Indo-Pak Relation
Introduction
Indo-Pak relations have been strained by a number of historical and political issues,and are defined by the violent partition of British India in 1947,the Kashmir dispute and yhe numerous military conflicts fought between the two nations.
After the dissolution of the British Raj in 1947,two new sovereign nations were formed the Union of India and Dominion of Pakistan. Soon after their independence India and Pakistan established diplomatic relations but the violent partition and numerous territorial disputes disturbed their relation. Since their independence the two countries have fought major wars. There have been numerous attempts to improve the relationship like the Shimla Summit.the Agra Summit and the Lahore Summit. But the relations between the two soured particularly after Siachen conflict,Kashmir insurgency in 1989,1999 the Kargil war,2001 Indian Parliament attack,2007 Samjhauta Express bombings,2008 Mumbai attacks.
Pakistani troops have fired at Indian position in Mendhar sector on the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir,in yet another violation of the bilateral ceasefire.There have been 90 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops since January 2013.
Bilateral Trade Relations
Bilateral trade dialogue with Pakistan was re-initiated with the 5th round of India-Pakistan Commerce Secretary level talks held at Islamabad in April 2011.This was followed by further rounds of talks held in November 2011 at Delhi and September 2012 at Islamabad.The first ever bilateral visit of Commerce Minister of India to Pakistan was undertaken in February 2012. Both sides have made considerable progress in improving bilateral trade ties.Pakistan has assured the International Monetary Fund that it was moving forward with eliminating the negatiove list on trade with India and granting the most favoured nation status to India as part of its overall trade policy. Pakistan has said that they are moving forward with eliminating the negative list on trade with India and extending India MFN status, and shifting to sensitive list under SAFTA(South Asia Free Trade Agreement) regime to facilitate increased regional trade.However Pakistan missed its own December 31 deadline for phasing out the negative list and giving India MFN status.The bilateral trade dialogue has opened possibilities for enhanced trade in Petroleum products and natural gas,trade in power and opening of commercial bank branches on reciprocal basis. The trade dialogue also provided an impetus to a more liberalized visa regime for the businee communities of both countries. The new visa agreement was signed in September 2012.
India has also reduced the SAFTA Sensitive List for Non Least Developed Countries from 878 to 614 by reduction of 264 tariff lines consisting of Textile lines-155, Agriculture-106 lines and Petroleum-3 lines.
Drawbacks
Islamabad lodging a strong protest with India over the detention of a Pakistani fisherman by the BSF near the disputed area of Sir Creek.According to Islamabad 79 Pakistani fisherman have been arrested in 2013 alone.
The thorny issue of Kashmir separates the two countries. Presently, differences over the question of demilitarization and self-governance in Kashmir persist. Cross border terrorism is another major problem. India has accused Pakistan of aiding and abetting cross border terrorism in India, especially in Kashmir.
The bilateral water disputes like the Wullar barrage-Tulbul project, Kishanganga project, Nimoo-Bazgo hydroelectric plant still pending. It bseems that Pakistan feels that if there would development of the region in terms of electricity and water management, then their designs would be deeply affected and therefore, they have tried to misinterpret the provisions of Indus water treaty to inhibit the growth and development of the region.
Pakistans ISI is reportedly setting up new bases in Nepal,Bangladesh etc. to carry ouy anti-India operations. There are reports that the ISI is trying to establish links with anti-India organizations like ULFA.
Pakistan is handling management control of a strategic but commercially troubled sea water Gwadar port to a Chinese company.The agreement to transfer the port to the state-owned China Overseas Port Holding Company was signed.Pakistan has remained an important part of the Chinese game plan. The growing interference of Pakistan in Nepal and Srilanka indicates that Pakistan has decided outrightly to undermine Indian presence in its neighbouring countries.
Indo-Srilanka Relation
Introduction
Sri Lanka and India, although separated only by a channel, have never gotten along well. It is like the UK and France being at war with each other, centuries ago. Both Colombo and New Delhi are really distant neighbours. Their mistrust is so deep that one attributes all types of motives to the other. Yet, all their enmity is not over territory or policies but on the discriminatory treatment meted out to Tamils living in Sri Lanka.
Over the years, Colombo has given New Delhi the impression that Sri Lanka is working out an arrangement whereby the Tamils would enjoy autonomy within the country. This hope got a fillip when the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was eliminated lock, stock, and barrel in a war which lasted for decades, and ended four years ago. But President Mahinda Rajapaksa dashed all hopes, during the Independence Day address last month, when he ruled out any kind of political autonomy to the Tamils who are concentrated in the north-eastern province.
