TERROR ATTACK AND LACK OF COORDINATION IN COUNTER TERRORISM

European Union created more or less border less Europe. Sarcastically, terror activities also went border less within European continent!

- Keerthiraj

Since independence India continuously raised concerns over terrorism at global level. But the self-proclaimed caretakers of world peace i.e. United States and European nations always considered India’s concern as a silly complaint! Unfortunately, terrorist activities happening in Indian soil were the funniest subject for global powers. Finally, United States realized What India experienced since decades, only when al-Qaeda hit the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001! After this incident numerous efforts taken place in the world to overcome terrorism, but rising terror threats proved counter terrorism is not a complete success. In each stage of history, world remembers one most infamous name among various terrorist organizations. Then Al-Qaeda, Now Islamic State!

Last week in Brussels attack, the Islamic State militants have killed more than thirty people and left some others with serious injuries. By doing this, Islamic State terrorists created fear and anxiety among Europeans. This is not the first terrorist attack in Europe and in fact Europeans have historical connections of Jihad and Crusades. Even in twentieth century, Madrid bomb attacks left 193 people dead in 2004, the London attacks in July 2005 damaged the lives of 52 people and a very recent Paris attack in November last year killed 130. European Union, with the membership of 28 European countries, earned the reputation of world’s most successful and effective regional organization. More or less borderless European nation-state systems, added to this privilege. Sarcastically, terror activities also went borderless within European continent!

After Brussels attack, Europe has seen a lot of changes. In Paris, French police arrested a man, suspecting his involvement in Paris attacks. Last Friday Belgian police detained a man linked with Brussels attack. German police also arrested two persons on the basis of their mobile messages. The rapid pace of police operations in the three countries, created a new stir in the war against Islamic State. There is no doubt about the efficiency of European police system. But a row of terrorist attacks on European continent since 15 years, proved lack of cooperation and coordination within European police system.

According to a report by Turkish authorities, Ibrahim el Bakraui one among the two suicide bombers responsible for Brussels attack, was detained and later deported by Turkey. Turkish authorities also collected information regarding the intension of Bakraui  to join Islamic state. Turkey shared intelligence report in this regard with Belgian police authorities. Shockingly, the whole of Belgian police system failed to make use of these details! It is very clear that European powers failed to coordinate anti-terrorist efforts. Not only in continental level, even within the country Europeans lacked integration and mutual trust between police and intelligence agencies. Current European defense system remembers how the lack of coordination between US internal and external intelligence forces i.e. FBI and CIA resulted 9/11 Al Qaeda attacks in 2001. But immediately after this incident, US realized its mistakes and genuinely tried to find a solution. The presence of mind showed by Americans is really a lesson in the way of Counter Terrorism. 

The Islamic State appears differently from other terrorist organizations. Before fighting against enemy we should know about enemy. World Counter terrorism considered Islamic state as a mere terrorist group. Counter terrorism against Islamic state will fail till we know what exactly Islamic state is? Lack of coordination among world powers is the main capital of the Islamic State. To find a solution to Islamic state terrorism world need to be coordinate their efforts. And importantly we should rule out the difference between good terrorism and bad terrorism.

 KEERTHIRAJ (krj492@gmail.com)

·   Currently serving as a Faculty for International Relations and Political Science at Alliance University, Bangalore. 

      (This article was published in Central Chronicle newspaper on 31 March 2016)

BHAGAT SINGH: A FORGOTTEN POLITICAL THINKER

Bhagat Singh, a well-remembered revolutionary. But his struggle was not mere anti-colonial or anti-British, his aim was to free the human kind from the chains of exploitation and mental slavery.

