A year into the Pathankot terrorist attack, a charge-sheet has surfaced. Prima facie, there is nothing earthshaking about what the National Investigation Agency has come up with. It has predictably named the JeM and its leader Masood Azhar as being the mastermind in the perpetration of this act.
This attack had resulted in damage which was limited to a few casualties from among Indian army personnel. No harm could be done to the air force base, other than to the shrubs around it, and nothing to the fleet of fighter jets, those that could have been just sitting ducks.
The NIA investigations have come up with names of four Pakistani operatives, including Masood and his brother, and it has also named two handlers. Proof is also cited in the form of evidences like the terrorists making phone calls to Pakistan from around the air base, as also of their use of weapons with Pakistani markings.
It is open to question by anyone as to how far are these going to be of any help to ultimately nail down the Azhars and their agents.
It is likely that the NIA did a good job in professionally conducting the investigations and coming up with unassailable evidence. Having identified the hands behind the terror act, their shadows reaching up to Pakistan, the logical next step is for Pakistan to act — in the form of bringing to book the men involved in this act.
It is here that the known problem arises. Pakistan can be trusted to dismiss the findings of the NIA with a simple wave of its hand, and say it’s just another cook-up to tarnish the “fair” name of the Islamic nation.
The special Pak investigation team that had visited the spot with an ISI officer in tow and after due permission (invitation?) From the Indian government has already done so. Of course the Indian side does not have the grit and determination to call the enemy nation’s bluff once and for all.
For long years, India has failed to have a meaningful Pakistan policy. Despite the perpetration of several terrorist acts, the Indian leadership is not willing to take on Pakistan. This even as the Pakistani establishment, notably ISI, is directly involved in provocative acts as part of its declared strategy to “inflict a thousand wounds” on India. India pays a price for having a mischief-maker as its neighbour.
Considering the intensity of the Pakistani terror offensives, they are nothing more than pinpricks on a nation the size and strength of India. India, as a nation has little or no fighting spirit. Pakistan, with its army of determined politicians and terror modules, takes full advantage.
Looking at it realistically, the NIA charge-sheet is nothing more than the worth of toilet paper. It is, to say the least, a process which is pointless to be gone through. What however is important is that India has never tried to work on a Plan B, an alternative scenario, wherein the perpetrators of Pathankot, Uri and such attacks, as also the Pakistani establishment that works from behind, are made to pay a price for their wanton acts.
It’s up to the Indian establishment to come up with meaningful step to stem the tide of offensives from the other side of the border, and make sure that this nation no more finds itself on the defensive or allows itself to be a plaything in the hands of terrorists holed up in a neighbouring country.
Sadly, our political leadership is busy bashing home opponents rather than take up issues of national security.