There is no end to Congress-led Government'sflip flop on national security. Almost every one who matters in the Government from the Prime Minister down to the National Security Adviser, M K Narayanan, is talking at cross-purposes. If the Prime Minister fell in the trap laid by the cunning General to announce that Pakistan too was a victim of terrorism, his Security Adviser is creating a sense of insecurity in the minds of Indian citizens and demoralising and embarrassing the security agencies by his unrestrained and uncalled for statements. Only the ?honest and gentleman? Prime Minister knows how a perpetrator and exporter of terrorism is itself a victim. The explanation, put forward by the Government that Dr. Manmohan Singh was referring to several unsuccessful attacks on General Musharraf'slife by terrorists in Pakistan needs to be rejected with the contempt it deserves. Dictators, particularly from the military background who come to power by staging a coup and tries to remain there with the help of the gun, are under threat from their own countrymen for a variety of reasons. That doesn'tqualify their countries to be counted amongst victims of terrorism. Those who promote terrorism are bound to suffer from this evil in good time. Ask United States of America. Who promoted and armed Taliban, America is fighting in Afghanistan? That too doesn'tqualify Pakistan to be treated at par with India as a victim of terrorism. It was none other than Dr. Manmohan Singh who had earlier blamed a ?neighbouring country? for the serial bomb blasts in Mumbai local trains. The nation has a right to know why and under what circumstances he changed his stand. By affixing his signatures to a joint statement with Pakistan President that is not in our national interests, the Prime Minister has undone the good work done by NDA Government in convincing international community about involvement of Pakistan and its ISI in cross border terrorism in J&K and other parts of the country.
About the National Security Adviser, the less said the better. One thought his job was to advise the Prime Minister on our national security and coordinate the efforts of all agencies involved in this stupendous task. He is involved in an extremely sensitive work and needs to keep his secrets. He seems to be doing just the opposite. Publicity hungry NSA makes uncalled for statements that are no help to the country. He scared the nation by making a public statement to the effect that India'snuclear installations were on the hit list of Pak-based terrorist outfits. He may indeed have this very sensitive information. Did he help the country by making public this sensitive information. He must have told the security agencies about the information he had. They must have taken all necessary measures to protect our nuclear facilities. Why tell the terrorists what we know? The nation would have been obliged if it were told that those planning such horrid attacks had been apprehended and dealt with. How come, the Prime Minister declares that Pakistan is a victim of terrorism, even while his security adviser go before cameras to say Pakistan-based terrorists were targeting our most sensitive installations?
Narayanan has done it again. This time round, he told a private news channel that though evidence gathered by our agencies about the involvement of ISI in the Mumbai serial blasts was ?very good?, it was ?not clinching?. Who authorised him to make public this ?information? – or his silly interpretation of the information? If his interpretation is right, why share the evidence with US and other foreign powers. Is the Government passing on evidence that is not ?clinching? to foreign powers? Narayanan'sstatement has provided Islamabad with an opportunity it was looking for to damn India. As expected, Islamabad didn'tlet go this opportunity. Pakistan'sForeign Office spokesman has dismissed Indian allegation of Pakistan'sinvolvement in July blasts as ?propaganda? saying ?they have no evidence whatsoever?. Who but the NSA is responsible, if the media and the international community lap up this rebuttal? The NSA needs to explain to the nation the difference between ?very good? evidence and ?clinching evidence?. There can'tbe a video clipping or document showing ISI'sinvolvement. Confessions, circumstantial evidence and the like are ?clinching evidence? even in courts. Unfortunately, our own Security Adviser is not convinced. Does he want the investigating agencies to provide him with a document signed by the head of ISI admitting that he ordered the serial blasts?
The UPA Government has miserably failed to send across the message to Indian citizens that it is in control. It is guilty of spreading panic and alarm. While failing in its primary duty to resolutely fight terrorism – Islamic as well as Maoist – the Government is pursuing a weak policy even as it wants the country to believe that it can fight terrorism by joining hands with promoter of terrorism. While the political leadership must take the blame for this sorry state of affairs, the NSA is no less guilty. He must be firmly told to shut up and concentrate on his work. He has no business hopping from one news channel to another to make uncalled for statements that embarrass the Government and weaken its bargaining position. It is no one'scase that people should be kept in dark about the security scenario. The people have a right to know how the Government is handling or mishandling the threats to our national security. The point one wants to make emphatically is that it is the job of the authorities to gather all relevant intelligence, properly analyse it and take resolute action to defend the country and provide security to its people. Publicising alarmist interpretation of intelligence helps no one. Is the NSA listening?
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