave face in this respect claiming that there wsa no such threat. A video CD sent to the offices of a local news agency on June 07, 2007 apparently on behalf of the Al-Qaeda terror group declared holy war on India and named half-a-dozen local leaders on a hit-list. The VCD showed a lone masked man, who called himself Abu Abdul Rehman Al Ansari and who claimed to be the chief of Al-Qaeda in India.
“Al-Qaeda today declares ‘jihad’ against India and Jammu and Kashmir shall be the gateway for this jihad, “the speaker said. Police said they are still examining the video, sent to the local Current News Service, but they have previously denied the existence of Al-Qaeda in Jammu and Kashmir. “It is too early to comment on it. We are examining the CD,” A senior police officer said:
In July 2006, after a series of terror blasts in Mumbai, a statement issued to the media had claimed al-Qaeda presence in Kashmir, but the police had then dismissed any such presence, which continues to be their position (1).
The anti-Indian rebellion in Kashmir has claimed more than 42,000 lives, according to Indian government figures, while separatists say the death toll is twice that number. New Delhi says Pakistan arms the rebels, a charge Islamabad denies. Indian security officials in the past have recovered photographs of Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden from militants killed in Kashmir, but have rarely suggested a link between the rebels and Al-Qaeda. "Al-Qaeda has no presence in Kashmir," Syed Sadaqat Hussein, the spokesman for the region's sole militant alliance, United Jihad Council, said in a statement to the local Current News Service news agency on Saturday.Hussein described the claim as "deceptive”.
"There is no need or importance of Al-Qaeda in Kashmir," Hussain said, adding that Kashmiri militants were "successfully continuing insurgency against Indian rule over the past 18 years."(2)
Intercepts of telecommunication messages between militants in Jammu and Kashmir and their mentors in Pakistan suggested that cadres of the Al-Qaeda were present in the Kashmir Valley. Senior security officials engaged in gathering technical intelligence in the Valley said the intercepts were of communication between Lashker-e-Taiba ( LeT)cadres. The sources said that while some of them were hiding in the higher reaches of Bandipore in north Kashmir along with LeT "chief commander" Bilal alias Salahuddin, a few more were believed to be holed up in the forests of Budhal in Qazigund along the Jammu-Srinagar highway. Both these locations are strategically placed as the terrorists could flee to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir quickly in the event of any military offensive, they said (3). However in New Delhi, India's home ministry said "necessary inquiries" were being made and urged people to remain calm.” A close watch is being maintained by the state and central government agencies and action is being taken on a continuous basis to foil such designs. There is no need for any panic," it said (4).
Thus, we find that the present news and the CD sent could be a prank and to build fear in the State of Jammu and Kashmir and influence it’s progress negatively. Al Qaeda is feared world wide after it’s planned execution of attack on twin towers on Sept 9, 2001 in New York and the consequent developments in the world. America is conducting world wide hunt for the terrorists and Al Qaeda criminals and it was possible for a country like America to take up the hunt on such a large scale. India is a small country comparatively with no matching military capabilities to USA. It has no capabilities, will and abilities to hunt down the terrorists world wide in case of any calamity of WTC magnitude in India. It is unable to hunt down the terrorists within the country. On the other front, Pakistan that is next door has been a haven for the terrorists and internationally it is known that Pakistan has been abetting terrorism clandestinely and is the major abettor of terrorism in Kashmir. Al Qaeda criminals and leadership are harbored in Waziristan province. There are great chances for infiltration of these cadres into Kashmir via Pakistan. It is also possible that Pakistan would do its best to help AlQaeda plans against India (Kashmir). For Wahhabi leaders, Islamisation of world is the aim. India has been battling Islamic terrorism in different parts of the country and if Al Qaeda adds to the present list, situation would definitely turn grave. Automatically Pakistan clandestinely becomes the nerve centre for Al Qaeda activities against India duly cooperated and abetted by Bangladesh on the east. It can be expected that these Al Qaeda men would shift from Waziristan to inhospitable areas of Pakistan occupied Kashmir ( Gilgit and Hunza) to conduct operations and some could also cross over to Bangladesh. India with its vacillating policy against Pakistan has lost valuable time already and Pakistan went nuclear. In 1971 war, it lost golden chance of bargaining Kashmir areas in exchange of prisoners of one lakh strength who surrendered in East Pakistan. During 1965 war it raced to Lahore and did not capture it and India could have easily done it. It could have been a walk over. India gave- in to world pressure in 1971 and handed over one lakh prisoners back and withdrew from all territories. During Kargil war, it developed cold feet for attacking terrorist camps in Pakistan occupied Kashmir probably due to world opinion and allowed the intruders to escape back into Pakistan. Can India really counter Al Qaeda threat which would be more dangerous and planned at greater and severe scale? Can Gandhian policy of tolerance and non violence save India from another partition which is lurking around the corner in the form of Islamic Kashmir? The Organization has international support at different places with plenty of funds with the most favorable Pakistan next door. What else is required for them? India has to keep its fingers crossed and wait for a major disaster if it does not change its policy and remains cool thinking that everything is fine. God would help only those who help themselves.