- Keerthiraj

Bhagat Singh along with Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged to death on 23^rd March 1931. Every year 23^rd March is observed as Martyrs’ day in honour of these revolutionary heroes. Present day India is well aware of heroic rebel activities of Bhagat Singh. But most of the other talents and messages given by the great hero, were forgotten! Today human kind needs Bhagat singh’s values. Otherwise we are going to pay high price for ignoring Bhagat Singh. It is not about remembering a day, but a bad memory can cost a lot in our future. Bhagat was not only a revolutionary, but also a great political thinker, who thought and wrote about Socialism, religion, caste, untouchability and other social issues of contemporary South Asia.

Today India is in an intellectual turmoil. Fake socialism and self-declared intellectuals are busy in leading India towards wrong directions. A proper study on Bhagat’s writings can be a panacea to most of the confusions and problems faced by Indian subcontinent. Those writings revealed Bhagat in different shades. At once as a political thinker of modern India, as a great teacher of revolution, as a sensitive journalist, who cared about the system. Bhagat’s struggle was not mere anti-colonial or anti-British, his aim was to free the human kind from the chains of exploitation and mental slavery. For example in 1928 Bhagat wrote two articles in a magazine called ‘Keerthi’. First article ‘Achoot Ka Saval’ speaks about the problems of untouchability, and the second article ‘Sampradayik Dange Aur Unka Ilaj’ deals with communal violence and possible solutions. Recent studies and researches on Bhagat’s writings, proved him as a mature political thinker. Professor Chaman Lal, an expert in Bhagat Singh studies, tried to show light on mature political thoughts of Bhagat. Most of the letters written by Bhagat were lost and some of them intentionally suppressed! Bhagat Singh was not a blind revolutionary, he had supreme ideals within him. Here I wish to mention about four selected letters, which I think interesting.

Two letters written by Bhagat in 1931, regarding the case of Mr. Harikrishnan. Harikrishnan was a young revolutionary, who was facing charges that he attempted to kill the governor of Punjab. Harikrishnan’s father, one among rich and influential personalities of that time, tried to save his son from the punishment. Defence lawyer tried to save Harikrishnan by arguing that his client had no intension to kill the governor and he only wanted to warn! But this move from the defence lawyer was severely criticized by Bhagat Singh. According to Bhagat every statement given by revolutionaries must be supportive to the goal of revolutionary activity. Statement by Harikrishnan’s defence lawyer acted in such a way that whole idea of revolution failed. Bhagat Singh suggested an alternative argument in the case, aim of revolutionary is not to kill an individual, but there is no other way to overcome the problems of the exploitative system. Individual losses are inevitable in the way towards liberation. Bhagat wanted not only bombs and guns but also defence arguments, and even the death of revolutionary should become the tools of revolution.

Another letter written by Bhagat Singh to his father. During Bhagat’s jail days, his father, Sardar Kishan singh sent a written request to the tribunal to save his son from death sentence and argued that his son is innocent and he has no role in Saunder’s murder. When Bhagat heard this attempt by his father, Bhagat criticized his father very harshly in a letter. In that letter it is very clear that Bhagat had no intention to offer defence in the court. Bhagat wanted his death and sacrifice should become inspiration to further revolution. In spite of great respect towards his father’s contribution to Indian freedom movement, Bhagat consider the request letter sent by his father as a worst type of weakness crueller than back stabbing. Thus Bhagat shows a great integrity in his ideals, even though he had chances to escape from punishment.

The most interesting, at least for me is the letter by Bhagat to another great revolutionary Sukhdev. Comrade Sukhdev was waiting for the judgement of the tribunal and he was quite sure that punishment would be life sentence. The very idea that spending his life time in jail was irritating to Sukhdev. So Sukhdev wrote to Bhagat, He is ready to death sentence or immediate release. But in case of Life sentence, it is better to suicide. As a response Bhagat wrote a letter to Sukhdev. This letter by Bhagat is a must read to everyone. In this letter Bhagat realises his friend that only throwing bomb is not revolution. But accepting punishment and sufferings are also the major part of revolution and real meaning of revolution lies in it.