To New Delhi, President Rajapaksas statement has come as a rude shock but it still believes that he would ultimately fulfil his assurance of remaining fully committed to facilitating the Thirteenth Amendment and solving the ethnic issue. In the Thirteenth Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution of 1978, introduced in the aftermath of the India-Sri Lanka Accord of 1987, there is a provision to provide regional autonomy to the countrys tightly-held unitary system of governance. It is regarded as an acknowledgement of the political aspirations of the Tamils
India strongly believes that a meaningful devolution package,building upon the 13th amendment,would lead towards a lasting political settlement on many of these issues and create situations in which all citizens of Sri Lanka, irrespective of their ethnicity, can find justice, dignity, equality and self-respect.
Bilateral Trade Relations
Sri Lanka is Indias major trading partner in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation(SAARC) region. Total trade between both the countries has now crossed 5 billion US$. Deeper economic engagement with Sri Lanka (including free trade agreement) has helped India to more than double its exports within a two year span. Indiass trade with Sri Lanka has shown significant increase from USD 3465.39 million in 2007-08 to USD 5096.98 million in 2011-12 .Trade is skewed in favour of India exporting goods worth $4.3billion to Sri Lanka in 2011-12.From $78million in 2009, when SriLankan internal strife ended, Indian investment in Sri Lanka almost doubled to $147million in 2011. Tata, Bajaj, Godrej, Bharti and RPG have established their presence in Sri Lanka. Also India is a major contributor to Sri Lankas tourism industry.
The India-Sri Lanka Bilateral Agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons signed in June 2010 paved the way for the transfer of the four prisoners to jails in their home country.
The Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement, has brought many benefits to both the nations, enabling two way benefits and investments in many sectors.A Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and a Bilateral Investment Promotion Agreement have been signed.
The Indian Government has agreed to provide financial assistance to develop northern Jaffna peninsulas biggest harbour Kankasuntharai(KKS).
The Second NSA Meeting on Trilateral Cooperation on Maritime Security between India, the Maldives and Sri Lanka took place in Colombo on 8 July,2013. During this meeting the three sides discussed a wide range of topics like enhancing in Maritime Domain Awareness through provision of Long Range Identification and Tracking services,and Merchant Ship Information System software by India.
Drawbacks
In August 2013,India had summoned Sri Lankan High Commissioner and issued a demarche on the issue of 114 fisherman lodged in Lankan jails. It was pointed out that delay in release of the fisherman not only deprives them of their livelihood but also creates anxiety among their family members. Even news of harsh treatment on the fisherman has also been heard.
China has been investing heavily in Sri Lanka, with loans and expertise instrumental in building ports, highways, railways, and power plants in the Indian Ocean nation.Sri Lanka and China will finalise a FTA ahead of a Commonwealth summit in Colombo in November 2013.Recently China has agreed to Colonmbos request for USD 580 million loan for infrastructure development.
Sri Lanka was not keen on having a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with India, as it feared granting more Indian access to its markets would destroy its countrys domestic industry.
The UNHRC a US sponsored resolution on human rights violation in Sri Lanka with 25 countries including India voting in favour of the document in the 47 nation strong body. In 2012 after India voted against Sri Lanka in UNHRC, the island nation increased duties on vehicle imports.
The growing closeness with China, Pakistanand Myanmar, India feels that Sri Lanka is drifting apart and there is a immediate need of a peace agreement which could rejoin India and Sri Lanka.
India-Bangladesh Relations
INTRODUCTION
India and Bangladesh have long shared a warm and friendly relation. Bangladesh shares a 4095 km international border with five Indian states of West Bengal,Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram.
However, since the partition of India in 1947, Bangladesh (formerly East Bengal and East Pakistan) became a part of Pakistan. Following the Liberation War of 1971, Bangladesh gained its independence and established relations with India. The political relationship between India and Bangladesh has passed through cycles of hiccups. However, both countries today recognise the importance of good relations, regional security and South Asian economic integration. Relations have improved significantly since Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's state visit to India in January 2010, which sought to revive Indo-Bangla relations in the emerging Asian economic order. The two countries are undertaking strategic partnerships in developing regional infrastructure, anti-terrorism, greater trade, mutual access to markets, environmental protection, hydroelectric power, energy, international co-operation and cultural relations.
