Call for Transnational Jihad – LeT 1985-2014

I recently completed my reading of this encyclopedia on Islamic Jihad and Terrorism as they are manifested in South Asia and the rest of the world. I can say confidently that those scholars, journalists, analysts and strategists that believe that the War on Terror is against Al Qaeda are severely mistaken. Today, Al Qaeda has been reduced to an almost irrelevant status and the splinter group that the late Abu Musab Al Zarqawi formed has gone on to become what we know as ISIS (which is currently led by Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi). But many may not know that there is a more menacing threat to world peace. That threat is the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) which is based in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. The truth is that the poisonous jihadi ideology of members of Juhayman’s Ikhwan has proliferated all over the Islamic world from North Africa, the Middle East and to South Asia. That ideology has created a two-headed monster where ISIS is the formidable jihadi group in the Middle East, and the LeT in South Asia.

Arif Jamal’s book goes in to depth in discussing the genesis of the LeT, the role it played in the Mumbai 28/11 attacks, its plans to encircle India in tandem with nuclear armed Pakistan, and its global ambition to re-establish the “Caliphate”. Even today, the world is not paying enough attention to the LeT menace. To give you an idea of the scale of the LeT’s operation, it has provided military, guerrilla and terrorist training to over 500, 000 mujaahids (holy warriors) according to 2008 estimates. There are signs in Indian Kashmir and South India of ISIS recruitment and the LeT has already been working there. In the coming weeks, months, and years, we may see a formal merger between ISIS and the LeT. Such a possibility should be mitigated as soon as possible for world peace.

Balochistan – Hindus under constant attack

On an alarming note, we have heard from sources that ISIS in Balochistan has issued a threat to Balochi Hindus to convert to Islam or die. In addition, they say they will destroy the Mata Hinglaj Shaktipeeth (Nani Mandir). This development may be an indicator of a merger between ISIS and LeT. We can expect zero protection of the Balochi Hindus and their places of worship by the Pakistani establishment as it too is working hand-in-glove with these evil forces.

Reading this book will explain to the reader why he/she must revise his/her knowledge of the terror outfits in the world, how they operate, and what drives them. The War on Terror is far from over and this book explains exactly why that is so. I highly recommend this book to anyone concerned with world peace and fighting terrorism.

Thanks,
A.Dube

Mumbai attacks 26.11

Mumbai, India (CHAKRA) The release of the online Flash Mob Mumbai video showing the spoilt western wannabe youth of Mumbai dancing on the very site of gruesome terrorist attacks at the rail station would be laughable if it was not so insulting to the memory of those innocent people who lost their lives. Emulating a more famous event in London’s Liverpool Street the naïve and pathetic ‘kool yaars’ strut their stuff and encourage bemused onlookers to do the same. If there was ever a means of ‘getting down’ in the wake of further terrorist attacks, this is most definitely not it. It certainly would not be amusing if in the next Pakistan sponsored, backed and funded attack (the Mumbai attacks of 26/11 were by the terrorists’ own admission, merely a dress rehearsal for something much bigger and nastier) the Indian police and army started dancing in the same stupid manner when ordered by their superiors to ‘get down’ against a volley of bullets, shells and bombs. Do the avant-garde detached elite chattering classes think that dancing will scare further terrorist attacks off?

But then this symptomatic of a general sclerosis within Hindu society as India edges forward in its belated attempts to join the modern world. Bollywood has transformed itself from being laughable yet escapist, to being trashy, cheap and narcissistic making it almost indistinguishable from softcore pornography. Even that boundary is crossed with the latest series of reality television show ‘Big Boss’ where hardcore porn star Sunny Leone (Kirran Malhotra) has decided to enter the house as a springboard for what she hopes will be the launch of her career in Bollywood. This is a country where elections are decided on whoever gives away free rice, flour, and television sets rather than actual policies. The Romans used to call this behaviour ‘bread and circuses’. Keep the masses supplied with cheap food and entertainment and they will not ask any inconvenient questions about the status quo and how they lived daily hand to mouth, unable and incapable of planning for an uncertain future. Like any addiction this form of escapism does not solve the problems at hand and is ultimately self-destructive.

Unlike the Romans the ancient culture of India has survived. The reason for this is the deep spiritual values which were the foundation of Hindu civilisation. It is this antiquity which the Pakistan-sponsored terrorists wished to destroy and will continue to attack until their holy war has annihilated it. However Hindu culture has no inherent right to survive.