Bhagat not only wrote about revolution, his writings on Marxism, Anarchism, Atheism and other social issues are also serious attempts to review political and social issues of South Asia. It is regrettable that we and our education system narrowed the personality of Bhagat to a mere young rebel.

  

 KEERTHIRAJ (krj492@gmail.com)

·   Currently serving as a Faculty for International Relations and Political Science at Alliance University, Bangalore. 

      (This article was published in Central Chronicle on 23 March 2016)

NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM: A MEMOIR

For the first time Soviet Union challenged this monopoly by conducting successful nuclear test in 1949! After this Britain, France and China emerged as nuclear countries in a row.

- Keerthiraj

North Korea turned itself into a nuclear power in spite of UN tough sanctions. North Korean President Kim Jong-un's order to keep nuclear missiles ready to attack at any time rang the bell of danger! Despite breathless international condemnations the Kim regime has a tough stance on the world. There is little doubt that China’s back door support is the reason for President Kim’s belligerent attitude. On January 6 and February 7 North Korea tested banned ballistic missiles. With this development North Korea’s immediate enemy South Korea and Japan are worried about their national security. Some grave statements made by president Kim directly against United States of America turned North Korean nuclear issue more complex.

During 1945 US had the monopoly over nuclear devices. For the first time Soviet Union challenged this monopoly by conducting successful nuclear test in 1949! After this Britain, France and China emerged as nuclear countries in a row. Cuba's nuclear crisis of 1962 and increasing nuclear threat compelled the World Powers to take initiatives like Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1968.The purpose of these arrangements is to prevent proliferation or spread of nuclear technology to other countries and nuclear weapons should be safe in the hands of first five nuclear powers. Initially North Korea was a member of NPT and came out of the treaty in 2003.

South Korea, probable victim of North Korea's nuclear program followed the ‘Policy of Trustpolitik’, accordingly it relied on United States relied for its defense. But today South Korean leaders also interested to be a nuclear power against rising nuclear threat from North Korea. According to a recent survey conducted by the ASAN Institute, 54 percent of South Koreans voted in favor South Korea's nuclear program! Naturally, South Korea initiated talks with US to adopt Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD). China already opposed any kind of American intervention in the Korean peninsula. Now China is supporting North Korea only in backstage and possibly China can use this American intervention as an excuse to be the mainstream supporter of North Korea in the near future! The nuclear problem Korean peninsula is not limited to East Asian region, but provided a stage for two competing world powers. On the one hand America is struggling to retain its position as a global ‘Big brother’. On the other hand china is waiting for a small opportunity to spread its influence all over the world!

North Korea's overwhelming interest in nuclear devices has some obvious reasons. North Korea is not a super power country as it seems to be in Kim bluster speech. North Korean defense forces still rely on 1970s era techniques. It is easy and less cost effective to acquire a nuclear device than modernizing this outdated army! Even Kim believed Nuclear weapon can keep America out of the Korean peninsula. After aggressive US interference in Iraq and Libya, Kim felt more insecurity that North Korea will have the fate in near future. On March 2, UN Security Council unanimously adopted ‘Resolution 2270’ acknowledging that the embargo on North Korea, and restrictions imposed on trade, and other fields. Furthermore, strengthened the sanctions imposed in 2006. North Korea's provocative stance even after international boycott vindicates secret Chinese support to North Korea. Approximately 90% of North Korean trade links are with China. Thus 'Resolution 2270' will be successful only with honest implementation from Chinese side.

  

 KEERTHIRAJ (krj492@gmail.com)

·   Currently serving as a Faculty for International Relations and Political Science at Alliance University, Bangalore. 

