WAR ON TERROR: LESSONS TO BE LEARNT, BY GEN. MEHTA
Since the time i have started writing the blog, I have made lot of new friends who write their comments and old friends who call up to get updated. I have been exchaning lot of emails with various eminent personalities, who give their suggestions and guide me, which helps me in writing the blog. I would not have been writing almost every day without their support and inputs. Writing a blog needs lot of research and one has to find new topics, almost everday, which is quite demanding and takes lot of time and effort. I am greatly thankful to all my friends, old and new for their whole hearted support.
Major General Mehta, AVSM, VSM writes for many newspapers like The Hindustan Times, Indian Express etc. When i wrote an artcicle " Follow Israel to combat terror ", he sent his comments, which were an eyeopener for me. I requested him to suggest concrete measures in fighting terror in India and he was most forthcoming in doing so. He has sent me an article, already printed in The Hindustan Times, which i am reproducing today.
SECURITY FORCES involved in the November 26 to 29 terror strike should take a bow: their major strike element, the NSG, moved from Delhi to take out terrorists involved the carnage after a 60- hour operation under global scrutiny. In doing so, they went through 1,407 five-star hotel rooms as well as Nariman House, taking care to minimise collateral and personal loss. The Russian/ Israeli tactics used were refreshingly proactive and mandated. The murderous terror strike at Mumbai was carried out by Blackberry -enabled, "twitter" savvy, 4th Generation Warriors (4GW).
America took a call on combating terror after 9/11 and enacted the Department of Homeland Defence (DHS) legislation in 2002, which, notwithstanding its warts, has delivered. 4th Generation Warfare is characterised by a blurring of lines between war and politics, soldier and civilian, peace and conflict. In this war, one of the major participants is not a state but rather a violent ideological network. 4GW uses the strategy of "scorched earth", which was amply demonstrated at Mumbai. While the uniformed fraternity makes do with arcane tools of warfare and the NSG does not have finances to provide snipers with proper spotter scopes. Fourth Generation warfare terrorists are flush with modern war fighting means. There is much that went wrong in our approach and build-up for the terror strike at Mumbai till the NSG arrived.
The review of the operation will also throw up fresh lessons. What is certain is that there was abysmal lack of coordination, security lapses in following-up on intelligence leads and Perpetual blame game between the Centre and state over law and order culpability. Is there a way out of this intractable morass? Some positive snap shots have emerged. When asked for his fuelings post the NSG operation, a soldier answered: "I did my duty." When the DG, NSG, J.K. Dutt was asked whether the deceased brave heart, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, was from the Army, he pointedly said, "No, he was from the NSG." Dutt is to be commended for placing the NSG above the Armed Forces. individual service identity, as also the Army though it provides 100 per cent of one of the fighting key components of the NSG- the elite Special Action Group (SAG), which actually combats terror, and the other component being the Special Rangers Group(SRG), which is staffed only by paramilitary/ police forces- it has allowed the NSG to take full credit. Even as we await detailed reports on the terror strike, we need to be proactive:
raise a dedicated Anti-Terror Ministry, removing it from the charter of the Home Ministry and ensure that legislation is enacted soonest.
we should ensure that our Intelligence agencies and the NSG shift to the new ministry; ensure that the NSG is provided all the equipment,expansion in strength and satellite bases, including dedicated aircraft it needs to combat 4G terrorism.
we should place the Coast Guard and protection of India's 12 major and 180 minor ports as also its 8,OOO kilometre coastline under the Navy.
the Supreme Court judgment of September 22, 2006 instructing the Centre and state so achieve functional autonomy for the police and enhanced police accountability must be executed.
we need to educate Indians across the board; citizens, students, corporates, establishments on the dynamics of terror and how they can minimise personal and collateral loss. The public is willing and united. All that is needed is a mandate, using serving, retired servicemen as teachers.
there is need to position security as a social and industry obligation; make it constitutionally binding to have a minimum, accountable standard of security infrastructure and quality. This will include the need for hotels to have "hardened, terror strike proof rooms" that guests and staff can be herded into; national id cards; Blackberry communications (these cannot be intercepted) in designated security zones, security rehearsals, registration of all sea craft with the Harbour Police instead of just the Port Authority; using "spotters" and networking with global security agencies.
with the Anti- Terror Ministry in place, there should be no need for states to create "Black Cat" equivalents.
the Government must not only come out with a White paper on the terror strike but also honour the soldier by enhancing his emoluments with grace, generosity and promptitude.
Maj Gen Raj Mehta (Retd)The writer is a military and security analyst
Posted by SIGNAL on Friday, December 05, 2008 Links to this post
Labels: 4GW, Counter Terrorism, Police Reforms, Terrorists, War on Terror
Major General Mehta, AVSM, VSM writes for many newspapers like The Hindustan Times, Indian Express etc. When i wrote an artcicle " Follow Israel to combat terror ", he sent his comments, which were an eyeopener for me. I requested him to suggest concrete measures in fighting terror in India and he was most forthcoming in doing so. He has sent me an article, already printed in The Hindustan Times, which i am reproducing today.
