The best candidate for that are dalit groups in india that are present all over india, they are marginalized and have genuine grievances but somehow the establishment's focus is always on bearded sikhs which are good for nothing.
Agreed.
I must tell you that I am a total layman on security matters and issues. So, your post entails a lot of learning for me, and people like me. Thanks.
The highlighted portion in your post reflects, to some extent, my concern. What havoc RAW has played in Pakistan, during the last about 20 years, particularly in terms of its economic implications; we have grossly failed to respond to it. Of course, you have also variously pointed it out.
My objection on the military command structure of the ISI was not with regard to the criteria of professional competence. No. It was more to do with the occupational psychology. I believe that a soldier is trained, on certain well-established professional norms and conventions, which don't go very well with the kind of covert operations, required to be carried out, in other states. They need far more callous and cold professionals. That's why perhaps most of such agencies don't go for the soldiers, who would otherwise appear to be very suitable, for such jobs. That's how I think.
Yes. But India don't accommodate them in their country and hence can maintain its denial, at least, at a public level.
The highlighted portion of your post is what was in my mind. This is where, I think, that ISI has failed, in comparison with RAW. They have used every insurgency in Pakistan, to its hilt, against us.
Once again, thanks.
Sir, thank you for your points.
1.) Regarding the military mindset
Totally agree. A "yessir" culture is not what an intel agency needs. Officers should be able to challenge their superiors and not worry about their promotions being compromised. On the other hand, there are military units, particularly the SSG, whose entire existence has essentially been about operating deep behind enemy lines. Therefore, the ISI relies heavily on the SSG and often hires retired SSG personnel and/or recruits them directly for postings. Do keep in mind that the CIA's covert action arm, the Special Operations Group within the Special Activities Division, is 90% ex-military (particularly special operations forces, just like our SSG.)
So, this is a double-edged sword. Don't forget that civilians can now rise to the level of a Maj. Gen in the ISI, and with hundreds of civilian officers, there is a good mix of thinking. But your point is valid. My point, instead, was that the civilians already have the IB and nobody is stopping them from molding it into a formidable institution (instead it just serves as the eyes and ears of the PM and has become unnecessarily politicized), so the ISI can remain military-dominated.
2.) Regarding housing proxies
You are absolutely right. India has the fortunate (for them) advantage of being able to use Afghan soil for terror activities against us. Simple geography doesn't afford us such a luxury. Of course intel agencies can and do support domestic uprisings in various countries, but you almost always need a neighboring country to do it in so the uprising's leadership has a safe haven.
3.) About the rising discrepancy between the damage done by RAW vs. ISI
Again, do keep in mind that the Kashmir insurgency keeps a group of Indian troops
the size of the entire Pakistani Army bogged down in the Valley and therefore unavailable for immediate offensive action. That is quite an achievement. But, other than this, you are absolutely right. And this is a dangerous trend. A visionary of great audacity is needed to reverse it. So far, none is on the horizon it seems. I would just adjust your time period more to the last 10 years (rather than 20.) In the 80s and 90s, about a dozen armed insurgencies were active in India, apparently with ISI support.