Tit for Tat: India’s vigorous counterterrorism strategy

In the October 10, 2023 issue of the Times of India, there was an article, “Who will blink first, India or Canada?” The answer has become obvious now; Canada has blinked first. After dropping out of the Summit of Parliaments of G20 Nations held in India, Canada announced on October 16, that it would continue military cooperation with India. For the first time, Canada ordered Khalistanis to remove posters threatening India and her diplomats and to tone down their anti India rhetoric. In a recent statement, Canadian opposition leader Mr. Pierre Riolivere condemned Trudeau’s irrational activities and promised that when he comes to power, he will normalize relations with India.
After the Canadian incident, the U.S. government announced that it thwarted the attempted assassination of another Khalistani Punnun. There were a few articles in the USA as well as in India that this attempt would adversely affect the relationship between India and the U.S. Again, besides some rhetoric, nothing significant will happen since there are bigger issues involved between the two countries. Steps/actions taken by the Modi Government have significantly reduced terrorism activities in India. As per South Asia Intelligence Report (a Washington, DC based organization), in 2013, the number of terrorist victims was 2,730 which declined to 880 in 2023. The Modi government’s first focus was Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). After the abrogation of Article 370, the government implemented strict security measures. In spite of Pakistan’s increased anger against India and provocations of Kashmiri Separatists, the terrorist attacks and killings have been reduced significantly in J&K. After decades, J&K has been peaceful; movie theaters have been operating; and in Srinagar and other parts of J&K, the Independence Day was celebrated with flag hoisting ceremonies.

The open rebellions by Amitpal Singh in Punjab in February, 2023, significantly flared up the issue of Khalistan again. Both the Indian and Punjab Governments acted wisely and did not arrest Sikh leaders when they staged a threatening ruckus at a Gurudwara. In fact, both the governments used the ruckus in the Gurudwara as a disrespect for Sikh holy place against the Sikh terrorists and they lost the respect of Sikhs. Later, most of these Sikh terrorists were arrested. After evading arrest for a number of days, when Amitpal realized that he may be gunned down, he decided to surrender at a Gurudwara. He and his wife have been arrested and put in jail in the Northeast. No one hears about him and his cohorts anymore. After quieting of Sikh terrorists in Punjab, a number of incidents happened overseas. A Sikh Terrorist in Pakistan was killed. The leader of the Khalistani Group in England mysteriously died in a hospital. Then Mr. Nijjar, a well-known Khalistani was killed outside a Gurudwara in Canada. This incident raised an international diplomatic uproar. Canada expelled one Indian diplomat. India reacted strongly and not only the government ordered the expulsion of Canadian diplomats out of India, India ordered Canada to significantly reduce its Staff in all its Consulates in India. When another Khalistani terrorist was killed in Canada, no one raised any voice. After Mr. Trudeau’s criticism of India’s about Nijjar’s killing, the Kahlistanis were infuriated in a number of countries and issued threats against India. However, they have now been quietened by the governments in Canada, UK, USA, Germany, and Australia. Now things are getting back to normal between Canada and India.

Recently, a number of terrorists in Pakistan have also been killed interestingly with the knowledge of the Pakistan government and in a couple of cases with the help of Pakistan.

It should be pointed out that India is a newcomer in targeting terrorists on the foreign soil. The U.S. is one of the earliest countries to do so. The recent two famous targets were Osama Bin Laden and an Iranian army Commander. Russia, Israel and China are the other countries frequently targeting terrorists on the foreign soil.

Tough tactics against terrorists in J&K and Punjab are not new. When Jagmohan was Governor of J&K, he ordered the sealing of the entire neighborhood where the terrorists, after committing terrorist activities, used to disappear. Kashmiri fundamentalists hated his tough tactics.
When Bhinderwala started openly threatening Hindus in Punjab, Mrs. Gandhi took a right decision to move the army into the Gurudwara where the army killed Bhinderwala in a shootout. After that retaliation, Khalistanis increased their terrorist activities all over Punjab. Then Punjab’s Chief Minister Brar, who was later killed by Khalistanis. appointed KPS Gill as Punjab’s Police Chief and both started dealing firmly with the terrorists. When I met Mr. Gill at a function, we started discussing the Punjab situation. He mentioned that he was the first Swayamsewak at the first RSS Shakha in Montgomery, Pakistan.

Although, a number of incidents were shameful, tough actions by Modi in Manipur would eventually quiet down terrorist activities mostly funded and armed by foreign entities. Most of the terrorist outfits in Northeast have reached or would reach Settlements with the Government of India. In Chattisgarh and Jharkhand also, terrorist activities have declined substantially. Although ruthless actions by the Indian government cannot be morally and ethically supported, Mr. Modi found out that over the years the soft responses to terrorists did not get much result and a number of security personnel, political leaders and citizens were being killed mercilessly by foreign funded and senseless armed terrorists. Soon terrorists will realize that they would be dealt harshly. Now Terrorist Mukt Bharat is becoming a reality. Hopefully, terrorists would decide to live in peace and be productive citizens. Their families and fellow citizens will appreciate it.