The 10/11 terror attack in Indian capital and involvement of doctors in it, brings up another face of terrorism–‘white collar terrorism’, proving it has transcended from proxy war to ‘Clash of Ideologies.’
It is clear that the doctors involved who had spent years in medical studies, had some other agenda and medical education was just a façade. Today it is doctors, tomorrow it can by any respectable profession. An alarming trend, indeed.
Although no one claimed responsibility for the 10/11 terror attack, the chain of events and investigations have pointed to the involvement of Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar once said ‘’terrorism is not something that is being conducted in dark corners of Pakistan. It is done in broad daylight.’’
The 10/11 terror attack took place at 1852 hrs near the historic Red Fort. Why Red Fort.
The basic strategy of terrorists is to gain as much publicity as possible. Publicity for terrorist acts has a ripple effect and instils fear among the people. Red Fort is a symbol of India’s prestige. Attack on Red Fort would have served two purposes—maximum number of casualties because of the crowded Chandni Chowk and an attack on India’s symbol of prestige.
The ‘’Doctor terrorists’’ had also conducted a survey of some crowded places including Azadpur fruit and vegetable market—Asia’s biggest and crowded all the time. A blast there would have resulted in hundreds of casualties.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the blast may have been a possible suicide attack in which a terrorist blew himself up in a car near Red Fort. The government and investigating agencies initially refrained from calling it a terrorist attack. However, after two days of intensive investigations by several security agencies including the elite National Investigation Agency (NIA), the government on November 12 called the incident a terrorist act.
DNA analysis conducted as part of the investigations confirmed that the blast was triggered by one Umar Mohammed, a doctor at a private medical college in Faridabad. The arrest of doctors in subsequent raids at various places gave it the name of ‘’white collar terror.’’
Although terrorism is an old global phenomenon, terrorist activities against India in particular caught up speed with the launch of ‘Operation Tupac’, brainchild of former Pakistan President Zia-ul-Haq. Operation Tupac is the codename of an ongoing military-intelligence contingency program that has been active since 1980s and run by Pakistan’s intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). It has a three-part action plan to provide covert support to anti-India separatists and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.
The program is ongoing as the ISI has maintained its support for Kashmiri terrorists and other ideological militants in their fight against the Indian administration in Jammu and Kashmir. The November 10 terror attack in Delhi is a link in that chain.
American political scientist Samuel P. Huntington said in 1993 that future wars would be fought not between countries, but between cultures. Huntington later expanded his thesis in 1996 in a book ‘Clash of Civilizations and Remaking the World order.’ Terrorism, a global scourge, is a stark reminder that it is a new avatar of the Clash of Civilizations.
However, for lack of a proper definition, terrorists are designated as ‘’freedom fighters’’ in some countries. That is true of Pakistan-trained terrorists—terrorists in India but ‘’freedom fighters’’ in Pakistan.
Even the United Nations has not been able to come up with a proper definition of terrorism. The Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) proposed by India in 1996, is pending clearance at the UN because of lack of definition of terrorism. The CCIT is a proposed treaty to provide a legal framework to combat all forms of international terrorism. It aims to criminalize terrorism, deny terrorists access to safe havens and resources and establish a basis for international cooperation.
However, its finalization is stalled by disagreements among member states on the definition of terrorism.
There is also no single window at the UN where nations facing terrorism, can present their case, although the UNSC organises seminar and meetings to discuss individual terrorist attacks. But in general terms, there is no mechanism even at the UN. That brings up an important question—Has the United Nations failed on such an important issue which threatens global peace in the name of ideologies.
India has always expressed dissatisfaction at the way UN handles the serious issue of terrorism and has repeatedly called for passing of the CCIT.
United Nations has constituted a Committee that makes a list of global terrorists and terrorist organisations. The Committee is authorised to recommend travel ban on designated terrorists, seizure of their properties among other restrictions.
The basic strategy of terrorists is to instil fear among people. Salman Rushdie said “How do you defeat terrorism? Don’t be terrorised.’’
‘’The fight against terrorism is an international struggle of free world against forces of darkness,’’ Ariel Sharon, Israeli Prime Minister from March 2001 to April 2006, said.
The important question, therefore, is. Will Pakistan-sponsored terrorism against India stop It will not. India needs to strengthen its intelligence apparatus and pre-empt any terrorist activities on Indian soil.
