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'bin Laden's jihad call is a great favour to India'

Amberish K Diwanji in New Delhi

The setting up of a joint working group to fight terrorism reflects the co-operation between India and the United States to fight that menace. The US is growing increasingly concerned at the terrorism emanating out of Afghanistan while India sees itself as a victim of Pakistan-sponsored unrest.

Recently, the world's most wanted man, Osama bin Laden, declared jihad against both India (for liberating Kashmir) and the United States. "By making that open declaration, bin Laden has done India a great favour," ministry of external affairs officials say gleefully.

Not without reason. New Delhi had been crying itself hoarse against the threat from the radical Taliban, which is in control of much of Afghanistan, and its main supporter, Pakistan. However, with the US still unwilling to strike down on Pakistan, India's diplomatic efforts were in vain.

"All this changed once the US too became a victim of terrorist bombings, especially those carried out on its own soil," said a senior MEA official. "Now they too are extremely concerned about the threat of terrorists, who can strike anywhere at will. And it shows in their strong response."

Early in the year, US warships fired two missiles at suspected terrorist bases in Sudan and Afghanistan, the latter with the aim of killing bin Laden, who, however, escaped. Now, the US, the Group of Eight nations and the United Nations are bringing forth resolutions to curb terrorism, and more important from the Indian point of view, the support for terrorism.

"In 1994, a resolution against terrorism was passed in the UN. However, the problem with this draft and all such earlier drafts is what is called the political exception clause, which basically states that terrorism for certain 'political causes' such as freedom struggle cannot be termed as terrorism," the MEA official pointed out.

India had then strongly objected to the political exception clause, pointing out that by its very vagueness, it left the subject open. But then, few countries listened, certainly not the US.

"Yet, things have changed since then. First, many of the African and Arab states which in the earlier decades saw terrorism as a sort of freedom struggle are now independent nations concerned about violence on their own soil. More important, the US is now worried that under the garb of political struggle, terrorists are causing mayhem and getting away. Hence, this concerted global effort," the official added.

However, experts warn against too high expectations and point out that the US-India agreement is no global entente against international terrorism.

"Let us never forget that the US have their own axe to grind and if today they want India to be their partner, it is because they expect to gain," said former Major General Afsir Karim (retired), editor of Aakrosh, a journal devoted to counter-terrorism and internal security.

Tara Kartha, a senior fellow doing research on terrorism at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis, New Delhi, said it is important to look beyond the grand declarations of bin Laden. "bin Laden has over the years been declaring jihad against one and all -- the Saudi monarchy, the Americans, Jews, the Egyptian government -- and much of it is just for effect. There is no point in getting carried away like the way some politicians have," she said.

Karim is sceptical of long-term US support. "No doubt any joint effort is most welcome, but let us be very clear about one fact: we will have to battle terrorism on our own. Today the US is along with us because they are worried, but if tomorrow the terrorist threat to the US recedes, then they may well leave us in the lurch," he warned.

The MEA officials too admit that the present Indo-US effort is only a tactical response to the threat. "We are not overjoyed but let us remember, that no country has suffered as much as India in terrorist violence. In all our four wars and Kargil, we lost about 11,000 people while terrorist violence alone has claimed 25,000 lives. Hence, any effort by any party to fight terrorism is most welcome," said an official.

Kartha has traced the growth of bin Laden from a Mujahid in Afghanistan fighting the Soviets to a cult figure today, revered by his followers and hated by his enemies. "When the US targeted his base camp in Afghanistan, they made him a cult hero, larger than life. Yet, far from being safe and secure, bin Laden is constantly on the run and dependent on Pakistani support," she said.

"Today, bin Laden is holed up in either Afghanistan or Pakistan. Either way, his life is in the hands of the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence, and he will do their orders. His call to liberate Kashmir may well have come under pressure from his Pakistani bosses. This way, Islamabad can claim innocence by saying that they are not supporting the terrorists in Kashmir, but bin Laden is and they have no control over his activities. Otherwise, why would bin Laden out of the blue call for a jihad against India?" asked Kartha.

Karim echoes Kartha's sentiments. "bin Laden's main fight is against the Saudi monarchy and the US. He has no interest in Afghan politics and even less in Kashmir. However, now by speaking of a jihad in Kashmir, the biggest gainer is the US because bin Laden's interest has shifted to India. Washington must be pleased at this turn of events," said the retired general.

In that sense, all the major state players are pleased with bin Laden's grand declaration of jihad. New Delhi because he has clubbed India and the US together, forcing a joint response; Washington because his attention will be more on Kashmir than Saudi Arabia and the US; and Islamabad because Pakistan can say that Kashmiri terrorists draw support from bin Laden and not them.

However, despite Pakistan's attempt to wriggle out, India is putting the pressure on the US to take action against Islamabad. "The US attacked both Afghanistan and Sudan, but targeting Afghanistan is pointless because the real masters are Pakistan. Today the US realises that, which is why they are so keen to have a joint response with India," said the MEA official.

"In a way, bin Laden as a threat to the US is like the chickens coming home to roost. When in the 1980s, the US wanted to supply Stinger missiles to the Mujahideen in Afghanistan, they used bin Laden as the conduit. Today, he is their enemy and it will be interesting to find out what went wrong," said Kartha.

Afsir Karim also sees another threat that may have influenced the US. "A few years ago, Pakistan was only interested in getting Kashmir. Now, Islamabad sees a bigger role for itself in the entire Central Asia region and the Islamic world. And it is using jihad and a Talibanised form of Islamic radicalism as a weapon to extend its influence, something that is causing real concern all round," he said.

While New Delhi is extremely wary of religious fundamentalism spreading its tentacles in the subcontinent, the first aim is to pressurise Pakistan to stop backing the Kashmiri terrorists. And it is willing to use all possible means to put the pressure on Islamabad. Including all and any assistance rendered from the US. And the joint working group is a small, but nevertheless very important, step in that direction.

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