| by B. Raman
( November 21, 2012, Chennai, Sri Lanka
Guardian) Before the execution of Ajmal Kasab, the Pakistani terrorist of the
Lashkar-e-Toiba (LET), who had participated in the 26/11 terrorist strikes in
Mumbai, at Pune on the morning of November
21,2012, our security agencies must have examined the likelihood of
retaliation by jihdi terrorists in Pakistan and India and strengthened security
precautions to prevent retaliatory attacks.
The LET and the organisations
associated with it would want a quick retaliation. A retaliation without at
least some preparation may be difficult in Indian territory outside Jammu and
Kashmir . Quick retaliation might be possible in J&K and in Afghanistan.
Terrorist elements in J&K, on their own or at the instance of the LET, may
try to retaliate quickly . In Afghanistan, the LET, the Haqqani Network, the
Taliban and the Hizbe Islami (HEI) of Gulbuddin Heckmatyar have the necessary
ground capability for quick retaliation against the Indian Embassy in Kabul and
Consulates elsewhere and against Indian nationals working in construction
projects. Strengthening physical security in J&K and Afghanistan should
receive the highest priority.
The other area requiring attention
would be the Indian High Commission in Islamabad which could become the target
of attack by the LET, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and other organisations.
In Indian territory outside J&K,
it is my present assessment that immediate attention has to be to the Indian
Mujahideen and the remnants of the LET and the Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami
(HUJI), including the Rohingya Muslims who are members of the HUJI. Immediate
retaliatory attacks could be in the form of random explosions, wherever
explosive materials are available.
The execution of Kasab was reportedly
carried out in a Pune jail. We have had a number of terrorist attacks in Pune
since 2010 which have remained unsatisfactorily detected. Pune still has
sleeper cells unneutralised. Quick retaliation should, therefore, be possible
for them in Pune.
The security for our Embassies abroad
also need to be strengthened.
I have been in receipt of requests
from some TV channels for appearing on
their shows to give my views. I have decided not to respond to their requests in protest against
the recent lionisation of Pervez
Musharraf by the channels.Preparations for the 26/11 terrorist strikes in
Pakistan by the ISI started when he was
still the President of Pakistan, though he had left office by the time the
attacks were carried out.
Moreover, all our TV channels
conspired to cover up the adverse observations of the Supreme Court on the
irresponsible way they covered the 26/11 terrorist strikes without any
discussion on them. The Supreme Court passed these strictures while confirming
the death sentence on Kasab.
(The
writer is Additional Secretary (retd), Cabinet Secretariat, Govt. of
India, New Delhi, and, presently, Director, Institute For Topical Studies,
Chennai, and Associate of the Chennai Centre For China Studies. E-mail:
seventyone2@gmail.com Twitter
@SORBONNE75)
 Before the execution of Ajmal Kasab, the Pakistani terrorist of t...){kind=link}