Diplomatic dissonance

The arrest in Dhaka of Anup Chetia could mean a significant breakthrough in the crackdown on terrorism in Assam. This general secretary of t...

The arrest in Dhaka of Anup Chetia could mean a significant breakthrough in the crackdown on terrorism in Assam. This general secretary of the extremist ULFA has a long list of charges against him in India, including sedition, murder, gun-running and extortion. His capture will not necessarily end the ULFA8217;s mayhem since it is well-supplied with weapons, cash and leaders.

But the unequivocal act of putting a key figure like him on trial would be a major psychological blow to the group. It could lead to other arrests and invaluable information about cadres, arms caches and supply lines. Above all, it would demonstrate the Government of Assam8217;s determination to root out terrorism and end the long official ambivalence in dealing with the ULFA.

Such a message is essential if the security forces are to perform more effectively than hitherto.But before the alleged mastermind of several ULFA operations ever sees the inside of an Indian jail again, Bangladesh must be persuaded to extradite him. The Union Home Ministry is said to have alerted the authorities in Dhaka several months ago about Chetia8217;s false documents.

He has now been caught and held for not possessing a valid visa. Since he knows his way about that country well and investigations anywhere in the subcontinent take years, Chetia may be able to enjoy the safety of Bangladeshi custody for a long time. Although India and Bangladesh do not have an extradition treaty which would have simplified and speeded up matters, they agreed last year to cooperate to prevent cross-border terrorism.

Under that accord Bangladesh was preparing to hand over Naga and Manipuri insurgents two months ago. So there should be no real difficulty in sending Chetia back to India. But to avoid unnecessary delays and possible complications, it should not be left to the existing mechanism of the joint working group set up by the two governments to deal with the issue.

There is a good case here for more of the kind of Gujral-style high-level diplomacy which succeeded in getting the Bangladesh Government to take some appropriate action for the first time against cross-border extremists.A big test of improved relations between the two countries would be the handling of the Chetia file. He is, after all, one of the most wanted extremists in India.

Red tape, bungling by lower echelons of the Bangladesh security forces or pique over unrelated subjects should not get in the way. That said, it would be quite in order for Dhaka to ask in turn whether the authorities in India are quite serious this time about letting the law take its own course. When the Assam Government chose to let Chetia and others off in the past, despite major charges against them going back several years, it was hardly an advertisement for its respect for the law.

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So, it can legitimately be asked, why should Dhaka be asked to cooperate in a process that lets dangerous terrorists loose to carry on their mischief on both sides of the border? There will be qualms and suspicions on both sides. Considerable diplomacy will be required to lay them to rest.