Pulwama: BJP or Congress, More Politics & Less Action on Terrorism

Politics plays a more important role in India than national security, irrespective of which government is in power.

Tackling Terror: More Politics, Less Action?

(Photo: The Quint)

Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam

After the terrorist attack on CRPF jawans in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama, we are once again discussing terrorism. A meeting between all the parties after the attack led to the conclusion that they will all support the government and not politicise the issue. This sounds good, but is it actually true?

The biggest question after Pulwama terror attack is: if, over the years, there has been so much politics in this country over terrorism, have enough steps being taken to curb it? 

Tackling Terror: Across Governments

If we talk about Pakistan-sponsored terror, the Parliament attack on 13 December 2001 comes to mind. NDA was in power under Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s leadership.

To end terrorism and make Pakistan learn a lesson, there were multiple discussions but the attacks continued in the border areas and in other heavily populated cities.

What followed was the 26 November 2008 attack in Mumbai. UPA was in power under the leadership of Manmohan Singh. The terror attack affected the entire world and it exposed Pakistan.

However, attacks continued from Delhi to Hyderabad and from Pune to Bengaluru.

Be it under UPA or NDA rule, every government faces challenges of different kinds –utilisation of Intelligence, curbing terror funding, etc. No strict actions were ever taken; instead the issues were blown up for political gain.

Ceasing cross-border infiltration is the prime concern for both the government and the Indian Army. From hi-tech border fencing to laser wall facility there have been many discussions but the problem of infiltration has not been resolved.

Infiltration: Biggest Challenge

According to government data, incidents of cross-border infiltration have been increasing in Jammu and Kashmir: 119 in 2016, 136 in 2017 and 143 in 2018.

Before the 2008 Mumbai attack, we had received inputs from the Intelligence. According to reports, the then Lashkar-e-Taiba technology chief Jaraar Shah had guided the terrorists to their targets using Google Earth.

Britain was keeping a tab on it. The Indian Intelligence too had inputs on this but nothing substantial was done.

Pulwama Attack: An Intelligence Failure

Seeing PM Modi’s special interest in national security, it was felt that Intelligence agencies will be utilised efficiently. Modi appointed former IB Chief Ajit Doval as National Security Advisor. There were efforts made to stop terrorism.

However, these efforts were more political than technical. There were talks of Intelligence failure before the Pulwama attack. It is being said that on 8 February, Intelligence Bureau wrote to CRPF, informing them about an IED being laid in the Valley.

But Didn’t Demonetisation Stop Terror Funding?

In 2016, PM Modi had said that demonetisation would demolish terror funding. It is also being discussed that India will push to blacklist Pakistan in the next Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meet.

FATF is an international body that surveils terror funding across the world. This means we accept that terror funding from Pakistan has not stopped.

The point is, politics plays a more important role in our country than national security irrespective of which government is in power.