Bilateral Relations
A MOU on establishment of Border-Haats at Baliamari-Kalaichari and Lawaghar-Balat at Meghalaya,India-Bangladesh border was signed on 236rd October,2010.The commodities at Border-Haat are allowed to exchange between both the countries in local currency/barter basis.
Both sides are working on several projects to improve trade infrastructure and connectivity. Border Management is developing 7 Integrated Check Posts on India-Bangladesh Borader viz; Petrapole, Agartala, Dawaki, Hili, Chandrabagha, Sutarkhandi and Kawarpuchiah.
Under SAFTA, India has given generous market access for Bangladesh Exports, at zero basic customs duty for all items except liquor and tobacco. Growth of exports from Bangladesh to India has also shown an increase from US$ 0.44bn in 2010-11 to US$ 0.58bn in 2011-12. As per latest trends of 2012-13 Bangladesh is poised as Indias largest trading partner in South Asia.
From October 2013, India would become an exporter of power in Bangladesh, NTPC and West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited will provide this. The state would sell 250MW of power to Bangladesh.
India will build a 15 km railway track linking Tripura capital Agartala with Bangladeshs southeastern city of Akhaurah, which is also an important railway junction to Chittagong port, resource-rich Sylhet and Dhaka.
Drawbacks
A major area of contention has been the construction and operation of the Farakka Barrage by India to increase water supply in the river Hoogly. Bangladesh insists that it does not receive a fair share of the Ganges waters during the drier seasons, and gets flooded during the monsoons when India releases excess waters.
There have also been disputes regarding the transfer of Teen Bigha Corridor to Bangladesh. Part of Bangladesh is surrounded by the Indian state of West Bengal. On 26 June 1992, India leased three bigha land to Bangladesh to connect this enclave with mainland Bangladesh. There was dispute regarding the indefinite nature of the lease. The dispute was resolved by an mutual agreement between India and Bangladesh in 2011
Terrorist activities carried out by outfits based in both countries, like Banga Sena and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami. Recently India and Bangladesh had agreed jointly to fight terrorism.
Bangladesh has consistently denied India transit facility to the landlocked North Eastern Regions of India. Although India has a narrow land link to this North eastern region, which is famously known as the Siliguri Corridor or "India's Chicken Neck
Illegal Bangladeshi immigration into India.] The border is porous and migrants are able to cross illegally, though sometimes only in return for financial or other incentives to border security personnel. Bangladeshi officials have denied the existence of Bangladeshis living in India and those illegal migrants found are described as having been trafficked. This has considerable repercussions for those involved, as they are stigmatised for having been involved in prostitution, whether or not this has actually been the case. Cross border migrants are also at far higher risk of HIV/Aids infection
Continuous border killing of Indian and Bangladeshi people, aiding illegal immigrants, helping in armed dacoity, fake money transfer and illegal drug trades by both Indian and Bangladeshi people are the major problems between Bangladesh and India.
Both Bangladesh and India make claims over the same seawater at the Bay of Bengal
There was a minor glitch in their relation when Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh accidentally mentioned that 25% of Bangladeshis are anti-Indian, during an informal press meet
India-Nepal Relation
Introduction
As close neighbours, India and Nepal share a unique relationship of
friendship and cooperation characterized by open borders and deep-rooted
people-to-people contacts of kinship and culture. There has been a long tradition
of free movement of people across the borders. Nepal has an area of 147,181sq kms.. and a population of 29 million. It shares a border of over 1850 Kms to
the south with five Indian States - Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and
Uttarakhand and in the north with the Tibet autonomous region of the People's
Republic of China.
India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950 is the bedrock of the
special relations that exist between India and Nepal. Under the provisions of the
treaty, Nepalese citizen have enjoyed unparalleled advantages in India, availing
the facilities and opportunities at par with Indian citizens. The Treaty has enabled
Nepal to overcome the disadvantages of being a land-locked country. Overtime,
many regimes in Nepal have raised the issue of revision of the treaty. India has
maintained that it is willing to examine all bilateral arrangements with a view to
further strengthening our relations. Specific suggestions from the Nepalese side
have not been forthcoming.
Bilateral Relations
India continues to be Nepals largest trade partner, source of foreign
investment and tourist arrivals. Bilateral trade between India and Nepal has
received further impetus after the signing of the revised Trade Treaty in 2009
which has provisions that allow Nepal greater access to the Indian market.