Mumbai flash mob 2011

Looking at the pathetic display in the video under discussion its own worst enemy may not even be terrorism but a lack of faith in itself and the unspiritual dysfunctionality caused by dislocation from its own roots. India has only survived because of its spiritual values. Take these away and what do you have left? A porn ‘actress’ on prime time television, a film industry with even more fake ingredients and cheesiness than the contents of junk food, and a bunch of fools who think dancing in public works as some magic talisman to ward off evil terrorists. America’s response to 9/11was not football cheerleaders dancing to uninspiring emo boy band rubbish but unflinching patriotism which saw them going to the very hive of al-Qaeda itself, not too far from India itself.

Dancing on the site of the Twin Towers would be unthinkable. Even if it would be well-intentioned to show defiance and aspiration to communal harmony it would nevertheless quite rightly be seen as an insult to the memory of those killed in the attacks. In similar vein how does this stupid dancing in Mumbai honour the memory of those killed in cold-blood as the jihadis selected their specific Hindu, Jewish and western targets. Did Israeli commandos dance in order to end the hostage taking by terrorists at Entebbe airport in Uganda?

Why then do these spoilt brats think India should act any difference by taking some irrelevant moral high ground? The jihad ideology regards Bollywood and these very ‘cool yaars’ as examples of the degenerate Hindu culture which needs to be wiped from the face of the planet. If these bohemian youngsters with their fake American accents and adoption of the worst aspects of western culture which makes towns across Britain general no-go areas on Friday night with their morass of binge drinking, mindless violence and self-destructive behaviour, wish to continue in their passive naivety then they can do so without expecting the masses to follow them like sheep.

These soulless androids show disturbing parallels with the peaceniks on top of the U.S. Bank Tower in the science fiction film Independence Day: and we all know what happened to them. The same fate awaits the eager participants in the dancing video as they become the enthusiastic welcoming party for the next terrorist attack. These real-life buffoons are merely the next excuse for the terrorists to expunge those they regard as a detriment to human existence in their macabre revival of eugenics as they exterminate anyone they perceive as subhuman.

by Ranbir Singh (HHR)

Ajmal Kasab Confessed to the 26 11 Mumbai Terrorist Attacks

This century, the word ‘K’ has dominated India in the arenas of Business, Government and especially Television. But only one ‘K’ shook India within hours – “Kasab”, the only surviving terrorist of 26/11. On the night of November 26, 2008 a war against India was waged which went on till the afternoon of November 29. Only Kasab was captured alive while the other nine terrorists were killed by the security forces. The Kasab trial went on for two years before a death sentence was passed to him on five counts of murder, conspiracy to murder, waging war against the country, abetting murder and indulging in terrorist activities, on the 6th of May, 2010. Kasab was also awarded life imprisonment on five other counts, which included attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy and violation of the Explosive Substances Act. Under the law, death sentence awarded to an accused by trial court comes up before the high court for confirmation. The High Court confirmed the order passed by the trial court on 21st February 2011.

Until the verdict was passed, during the two years, there was a huge uproar among the Indians which was justified. A national newspaper reported that “The cash-strapped Congress-led Democratic Front government in Maharashtra has been spending well over Rs 2 lakh a day on India’s priciest prisoner”. (http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-05-05/news/27590949_1_arthur-road-jail-ajmal-kasab-jail-premises)

The Government of India gets money in the form of taxes paid by the citizens of India. The people were infuriated as to why their money was being spent for the protection and treatment of a perpetrator when there was enough evidence against him in the form of CCTV camera footage. The world witnessed the worst form of fear during 9/11. Osama did not go unpunished. He was brutally killed by the American Security Forces in Abbotabad, Pakistan. Don’t we wonder why Osama wasn’t given a chance to be tried by the American Jury? Then why is the Indian Government treating the Kasab issue so lightly? Shouldn’t he be dealt with in the same way the Americans dealt with their terrorist? But our Government claims that they are happy that Kasab was tried in a normal court of law and then given the death sentence. In a way, our democratic spirit is being enshrined.

Even though there was a sense of relief amongst the country and the families of those who were killed in the attack, when the death sentence was passed, there is another thought that confronts us. Do suicide bombers and terrorists really fear death? Kasab knew what he had come for and also knew his fate. Then will the death sentence create a sense of fear in his followers or will it make him a martyr? Surely such a subversive act must be punished in the most severe way. Special Public Prosecutor in the case, Ujjwal Nikam, opinionated that “Kasab is a killing machine and the manufacturing factory of such killing machines are still in Pakistan”. We all know that Kasab’s family was promised Rs 1.5 lakh for his sacrifice by the LeT. If such atrocious acts are awarded and such fanatics are treated as martyrs, then is a death penalty the right approach?

