Beware, bin Laden News Archive News

Osama bin Laden's threats should not come as a surprise to India's security agencies. It has been known for some time that the Saudi mill...

September 20, 1999 12:00 AM IST

3 min read

Osama bin Laden8217;s threats should not come as a surprise to India8217;s security agencies. It has been known for some time that the Saudi millionaire and religious fanatic was aiding and abetting terrorist outfits with Afghan links operating in Kashmir. Some of the groups he supports may even now be trying to sabotage the elections there with more bombings, killings and kidnappings. But there is one thing that is remarkable about bin Laden8217;s jehad statement in Jalalabad and it is that India now ranks second only to the US in his list of enemies. This sudden and dramatic elevation requires an explanation and one does not have to look far to find one. India has become a prime target because New Delhi is perceived to have become close to the US on issues related to countering international terrorism. Washington accuses bin Laden of masterminding the bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania last year and has named him one of the world8217;s worst terrorists. A number of recent developments show that the Indiangovernment is preparing to work in tandem with the US in areas which could affect bin Laden and his hosts, the Taliban.

Bin Laden and company would certainly have paid attention to what was said by Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh at a BJP party briefing early this month. He said India would no longer accept 8220;supinely8221; what was happening in Afghanistan but would henceforth pursue a 8220;proactive8221; policy on that country. At the time of this statement Indian and US officials met to discuss Afghanistan in what was probably the first structured dialogue on the subject. A few weeks later a senior US official was in New Delhi to discuss international terrorism with Indian officials. These are among the latest signs that India and the US have a common interest in setting up counter-measures against terrorism originating in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region. At some stage, India and the US will no doubt want to explore, if they have not already started doing so, the possibilities of joint action.

It is inanticipation of some such developments that threats have been issued from Jalalabad. There is nothing to be alarmed about but Indian security agencies will have to work harder to counter the terrorist threat. Recent experience suggests intelligence-gathering is not the problem so much as analysis and assessment of intelligence reports and rapid distribution of information to those who need to act on it. Greater vigilance is essential. One thing is certain. If bin Laden thinks he can turn the mixed bunch of mercenaries, fundamentalists and militants who operate out of Pakistani training camps into a united and disciplined force with one aim, he is very mistaken. He is bound to find sooner rather than later that his pockets are not deep enough to satisfy the demands on him. It is also possible that international pressure will change the Taliban8217;s mind about hosting 8220;wanted terrorists8221;. It is clear that there are many levels at which international terrorism can be combated. But there is no scope forcomplacency.

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