Jason bourne
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![Let-NSG-depose-they-shot-the-terrorists-HC.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Ftimesofindia.indiatimes.com%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-16789377%2Cwidth-300%2Cresizemode-4%2FLet-NSG-depose-they-shot-the-terrorists-HC.jpg&hash=2fcc08f45e2ae12a5b5c1399b1c96b35)
NEW DELHI: Former national security advisor and governor of West Bengal M K Narayanan on Friday said formation of four National Security Guard (NSG) hubs in various cities was "a mistake" and even questioned the provision of commissioning commercial flights to ferry commandos in times of emergency.
Interestingly, these decisions were taken in the aftermath of the 26/11 attacks by then home minister P Chidambaram when Narayanan was NSA.
The West Bengal governor was speaking at a lecture organized as part of the 28th NSG Raising Day celebrations. The theme of the lecture was 'Internal Security and Role of Special Forces'.
Narayanan spoke extensively on NSG operations during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and also deliberated on increasing the mandate of the force.
Calling NSG the only "special force" in the country, Narayanan said it was caught in "doctrinal confusion" on its role and specially when and how to be used. He also blamed this confusion on part of the force as well as the government for the delay in its response to the Mumbai attacks.
Speaking on the role and operations of NSG, Narayanan said, "I have reservations over NSG regional hubs set up (after 26/11 attacks) in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Chennai. Making such regional hubs is a major mistake."
Narayanan questioned the idea of increasing the strength of the force through greater recruitment. "A special force does not draw strength from numbers. Its strength lies in the quality of its men. A special force should be leaner but highly trained, with state-of-the-art equipment. Emphasis should be on continuous modernization. Increasing numbers will have an impact on quality."
Both these decisions were taken post 26/11 attacks by the home ministry under Chidambaram. The idea was to have a quick response to 26/11-like situations through regional hubs as NSG was inordinately delayed during the Mumbai attacks.
Narayanan, however, said the delay was due to confusion on part of the government on when and how to use NSG. "There is a doctrinal confusion on the role of NSG. There is confusion on when and how to use it both on part of the force and the government. That is our biggest failure. In Mumbai, there was a delay as it was first thought to be a gang war. Also, the first response has to come from local forces and only when they are unable to control a situation, NSG should be pressed in."
Narayanan, however, said NSG should have its own aircraft and not depend on government or commercial aircraft. "If you get into the trap of commissioning commercial flight in times of emergency, you are going to be delayed," he said. Post 26/11, government had decided to give NSG powers to commission commercial flights in times of emergency.
Narayanan also said the force was underutilized and needed to be remodeled, given the demands of the modern era and its challenges. He said the government should think whether NSG could be used in Jammu and Kashmir, the North East and Naxal-affected areas. Without citing the recent abduction of Sukma collector by naxalites, Narayanan said the force was meant to be used in hostage situations.
"I think the force can be used, but sparingly, in Naxal-affected areas, specially in hostage situations," he said.
Narayanan was also critical of the force not concentrating on gathering its own intelligence and keeping itself updated on the nature and operations of various terror groups.
"NSG men walked into Mumbai attacks like blind men. You need to know who you are fighting, who you are behind. You are up against the finest brains on the other side," he said, adding that the force must study all terror groups, left-wing extremism and have as much intelligence as the Intelligence Bureau.
"I hope you have gone through the revelations made by (LeT operatives) Zabiuddin Ansari, David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana. That there are two Karachi projects," he said.