CLEAR THREAT OF NUCLEAR TERRORISM

During inquiry Bashiruddin admitted that he met with Osama bin Laden and conduct negotiations to develop nuclear device! In 2004, a shocking truth revealed that Abdul Qadir Khan, father of Pakistan's nuclear technology sold the same to Libya, North Korea and Iran.

-          Keerthiraj

            If History is the story of wars, then Politics is nothing but the story of power management. Global politics is a chain of contradictions and conflicts.  Recently, even petty conflicts leaning towards Nuclear threat is not at all a good development. Nuclear threat is not a new development in world history.  In 1945, America became a Nuclear power with ‘Manhattan project' and its impact on Japan proved that world created its own destroyer. World powers tried to contain the spread of Nuclear weapons. Unfortunately all the attempts proved to be a failure.

            The fourth and last nuclear security summit took place in Washington in the first week of April. As expected nuclear terrorism became the prime concern of the world leaders. Today tens of thousands of nuclear weapons around the globe waiting for destruction. A small mistake is enough to burn the world without any discrimination! Decades ago, the Little Boy and Fat Man destroyed the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But they are nothing if we compare the nuclear capacity of 2016. If the Cuban missile crisis brought the world to edge of extinction in 1962, we can imagine what will be the effect of today’s sophisticated nuclear devices.

           

All countries have their own kind of nuclear defence systems. There is no universal nuclear defence system to stop nuke proliferation to terror hands. A small mistake in any country's nuclear defence system can allow terrorists to access nuclear weapons. Recent statements by some terrorist organizations in favour of using nuclear weapons is a warning bell to World powers. Baghdadi’s Islamic State is slowly losing its influence in Iraq and Syria. In its desperate attempt to re-establish its influence, it may be provoked to purchase nuclear weapons. Recently a Belgian nuclear plant worker found dead and his security identity card stolen. Another source reported that two Belgian nuclear plant workers joined Islamic State. Shockingly, recently published Islamic state pamphlet announced terror groups are planning to acquire nuclear devices through bribing corrupt Pakistani officials!

            In January 2001, some nuclear scientists of Pakistan created UTN, a non-governmental organization under the chairmanship of Bashiruddin Mahmood (former head of Pakistan's Khushab plutonium reactor). Later in November 2001, Pakistan’s intelligence agency arrested the members of UTN, including Bashiruddin, under the direction of United States. During inquiry Bashiruddin admitted that he met with Osama bin Laden and conduct negotiations to develop nuclear device! In 2004, a shocking truth revealed that Abdul Qadir Khan, father of Pakistan's nuclear technology sold the same to Libya, North Korea and Iran. According to intelligence reports, al-Qaeda was also keen to have deal with Abdul Qadir Khan, but Khan rejected the demand. These incidents raised serious questions about the credibility of Pakistan regarding proliferation to nuclear technology.

            This is a known fact that Pakistan’s conventional defence is inferior to that of India. Statements of Pakistani leaders made it clear that Pakistan is already to use its ultimate weapon i.e. nuclear bomb to save its interests. Pakistan don’t have any voluntary cuts like India’s nuclear policy of ‘No First Use’. Hopefully, to date no country has showed the irresponsibility of transferring nuclear technology to the hands of terrorists. However, the current global politics is moving towards new dimensions of unexpected twists and turns. To ensure the safety of the world, world powers should be more serious about nuclear non-proliferation and it is the time to think about a ban over nuclear weapons, like biological and chemical weapons.

 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 5 May 2016)

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)