According to the figures for the Nepalese fiscal year (ending July 2012), bilateral
trade with India stood at Rs.21812.8 crores which accounted for 65.1% of
Nepalese total external trade. India and Nepal have a treaty of transit, which
confers transit rights through each others territory through mutually agreed
routes and modalities. The Transit Treaty was renewed on 5 January 2013 for 7
years.
The two countries have concluded a Rail Services Agreement (RSA) and
a revised Air Services Agreement (ASA) to enhance bilateral connectivity. India
also remains Nepals largest source of foreign investment and Indian investments
in Nepal amount to Rs.2175.5 crores with 525 FDI projects. India accounts for
46% of the total foreign investments in Nepal. In October-November 2011 the
two countries have also concluded the Bilateral Investment Protection &
Promotion Agreement (BIPPA) and the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement
(DTAA) which provide legal framework for enhancing Indian investment into
Nepal and further integrating the two economies.
India had played a leading role in helping the Nepal Army (NA) in its
modernization through provision of equipment and training. More than 250
training slots are provided every year for training of NA personnel in various
Indian Army training institutions. The Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army is
given the honorary rank of a General in the Nepal Army and a reciprocal honour
is conferred on the Chief of the Nepal Army. India has always been proud to
have Nepalese as soldiers in her Forces and has made every effort to ensure
that they are looked after and cared for in their twilight years. As of now, we
have over 1.26 Lakh ex-servicemen residing in Nepal. In 2012-13 the payments
of pensions to the Indian ex-service men in Nepal amounted to 1387 crores. The
Government of India has made every effort to ensure that these ex-servicemen,
their families and dependents are looked after in the best possible manner. To
ensure this, the Government of India has established The Indian Ex-Servicemen
Welfare Organisation in Nepal (IEWON). Ex-servicemen Contributory Health
Scheme (ECHS) has been launched in Nepal during 2012 vide which free medical treatment to the Indian ex-servicemen of Nepal domicile.
India supports Nepals economic growth through improved access to the Indian market, encouraging Indian investments in Nepal and assisting in creating infrastructure. Bilateral trade between the two countries is set to cross US$ 4.5bn this year.Nepals imports from India amounted to US$3.62bn and exports to India is US$599.7bn. India assisting Nepal in building roads, four massive integrated check posts, railway lines.
Drawbacks
Indian police had enterd Nepaloi territory and raiding a house on the pretext of searching for criminals has enraged local political parties, government officials and people. Nepals radical Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist, a breakaway faction of the United Communist Party of Nepal Maoist, had submitted a memorandum at the Indian embassy in Kathmandu protesting the Indian polices act.
Nepal and India have agreed to expedite work on power trade but were unable to reac a decision on the 5600MW Pancheshwar multipurpose dam project, proposed 15 years ago for sharing power and water on 50-50 basis.
A little known group has staged black flag demonstrations in front of the Indian Embassy gate here, demanding return of territory Nepal had lost to India under the 1816 Sugauli Treaty.
It is alarming that many Nepalese believe that moving closer to China is in the best interest of the country. For more than a half century, India has been deeply influential in Nepalese affairs and remains Nepals biggest trading partner and economic benefactor, even as some Nepalese resent in Indias role in their affairs.
DEBALINA BISWAS
Sources
1. The Hindu
2. Civil services times
3. Ministry of External affairs
4. TOI
Showing posts with label Nepal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nepal. Show all posts
Monday, January 13, 2014
DAMODARAN REPORT
DAMODARAN REPORT
He is not the Nettur Damodaran who was the member of 1stloksabha
Chairman: M Damodaran (Ex SEBI chairman From Feb 2005-2008, presently Advisor and Chief Representative in India for theING Group of Netherlands)
* The committee, headed by former Sebi Chairman M Damodaran, has submitted its report to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs which would take appropriate steps after studying the recommendations.
WHY COMMITTEE FORMED:
* India ranked very low i.e. 132nd position in World Bank's ease of doing business list among total of 183 countries globally. The panel set-up in August last year to suggest ways for improving business climate in India.
Also India ranked below most of the SAARC countries(South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation-organisation ofSouth Asiannations, established on 8 December 1985 ;Bangladesh,Bhutan,India,Maldives,Nepal,Pakistan, andSri Lanka, Afghanistan;headquartered inKathmandu, Nepal) and was last among BRICS countries (Brazil,Russia,India,ChinaandSouth Africa).
