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Why Pakistan may have jettisoned Yasin Bhatkal - Rediff.com News
Colonel (retd) Anil Athale in Pune
It seems that like in the late 1980s, Pakistan feels that its support to the IM is giving diminishing returns and they have decided to jettison them. It is not unlikely that an American nudge and pressure to do this has been a significant factor in all these happenings, says Colonel (retd) Anil Athale
The arrest of Yasin Bhatkal, the alleged terrorist mastermind and co-founder of the Indian Mujahideen, from the India-Nepal border on August 29 is good news. One is not naive to think that this will mean the end of IM, but certainly it could mean at least the beginning of the end.
The IM reportedly came into existence to avenge the deaths of 800 odd co-religionists in the Gujarat riots of 2002. After murdering over 1,350 people, mostly in bomb blasts over last 11 years, the Indian Mujahideen seemed to be losing steam. It tried to whip up sentiments in India over the riots in Myanmar (Burma) and Assam but was not very successful. But most crucially, the IM seems to be losing the support of its patron and backer Pakistan and some other mid-eastern countries.
The curious circumstances under which Abdul Karim Tunda was arrested on the Indo-Nepal border raised more questions than answers. At the ripe age of 70, Tunda appeared to be a spent force. Within days of his arrest, he was operated at the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences hospital and fitted with a pacemaker (all at the cost of the Indian taxpayer). It almost seemed like he had come for medical tourism as many Pakistanis do.
Anyone who has studied the insurgency in the north-east is well aware how old insurgents used to surrender and live a peaceful retired life, all choreographed by the rebel outfits themselves. But then Tunda has been quickly followed by Yasin Bhatkal, one of the founders of IM and brother of Riyaz, the bomb-maker. He again has been found on the Indo-Nepal border.
The Indian security agencies have promised many more arrests in future. If this is to come true then it would mean a significant change in the Pakistani attitude towards terrorist outfits in India. Pakistani in no stranger to renditions of terrorist suspects to foreign countries.
Several fugitives wanted by the United States, United Kingdom and China have been arrested in Pakistan and handed over to the other countries. This was however never done in case of wanted fugitives of Indian origin. It is reasonable to surmise that both Tunda and Bhatkal have been arrested with the active co-operation/involvement of Pakistan.
What has prompted this change if any? Two things stand out; one, the recently elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made no bones about his intention to normalise relations with India. But the tension on the LoC in Kashmir put a spoke in his efforts. Even the hawkish army chief, General Ashfaq Kayani is on record of having identified domestic terrorism as the biggest threat to Pakistan.
Colonel (retd) Anil Athale in Pune
It seems that like in the late 1980s, Pakistan feels that its support to the IM is giving diminishing returns and they have decided to jettison them. It is not unlikely that an American nudge and pressure to do this has been a significant factor in all these happenings, says Colonel (retd) Anil Athale
The arrest of Yasin Bhatkal, the alleged terrorist mastermind and co-founder of the Indian Mujahideen, from the India-Nepal border on August 29 is good news. One is not naive to think that this will mean the end of IM, but certainly it could mean at least the beginning of the end.
The IM reportedly came into existence to avenge the deaths of 800 odd co-religionists in the Gujarat riots of 2002. After murdering over 1,350 people, mostly in bomb blasts over last 11 years, the Indian Mujahideen seemed to be losing steam. It tried to whip up sentiments in India over the riots in Myanmar (Burma) and Assam but was not very successful. But most crucially, the IM seems to be losing the support of its patron and backer Pakistan and some other mid-eastern countries.
The curious circumstances under which Abdul Karim Tunda was arrested on the Indo-Nepal border raised more questions than answers. At the ripe age of 70, Tunda appeared to be a spent force. Within days of his arrest, he was operated at the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences hospital and fitted with a pacemaker (all at the cost of the Indian taxpayer). It almost seemed like he had come for medical tourism as many Pakistanis do.
Anyone who has studied the insurgency in the north-east is well aware how old insurgents used to surrender and live a peaceful retired life, all choreographed by the rebel outfits themselves. But then Tunda has been quickly followed by Yasin Bhatkal, one of the founders of IM and brother of Riyaz, the bomb-maker. He again has been found on the Indo-Nepal border.
The Indian security agencies have promised many more arrests in future. If this is to come true then it would mean a significant change in the Pakistani attitude towards terrorist outfits in India. Pakistani in no stranger to renditions of terrorist suspects to foreign countries.
Several fugitives wanted by the United States, United Kingdom and China have been arrested in Pakistan and handed over to the other countries. This was however never done in case of wanted fugitives of Indian origin. It is reasonable to surmise that both Tunda and Bhatkal have been arrested with the active co-operation/involvement of Pakistan.
What has prompted this change if any? Two things stand out; one, the recently elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made no bones about his intention to normalise relations with India. But the tension on the LoC in Kashmir put a spoke in his efforts. Even the hawkish army chief, General Ashfaq Kayani is on record of having identified domestic terrorism as the biggest threat to Pakistan.
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