India on high alert to meet Pak fallout
With a civil war-like situation developing in Pakistan following the assassination of former prime minister and PPP leader Benazir Bhutto, the political leadership met here on Friday to take stock of the implications of an unstable neighbourhood.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: With a civil war-like situation developing in Pakistan following the assassination of former prime minister and PPP leader Benazir Bhutto, the political leadership met here on Friday to take stock of the implications of an unstable neighbourhood. An all-party meeting chaired by prime minister Manmohan Singh was briefed about the steps that are being taken by the Centre to contain the adverse fallout of the happenings in Pakistan on India.
National security advisor M K Narayanan told the meeting that the forces have already been put on high alert. The security leadership was also in touch with chief ministers of the border states. The participants were assured that the Centre would do all that was required for meeting the challenge.
The developments in Pakistan are worrying for India. The killing of Benazir at the heart of Pakistan demonstrated a complete failure of the internal security apparatus in the neighbourhood. Experts have been maintaining that Pakistan was pretty close to becoming a failed state. India’s concerns stem from a variety of reasons. An unstable Pakistan could give a further boost to jehadi activities. This could mean trouble for India as several jehadi cells, controlled by forces from across the border, are operating in India’s hinterland.
Opposition leader L K Advani told the all-party meeting that India should exert pressure on Pakistan as well as its handlers to shut down the camps operating in Pak-occupied-Kashmir. Mr Narayanan had earlier met Mr Advani to share with him the government’s assessment of the situation.
Even elections to Pakistani Parliament may not solve the problems as much would depend on the complexion of the new regime in Islamabad. In the event of jehadis enjoying clout in the new dispensation, the first attempt would be to traumatise India. Participants of the meeting promised their support to the initiatives of the government to tackle the problem.
A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security held before the all-party meeting discussed ways to contain a possible spurt in cross-border terrorism. “It was hard enough before, it is harder now,” was the view of the panel. The Indian leadership is also hoping that countries like the US will put pressure on President Musharraf to rein in the jehadis.
National security advisor M K Narayanan told the meeting that the forces have already been put on high alert. The security leadership was also in touch with chief ministers of the border states. The participants were assured that the Centre would do all that was required for meeting the challenge.
The developments in Pakistan are worrying for India. The killing of Benazir at the heart of Pakistan demonstrated a complete failure of the internal security apparatus in the neighbourhood. Experts have been maintaining that Pakistan was pretty close to becoming a failed state. India’s concerns stem from a variety of reasons. An unstable Pakistan could give a further boost to jehadi activities. This could mean trouble for India as several jehadi cells, controlled by forces from across the border, are operating in India’s hinterland.
Opposition leader L K Advani told the all-party meeting that India should exert pressure on Pakistan as well as its handlers to shut down the camps operating in Pak-occupied-Kashmir. Mr Narayanan had earlier met Mr Advani to share with him the government’s assessment of the situation.
Even elections to Pakistani Parliament may not solve the problems as much would depend on the complexion of the new regime in Islamabad. In the event of jehadis enjoying clout in the new dispensation, the first attempt would be to traumatise India. Participants of the meeting promised their support to the initiatives of the government to tackle the problem.
A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security held before the all-party meeting discussed ways to contain a possible spurt in cross-border terrorism. “It was hard enough before, it is harder now,” was the view of the panel. The Indian leadership is also hoping that countries like the US will put pressure on President Musharraf to rein in the jehadis.
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