Our nation is progressing and it will develop at a faster pace. It is necessary that we maintain internal peace and goodwill among our citizens. The government must maintain friendly relations with our neighbours. Since last few years, terrorism and infiltration from across the borders have increased significantly. Why is this happening? Despite high alert some terrorists managed to sneak into the Pathankot air base. They possess AK-47 but our jawans were holding old rifles. Soon after sneaking in, the terrorists had split into two groups. While one group immediately got into action and engaged the forces, the other moved to the airmen’s barrack. The Pathankot air force base is spread over several kilometres, which include forest areas. It houses a fleet of MiG-21 fighter jets and Mi-25 and Mi-35 attack helicopters, along with other military hardware. There are CCTV systems at the gates and other strategic points. But the base is monitored through aerial surveillance and watch towers installed in a gap of 100-200 metres.
I noticed a NSG expert on television who apparently was wearing a bullet proof jacket with the words ‘NSG’ written prominently on it. Do you think that terrorists will run away after watching this label? Then I tried to assess his physical fitness and facial countenance. I feel that even at this age I will look fitter and my face will have better expression. I have been saying that youth must undergo compulsory national service but the government has failed to implement this policy.
How come terrorists always have such an easy cross over at the border? Is it a coincidence that night vision equipment at the exact crossing point was not working? Our borders are made porous by vested interests who give two hoots to the security of India. The infiltration also raises a serious question mark if the security agencies are turning a blind eye on the use of the route that is used by Punjab’s strong drug cartel. Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of reversing foreign policy from “outcomes to optics”, Congress stepped up attack over government’s handling of ties with Pakistan in the wake of the Pathankot terror attack which came within days of his Lahore visit.
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) based militant body United Jihad Council (UJC) claimed responsibility for the attack. The UJC spokesperson said that militants in Kashmir have been fighting Indian Forces for last 27 years and that India “adopted all available means to crush the Kashmir movement”. There are serious security lapses and intelligence failures in Pathankot. Corruption is root cause of such complete failure in this country promoted by corrupt politicians of country. High time action is taken against forces manning our international borders.
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)