SUMMARY OF REVIEW OF the BOOK:
INDIA, PAKISTAN, and the
SECRET JIHAD by
Praveen Swami by AJIT DAVAL in " The Hindu "
PART II
Terrorism
Mr Swami has marshalled authentic richly beefed up historic
material which amply give evidence to the course of this UNDECLARED war by
PAKISTAN and broadly classified under five categories
1 First the “Informal War” following accession of the state to India,
2 subversion in the 1950s,
3 subsequent developments leading to the infamous “Kashmir Conspiracy Case”,
4 Infiltration of saboteurs in 1960s under operation “Gibraltar”, and,
finally,
5 the sponsoring of high intensity terrorism during the last decade and a
half.
The trail reconstructed by him brings out an uninterrupted continuity in
Pakistan’s thinking and action( minus a brief gap following its decisive
defeat in the 1971 war ).
Although the tactics and tools, sophistication and lethality of weapons used,
the intensity and extent of logistic and infrastructural support, and selection
of targets were upgraded particularly during General Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq’s
regime and after, the underlying strategy remained unchanged.
Nuclearisation has further emboldened Pakistan to raise the ante of its
long-running covert offensive. The Kargil War was a manifestation of this
strategic estimate
Pakistan , is working on the premise that India would confine its response to
localised action and not escalate it to risk a nuclear war
. India’s response to nuclear blackmail by Pakistan remains an issue that
Indian strategists will have to ponder over seriously.
Pakistani’s tinkering 'with Kashmir’s politics through the propping up of
outfits and leaders supportive of its position, another issue carefully
documented in the book, are also issues that remain sources of concern.
New insights
,
Swami uses new facts to build an absorbing and informative account that
offers new insights into many landmark events of contemporary Kashmir history.
In paying a tribute t o the author, the reviewer refers to have seen ,many
years ago; a researcher’s doggedness and an intellectual’s curiosity in his
journalistic exterior ---
— traits an intelligence professional normally frowns on! He adds his
craving to know beyond the obvious and finding a conceptual explanation for what
exists, has only sharpened with the passage of time, as is evident from the
book.
However, he observes that much more lies buried within Pakistan where from
most of the wily operations were launched, resourced, and controlled'''''
Mysteries Unresolved:--
. More of the behind-the-scene operators hopefully will emerge , in
time, to follow Major General Akbar Khan — who commanded Pakistan’s drive
towards Srinagar in 1947 — that can help make the story complete.
Even on the Indian side, the Mr Swami has not been able to conclusively
develop many themes, which future historians must address.
The details like, why and how Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, despite his almost
visceral hatred of Pakistan, wittingly or unwittingly fell victim to its
machinations is still shrouded in mystery.. What exactly had gone wrong between
him and Jawaharlal Nehru despite their long years of friendship? And why was the
Kashmir Conspiracy Case, after years of painstaking investigations which led to
unearthing of a grave conspiracy to dismember India, not pursued in court ?
Covert methods
Pakistan’s compulsive anti-India fixation and its unshaken faith in the
efficacy of covert methods will have to be correctly reckoned by India in
formulating its security policies. The author rightly believes,
“Let the past be forgiven and forgotten to start life on a clean slate”
may be a GOOD SLOGAN — but it is definitely a BAD DOCTRINE for a
Nation.
Presently, Pakistan is under pressure due to internal instability and
external pressures, which have forced it to restrain and nuance its anti-Indian
covert offensive.To mistake this for a strategic shift that is irreversible
would be a grave folly.
In an age when conventional wars have become unpredictable and
cost-ineffective tools for achieving national objectives, covert wars, as a
distinct form of warfare, are there to stay.
.
Swami's efforts in bringing home this realisation is really commendable,
who by underlining this reality and giving new insights into the minds of
those who control the real levers of power in Pakistan will alert the powers in
INDIA in right time. The faster we wake up to this reality and prepare for it ,
in both defensive and offensive modes , safer will it be for iNDIA's
security. .
KONTHAI
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