      (This article was published in Central Chronicle on 13 March 2016)

POWER POLITICS BEHIND INDO-CHINA MARITIME CONFLICT

India has also started forming counter-strategy against the “String of Pearls policy”. India’s counter is based on Chanakya’s principle of ‘The enemy's enemy is our friend’

- Keerthiraj

At the very outset, Asia's two giant neighbors, India and China have maintained peaceful diplomatic relations in pursuit of their economic and trade policies in the global level. This cautious politics played by both the countries made us to feel like everything is right between these two Asian giants. However, political and military strategists of both the countries agreed that the real situation is entirely different than this seemingly plausible politics. Indo-China war of 1962, still haunting both the countries like cinder covered with ash. In addition, growing role and influence of the two Asian giant neighbors in world politics may lead to a clash of interest in Asian continent.

There are already a huge problem of border disputes between India and China. Ranging from Arunachal Pradesh up to Aksai Chin created a tug of war between India and China. In addition to these traditional issues, the latest developments maritime politics is gaining more importance. Rising interests of both the countries in South China Sea and Indian Ocean made these two countries potential competitors in indo-pacific region. China is claiming its authority over South China Sea based on a map, belongs to nationalist China of early 1940s! China is currently busy with installing missiles in the disputed Woody Island. China seized these disputed islands from South Vietnam in 1974. Again, in 1988, the Chinese navy sunk three Vietnamese boats and 70 men killed in a clash over the islands. It is nothing but a clear attempt to show Chinese dominance over the South China Sea.

Vietnam and other small East Asian countries are in direct confrontation with Chinese intensions in South China Sea. In this struggle against China, United States of America and its regional allies such as Australia, Japan, South Korea and Philippines back Vietnam. Strategic interests of United Sates of in the region and the international liberal values ​​like freedom of navigation etc. pulled US into this region. India's foreign policy in favour of free and open navigation in South China Sea, in a way supplements American policy. Naturally China felt annoyed by this posture taken by India. This conflict of interests proved India and China have the potential to be enemies. On the other hand, India's investment in Vietnam’s oil deposits, as well as Indian Navy’s tie-ups with the US, Japan and Vietnam’s naval forces to maintain regional interest will be hard for China to push around. Furthermore, India enjoys a traditional moral influence over this region. Moreover, recent trends suggests, East Asian countries are ready to consider India as a strong regional Big Brother and seeking to reduce the influence of China.

During the war of 1962, China achieved a decisive victory over India. Most of the strategic thinkers opine, even though China was in a decisive position, People’s Liberation Army of China (PLA) never rushed to conquer India, because by that time China did not had a strong navy and Indian Navy enjoyed supreme position in Indian Ocean! So the war was limited to Indo-China borders in North. But, today's situation is much more different than that of 1962. At present China established naval bases and ports at Gwadar in Pakistan, Chittagong of Bangladesh, Hambantota of Sri Lanka and China is in a dominant position to control many other naval bases. In a way China surrounded India with the help of these naval bases. Foreign policy analysts named it as "String of Pearls policy”! If any armed conflict happened between India and China, definitely China will use these naval bases against India and to sting India from different ways. Political analyst Prem Shekhar rightly renamed “String of Pearls policy” as “String of Stings policy”!

India has also started forming counter-strategy against the “String of Pearls policy”. India’s counter is based on Chanakya’s principle of ‘The enemy's enemy is our friend’(Mandala theory of Chanakya) Indian diplomacy is already successful in gaining the confidence of anti-China powers like Japan, Australia, Vietnam and other countries, which have disputes with China. Even though India can’t expect a direct help from US against China, we should remember US interests are also largely anti-China!  In addition to all this, the most advanced indigenous ballistic missile submarine 'INS Arihant' joined the family of Indian Navy. This lethal submarine created horrors in the minds of anti-Indian naval forces! It carries 12 indigenous K15 Sagarika missiles with a range of 435 miles or four nuclear tipped ballistic missiles with a range of 2,200 miles. 'INS Arihant' is really going be a Hantak (destroyer) of Ari (enemy) and the protector of India’s maritime security.

  

 KEERTHIRAJ (keerthiraj886@gmail.com)

·   Currently serving as a Faculty for International Relations and Political Science at Alliance University, Bangalore. 

      (This article was published in Central Chronicle on 2 March 2016)