The passing of the death sentence opens up the following avenues for Kasab:

1. Appeal to the Supreme Court.

2. If the Supreme Court upholds the judgment of the High Court and the Lower Court, Kasab can file for a clemency plea to the President of India.

If Kasab files for a plea in the Supreme Court, and if the Supreme Court grants a life sentence, then will the Government spend some more money for the terrorist?

Capital Punishment in India is given in the rarest of rare cases. Currently, there are more than 100 people who have been awarded the death sentence but are in the queue to be executed.

Article 72 of the Indian Constitution gives the President the powers to reduce the sentence or grant a pardon to a convict, especially those involving capital punishment. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, between 1995-2006, the President has rejected seven mercy petitions and commuted two, while between 1985 to 1994 it rejected 41 mercy petitions and commuted four. As many as 173 such petitions were received between 1975 to 1984 of which 121 were rejected and 52 commuted. However, a maximum of 543 mercy petitions were commuted between 1965 to 1974 during which 491 such petitions were rejected. According to Amnesty International figures at least 100 people in 2007, 40 in 2006, 77 in 2005, 23 in 2002, and 33 in 2001 were sentenced to death (but not yet executed). Looking at these figures, if Kasab is given an option to ask for mercy, how long will it be before he recompensates for his doings? The procedure for a clemecy plea (mercy petition) is long before final justice actually takes place. The clemency plea could lead to:

1. Grant of Pardon

2. Rejection of Plea

This again would put Kasab in the queue before the other convicts are executed. This is now a political issue as we have to wait and watch if the Government of India executes this sentence expeditiously or will allow the queue system to continue.

The question to raise here is, is a death penalty or a life sentence enough for Kasab or should he be treated as mercilessly as he acted? Is this act of leniency on part of the Government of India assuring terrorists such as Kasab that they will be treated ordinarily and hence lead to recurring attacks? These issues are yet to be dealt with and answers awaited for. But the real issue which needs to be highlighted is that, is the death penalty really a deterrant for any terrorist?

(Mehak Budhrani is a Lawyer and Human Rights Activist)

Mumbai (July 13, 2011) has seen many terrorist attacks by Islamists

By Mehak Budhrani

A day after the cabinet reshuffle, 3 bombs went off at Mumbai’s heavily populated and commercial locations. Very easily the media and the government say that it is the spirit of the people to move on to their normal lives. Well, the question we need to ask is do we have a choice? Is our spirit being taken for granted or are we letting our spirit be tested everytime there is an attack?

In the past decade, there have been a total of 105 blasts, over 918 deaths leaving 2533 injured. Cities all over India have been attacked and our commercial capital has been attacked more than once! How much is too much? We have heard and seen the blasts all over India, but what has been done to secure our lives? These recurring acts just go to show that our lives add very little value to the spirit of the nation. Till when do we want to let these people trample over us and leave a mark of victory with their henious crimes?
We boast of having one of the strongest military and naval bases in the world. Then how can one of the world’s most strongest nations have recurring attacks? There are two points to be noted here:
1. Why isn’t there anything being done about our nations security?
2. Why aren’t we as citizens raising our voice for our own protection?

What can be more important to a nation than the citizens itself? The right to protection has to be guaranteed by our Government. Committees, such as the Pradhan Committee, were set up after 26/11 but till date the report never materialised and it still lies on paper. Is it because of this lacunae in the Government Mumbai was attacked yet again on 13th July 2011?

We are not living in the stone age where we have to fight for land or peace. This is the 21st century and we have the right to live in peace and harmony. Treaties have been signed for peace but what use are those treaties when they are not followed.

Our Mother, India, and her children have a very high level of tolerance and hence we are just watching all that is happening before us.
Our eyes are open, mouths are shut. Our ears are open listening to the the loud dhamakas around us, but our hands do not have the power to stop anything. Even though India got her freedom in 1947, It will be long before we will be free and independence still has to get its true meaning.

In the past few years, India has witnessed frames of fear and terror in different cities at different times. The people want answers but don’t know where to seek them from. They want peace but all they get in return is war. They want the right to move freely, as ensured by the constitution, but everytime they go out they’re scared as they don’t know whether they will return home to their family the same day.

Our freedom always comes with a price. Subash Chandra Bose said, “Give me your blood and I will give you freedom”. This either means that we give our blood for the freedom we deserve, or give our blood for nothing.

We are hopeful that this war against terror will be won. It requires cooperation from our Government, the Military and the common man. It is not an individual conflict. This is for our mother, our India, our home. We have to understand that terrorism is not a natural disaster that is an act of God, but it is a threat to our national security and our ancient heritage which can be avoided and has to be stopped by us.

From this day on, I pledge to declare war on Terrorism in India – do you?