Bibliography
1. Posted by Pamela Geller Oshry on Saturday, June 09, 2007 at 05:17 PMi in Global Jihad 2007, India: Fighting the Jihad | Permalink
2. Kashmir militants claim Qaeda’s presence, http://72.14.235.104/search?q=cache:0kMqyp8katEJ:news.yahoo.ca/s/afp/070610/world/india_kashmir_qaeda
+AlQaeda+shows+presence+in+Kashmir&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3
3. Presence of Al Qaeda The Hindu, Online edition of India's National Newspaper, Monday, Aug 14, 2006. http://72.14.235.104/search?q=cache:QoCx3a1oFgMJ:www.hindu.com/2006/08/14/stories/2006081413200100.htm
+AlQaeda+shows+presence+in+Kashmir&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4
4. United Jihad Council (UJC) rejects AlQaeda presence in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) OCCUPIED SRINAGAR (2007-06-09 22:56:51) , http://72.14.235.104/search?q=cache:EslT5_vqMdIJ:news.aaj.tv/news.php%3Fpg%3D3%26show%3Ddetail%26nid%3D69037
+AlQaeda+shows+presence+in+Kashmir&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=9
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Al Qaeda... India
India faces threat from AlQaeda and this is not new. The recent CD may be a prank as nothing much has been heard about it later on. However it does not mean India is safe. Independence of India itself has been based on the policy of division. India and Pakistan as one country would have been a formidable world power. However this did not happen and Pakistan has been created based on Hindu hatred and inability to adjust with majority Hindu population and fear of Hindu domination in undivided India. Thus hatred towards India is the hall mark of Pakistan and Bangladesh policy. Bangladesh that was created by shedding Indian blood has run into the embrace of Pakistan and this is because both are Islamic countries. These two nations are spears on each side of India ready to pierce at any time. Many Muslims who voted to Pakistan and favored Muslim league remained in India after independence taking advantage of India’s weak policy of founding of the nation. At the time of Independence, Vallabhai Patel (Former Deputy Prime Minister) a dominant Indian leader proclaimed clearly that Muslims are free to go to Pakistan. But once they decide to stay in India they can not have dual loyalties. Sadly his fears came true. A section of Muslims have identified themselves with foreign powers and exhibit more loyalty to Pakistan, Iraq, Iran and Saudi Arabia. What a national shame? Local terrorist and fundamentalist outfits have sprung up in India. Muslims by and large have withdrawn into tight communities in social groups. In various towns they have formed Ghettos and these areas are undeveloped, congested and breed crime and lawlessness. They have neglected education and resort to small time business and trades. Student Islamic Movement of India declared earlier that it would convert India into a Muslim land. These fundamentalists proclaim that India was ruled by Muslims and hence it belongs to Muslims. Foreign terrorist organizations have already infiltrated into India and have base in all towns where they have Muslims in strength. Al Qaeda in some form or other has already sneaked into India. AlQaeda organization even if enters India as perceived will not be at one place with a Head quarters waiting to be captured by Police. It will not be simple. With so many sympathizers in Muslims to destabilize and damage India, it will be an easy task to spread in India, hide un noticed and carry out their activities. Till date Hyderabad Police have not been able to identify the culprits for Mecca Maszid blasts in the city leave alone catching them. It will be a Herculean task for Indian Intelligence or Police to catch and eliminate Al Qaeda in India. The neighboring countries offer good sanctuaries to their cadres. They can easily infiltrate into India and also escape. Culprits could easily place bombs on Bombay trains, blast off Samjhuta train going to Pakistan, attack Parliament, attack Raghunath temple in Jammu. Attack Jammu and Kashmir assembly, Attack military camp at Kaluchak near Jammu, attack Akshardham temple in Gujrat and many more black deeds. With present policy of appeasement of Muslims can India really prevent Al qaeda entering India? They are not going to arrive by Indian air lines or in a motor car across the border. India would be guessing about them and by that time they would have spread everywhere. The present terrorist organizations probably would be having links to it through middlemen. It can not be denied. Al Qaeda theology is very inspiring to the terrorists. Probably current terrorsit attacks could be the outcome of AlQaeda origins. Al Qaeda has been identified with WTC calamity and probably India could be anticipating such tragedy with AlQaeda intervention in India. In most of the African nations AL Qaeda is inspiring local terrorists to carry out attacks on Govt establishments, oil pipe lines, market places , ports etc. India has to be extra alert. It could not hang Afzal who was the master mind in attack on parliament till toady, what is preventing his hanging? Is the nation scared? These politicking in national security would lead India to disaster. India already has been bifurcated once by the mistaken policies and appeasement methods. Unless it takes harsh decisions, India would disintegrate and dissolve.
Dr K Prabhakar Rao