Editor,
Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu states – “There is no greater danger than underestimating your opponent.”
During the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) covertly armed the ill-equipped Mujahideen with the Stinger missile, a weapon that turned the tide of the battle. In the following years, the Agency tasked itself with locating and buying the remaining missiles under Operation MIAS (Missing in Action Stingers). Recently, Starlink devices were allegedly seized by security agencies during raids in Manipur.
Over 60% of the porous borders in Northeast India are shared with China, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Bhutan. A report in The Times of India dated November 10, 2022 says the Ministry of Home Affairs indicated the level of threat posed by foreign agencies as part of their grander scheme to destabilise trade and commerce even sparking religious ideologies.
Moreover, the magnitude of drug smuggling along these routes with proximity to the Golden Triangle makes the Act East Policy a difficult project. Recently Union Home Minister, Amit Shah while addressing the 72nd plenary session of the North Eastern Council, exuded confidence that with insurgency having ended the modus operandi of the policing system is set for a change.The question is whether the police are ready to transition into newer roles considering the Indian Police Act 1867 is a colonial act and the police are still stuck in that colonial past.
National security is a serious matter requiring constant evolution in understanding the dynamics of warfare through History, Geography, Geopolitics, Geo-economics, with the dominance of 4GW (4th generation warfare) combined with cyber kinetics, artificial intelligence, autonomous drones, curating policies and analysis from think-tanks to premier defence organisations. The security parameters of the country have to be weighed in with greater accountability.
In the emerging new security environment and the challenges posed, British historian and expert on transnational crime in his book, ‘The Weaponisation of Everything: A Field Guide to the New Way of War,’ gives a clearer picture about the rules of statecraft, which are rapidly transforming and tells us why the faster we learn the more advantageous our position will be.
Yours etc.,
Christopher Gatphoh,
Shillong-10
Bangladesh, the UP of India!
Editor,
In the ongoing political turmoil in Bangladesh an unabated wave of attacks on the minorities has reached a moment of truth when Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu religious leader and ISKC0N sanyasi was arrested while attempting to hold a peaceful rally in one of the premier locations in Bangladesh to highlight the atrocities faced by Bangladeshi Hindus. Till date he is under custody and any judicial action in his favour is apparently hanging fire indicating that the judicial dynamics in this country has been put in limbo, perhaps at the behest of the religious fundamentalist powers. Currently,reports of persecutions are zeroed in on Hindu believers and tomorrow it may snowball against other minorities and the ethnic Hynñiewtrep Christian minorities, who generally reside inside Bangladesh bordering Khasi-Jaintia Hils districts.
Suffice it to say that in the backdrop of the foregoing grim contentions in Bangladesh some political leaders and eminent citizens of India have urged the United Nations to rush in peace keeping forces into this country in order to ensure the safety of the unfortunate victims!
On the flip side of the episode however, there are some discerning citizens who aver that what’s occurring in Bangladesh is not dissimilar from what is happening in the State of UP under the Chief Ministership of Yogi Adityanath where stringent retributive procedures are executed mostly against the minorities for any alleged misdemeanor, at the drop of the hat. Here, the double – engine government is blatantly introducing the bulldozer governance by dismantling the houses,commercial establishment etc., especially those belonging to Muslims. Prima facie, is this nothing short of a selective justice?
Tragically, on November 24 this year when a team of Archaeological Survey of India(ASI) officials were directed by a court-mandated order to explore a 500 year old Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjjid, a systemic communal riot broke out leading to scores of people being injured and four youths( read Muslims) were shot dead, among them a teenager and many of those arrested will have to face the implacable National Security Act (NSA)! In the course of conversation, it may be pertinent to recall that the Masjid in question has been claimed by the Hindutva supporters to be originally a Harihar temple of Lord Vishnu. And for that matter, thanks to our ex- Chief Justice of India DY Chandrarchud for giving wings to such consequences by diluting the Places of Worship Act 1991; there are already noises that similar fates are awaiting Christian churches in our country!
I have a remote presentment that the same UP syndrome is fast smothering our nearest neighbouring State , Assam, with the recent announcement of the Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma banning lock stock and barrel the sale of beef all over Assam!
Correspondingly,while Bangladesh is currently bogged down with Islamist radicalism, U P is likewise overwhelmed by the Brahmical Hindutva project In this context, while casually discussing with some senior citizens concerning these problematic situations in Bangladesh vis-a-vis the State of UP, the latter have but aptly quipped,’Bangladesh, the UP of India ‘
Yours etc.,
J K Diengdoh,
Shillong-2
Of online frauds
Editor,
In recent times cases of online frauds have increased immensely. While many are reported many more remain unreported due to shame at being cheated. Online fraudsters know their victims bio-data including their names, addresses, email ID and bank information details. So who is the first culprit that leaks all data? India as per the last census has the highest population. There are poor people, the middle class, upper middle class and the rich so the culprit knows which victims to choose as per their financial background. So how are such sensitive details leaked? Secondly, are our phones safe considering we pay a huge amount in purchasing our mobile phones. Many of us are not aware of the security features. Clicking on a link or an SMS can prove to be fatal, financially. At times mobile phones are hacked. If the government can do nothing and cannot save victims from fraudsters, then it should at least make plans on how to improvise technology. All mobile phone companies should provide anti-virus and bar all spam calls and emails. The government taxes every individual on mobile phones, laptops etc., so why deny individuals protection from viruses?
Yours etc.,
Gautam Raj,
Shillong – 2