SECURITY FORCES involved in the November 26 to 29 terror strike should take a bow: their major strike element, the NSG, moved from Delhi to take out terrorists involved the carnage after a 60- hour operation under global scrutiny. In doing so, they went through 1,407 five-star hotel rooms as well as Nariman House, taking care to minimise collateral and personal loss. The Russian/ Israeli tactics used were refreshingly proactive and mandated. The murderous terror strike at Mumbai was carried out by Blackberry -enabled, "twitter" savvy, 4th Generation Warriors (4GW).
America took a call on combating terror after 9/11 and enacted the Department of Homeland Defence (DHS) legislation in 2002, which, notwithstanding its warts, has delivered. 4th Generation Warfare is characterised by a blurring of lines between war and politics, soldier and civilian, peace and conflict. In this war, one of the major participants is not a state but rather a violent ideological network. 4GW uses the strategy of "scorched earth", which was amply demonstrated at Mumbai. While the uniformed fraternity makes do with arcane tools of warfare and the NSG does not have finances to provide snipers with proper spotter scopes. Fourth Generation warfare terrorists are flush with modern war fighting means. There is much that went wrong in our approach and build-up for the terror strike at Mumbai till the NSG arrived.
The review of the operation will also throw up fresh lessons. What is certain is that there was abysmal lack of coordination, security lapses in following-up on intelligence leads and Perpetual blame game between the Centre and state over law and order culpability. Is there a way out of this intractable morass? Some positive snap shots have emerged. When asked for his fuelings post the NSG operation, a soldier answered: "I did my duty." When the DG, NSG, J.K. Dutt was asked whether the deceased brave heart, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, was from the Army, he pointedly said, "No, he was from the NSG." Dutt is to be commended for placing the NSG above the Armed Forces. individual service identity, as also the Army though it provides 100 per cent of one of the fighting key components of the NSG- the elite Special Action Group (SAG), which actually combats terror, and the other component being the Special Rangers Group(SRG), which is staffed only by paramilitary/ police forces- it has allowed the NSG to take full credit. Even as we await detailed reports on the terror strike, we need to be proactive:
raise a dedicated Anti-Terror Ministry, removing it from the charter of the Home Ministry and ensure that legislation is enacted soonest.
we should ensure that our Intelligence agencies and the NSG shift to the new ministry; ensure that the NSG is provided all the equipment,expansion in strength and satellite bases, including dedicated aircraft it needs to combat 4G terrorism.
we should place the Coast Guard and protection of India's 12 major and 180 minor ports as also its 8,OOO kilometre coastline under the Navy.
the Supreme Court judgment of September 22, 2006 instructing the Centre and state so achieve functional autonomy for the police and enhanced police accountability must be executed.
we need to educate Indians across the board; citizens, students, corporates, establishments on the dynamics of terror and how they can minimise personal and collateral loss. The public is willing and united. All that is needed is a mandate, using serving, retired servicemen as teachers.
there is need to position security as a social and industry obligation; make it constitutionally binding to have a minimum, accountable standard of security infrastructure and quality. This will include the need for hotels to have "hardened, terror strike proof rooms" that guests and staff can be herded into; national id cards; Blackberry communications (these cannot be intercepted) in designated security zones, security rehearsals, registration of all sea craft with the Harbour Police instead of just the Port Authority; using "spotters" and networking with global security agencies.
with the Anti- Terror Ministry in place, there should be no need for states to create "Black Cat" equivalents.
the Government must not only come out with a White paper on the terror strike but also honour the soldier by enhancing his emoluments with grace, generosity and promptitude.
Maj Gen Raj Mehta (Retd)The writer is a military and security analyst
Posted by SIGNAL on Friday, December 05, 2008 Links to this post
Labels: 4GW, Counter Terrorism, Police Reforms, Terrorists, War on Terror
posted by vaneet kundra at
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
5 Comments:
this is the professional way to fight terrorism. good article by gen. mehta
This kind of an article could have only come from a army man..
Dear Deepak & Brig. Nalwa,
Great to see your comments. I am a happy man today. This blog has become an inter-active forum. I receive lot of suggestions, inputs, specially from new friends, who are concerned as you are for the current state of affairs in our country. Recent articles which i have published for last few days, have been sent to me by friendly bloggers, which is quite surprising. This shows that we are in unison to fight against terror. This is a positive development and i feel that this war against terror should sustain for a long time, until our sleeping govt. comes out with some concrete measures for the safety of aam admi. This campaign should be relentless and pressure should build up by media and all the citizens concerned to compel the govt. to act. I am seeing hope now, as the tempers of the people have never been so high against the impotent govt, as they are today. I want this anger to continue, till results are shown and we feel that govt. is overhauling the current corrupt system, which takes lives of so many innocent citizens.
a very good article by gen.mehta..I am glad the whole country stands in unison at this time of crisis. after a long time a lot of anger & mistrust for their leaders is cuming out in a major way.. people are out on streets, shouting slogans, burning effegies of these ducks which we call leaders...
Dear Lavi,
I am really greatful to my new and old friends, who are sending me inputs, like never before. Had their inputs not come, i would not have a topic to write.
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