* Recommendations titled 'Reforming the Regulatory Environment for doing Business in India'
* retrospective taxation as a big obstacle to attracting investment ALREADY an example of British telecom Vodafone in India(explained in mrunal sirs article)
Recommendations:
Regulatory body should be more autonomous with transparent in selecting the heads.
Faster resolution of dispute through consent settlement and arbitration.
Easier set of regulation for MSME (Micro Small and Medium Enterprises)
The Committee constituted in June last year to review the existing system of customer service and grievance redressal in the banking system
The key focus of the Committee, to review the functioning of theBanking Ombudsman Scheme.
The Banking Ombudsman(BO) Scheme was established by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 1995 to provide speedy solutions to grievances faced by bank customers. Although the number of complaints received has increased in recent times, the lack of awareness among the customers was a big concern.
The name 'ombudsman' is not easily understood by the common man and hence, it was suggested that it be changed to a more suitable name, 'lokpal'.(ANNA HAZARE)
To have more offices of the Ombudsman apart from the ones in Maharashtra and Goa, to make it more accessible to the masses.
another recommendation made by the unions was to have separate counters for senior citizens installed at bank branches between the 1st and 10th of every month, to make it easier for pensioners to collect theirmoney.
to enhance consumer protection
The Committee expected to undertake a strict review of the existing system of attending tocustomer service inbanks, including the approach, attitude and fair treatment to customers from retail, small and pensioners segment. The Committee asked to evaluate the existing system of grievance redressal system going in banks, its structure and recommend measures for fast resolution of complaints.
SENIOR CITIZENS HAVE LITTLE TO CHEER:
Recommendations on the subject ofpensionersand senior citizens reads as under:
" prioritised service should be given to senior citizens, physically handicapped persons by effective crowd/people management available at all bank branches.
"Banks should maintain and fine-tune the functioning of their Centralised Pension Processing Centres to ensure timely disbursal of pension, commencement of family pension on time and error-freecalculationof pension."
1. Each branch of a bank should have a separate count for attending to senior citizens/physically challenged customers, who should be given priority over other customers at that special counter.
2. Senior citizens and physically challenged customers should be provided with singlewindow service, without their having to move from counter to counter to complete all their banking transactions.
3. All the requests/requirementsof senior citizens and physically challenged customers must be attended to then and there,without telling them kal aayiye fir kal...., as is the practice in most bank branches.As, their request forcheque books,updating of pass books, pension payments, issue of deposit receipts, issue of interest/TDS (tax deduction at source) certificates, etc.
4. Senior citizens at present offered an additional interest of up to 1% on all fixed deposits. The same benefit of additional interest should be offered to them on their savings depositsalso, as there is no reason to exempt savings accounts from the given interest rates offered to them.
5. The penalty, if levied on withdrawal of deposits before maturity, should not be applied to senior citizens/physically-challenged customers, who should be given the normalrate of interestapplicable for the period for which the deposit has run, without any deductions. This is based on the assumption that in most cases, their medicalrequirementsmight force them to encash their deposits before maturity.
6. A certain percentage of safe deposits lockers, say 10%, may be reserved for senior citizens and physically challenged customers, so that they are have a reasonable chance of getting a locker facility in the same branch where they maintain their savings accounts. 7. In case the payment of pension to the customer is delayed due to the fault or mistake of the bank, the pensioner should be properly compensated by giving appropriate savings bank interest on the amount for the delayed period. If the delay beyond a reasonable period, say seven days, the bank should be asked to pay a penalty of Rs100 per day of delay, as is the system followed in failed ATM transactions.
8. At present, pensions disbursed only through - public sector banks, manypensionershave to travel long distances to get their monthly pension, causing strain on thepensioners. To prevent this problem, the RBI should arrange with both Central and state governments to disburse pensions through all banks in the private sector also, so that thepensionershave the option of getting pension from any commercial bank, public or private bank, nearer their place of residence.
9.Biggest problem faced bypensioners variation in their signatures due to passage of time and their old age. Banks should be asked to update the signatures of all senior citizens in the their records periodically, say once in two years or as often as required, so that banks do not have to dishonour their cheques due to variation in their signatures.
The other committees formed earlier for the same purpose:
Talwar Committee of 1975, the Goiporia Committee of 1990 and the Tarapore Committee of 2004.
REFERENCES:
1.MONEY LIFE
2.WIKIPEDIA
3.INDIAN EXPRESS N HINDU
by KARAN RAJPAL
He is not the Nettur Damodaran who was the member of 1stloksabha
Chairman: M Damodaran (Ex SEBI chairman From Feb 2005-2008, presently Advisor and Chief Representative in India for theING Group of Netherlands)
* The committee, headed by former Sebi Chairman M Damodaran, has submitted its report to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs which would take appropriate steps after studying the recommendations.
WHY COMMITTEE FORMED:
* India ranked very low i.e. 132nd position in World Bank's ease of doing business list among total of 183 countries globally. The panel set-up in August last year to suggest ways for improving business climate in India.
Also India ranked below most of the SAARC countries(South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation-organisation ofSouth Asiannations, established on 8 December 1985 ;Bangladesh,Bhutan,India,Maldives,Nepal,Pakistan, andSri Lanka, Afghanistan;headquartered inKathmandu, Nepal) and was last among BRICS countries (Brazil,Russia,India,ChinaandSouth Africa).
* Recommendations titled 'Reforming the Regulatory Environment for doing Business in India'
* retrospective taxation as a big obstacle to attracting investment ALREADY an example of British telecom Vodafone in India(explained in mrunal sirs article)
Recommendations:
Regulatory body should be more autonomous with transparent in selecting the heads.
Faster resolution of dispute through consent settlement and arbitration.
Easier set of regulation for MSME (Micro Small and Medium Enterprises)
The Committee constituted in June last year to review the existing system of customer service and grievance redressal in the banking system
The key focus of the Committee, to review the functioning of theBanking Ombudsman Scheme.
The Banking Ombudsman(BO) Scheme was established by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 1995 to provide speedy solutions to grievances faced by bank customers. Although the number of complaints received has increased in recent times, the lack of awareness among the customers was a big concern.
The name 'ombudsman' is not easily understood by the common man and hence, it was suggested that it be changed to a more suitable name, 'lokpal'.(ANNA HAZARE)
To have more offices of the Ombudsman apart from the ones in Maharashtra and Goa, to make it more accessible to the masses.
another recommendation made by the unions was to have separate counters for senior citizens installed at bank branches between the 1st and 10th of every month, to make it easier for pensioners to collect theirmoney.
to enhance consumer protection
The Committee expected to undertake a strict review of the existing system of attending tocustomer service inbanks, including the approach, attitude and fair treatment to customers from retail, small and pensioners segment. The Committee asked to evaluate the existing system of grievance redressal system going in banks, its structure and recommend measures for fast resolution of complaints.
SENIOR CITIZENS HAVE LITTLE TO CHEER:
Recommendations on the subject ofpensionersand senior citizens reads as under:
" prioritised service should be given to senior citizens, physically handicapped persons by effective crowd/people management available at all bank branches.
"Banks should maintain and fine-tune the functioning of their Centralised Pension Processing Centres to ensure timely disbursal of pension, commencement of family pension on time and error-freecalculationof pension."
1. Each branch of a bank should have a separate count for attending to senior citizens/physically challenged customers, who should be given priority over other customers at that special counter.
2. Senior citizens and physically challenged customers should be provided with singlewindow service, without their having to move from counter to counter to complete all their banking transactions.
3. All the requests/requirementsof senior citizens and physically challenged customers must be attended to then and there,without telling them kal aayiye fir kal...., as is the practice in most bank branches.As, their request forcheque books,updating of pass books, pension payments, issue of deposit receipts, issue of interest/TDS (tax deduction at source) certificates, etc.
4. Senior citizens at present offered an additional interest of up to 1% on all fixed deposits. The same benefit of additional interest should be offered to them on their savings depositsalso, as there is no reason to exempt savings accounts from the given interest rates offered to them.
5. The penalty, if levied on withdrawal of deposits before maturity, should not be applied to senior citizens/physically-challenged customers, who should be given the normalrate of interestapplicable for the period for which the deposit has run, without any deductions. This is based on the assumption that in most cases, their medicalrequirementsmight force them to encash their deposits before maturity.
6. A certain percentage of safe deposits lockers, say 10%, may be reserved for senior citizens and physically challenged customers, so that they are have a reasonable chance of getting a locker facility in the same branch where they maintain their savings accounts. 7. In case the payment of pension to the customer is delayed due to the fault or mistake of the bank, the pensioner should be properly compensated by giving appropriate savings bank interest on the amount for the delayed period. If the delay beyond a reasonable period, say seven days, the bank should be asked to pay a penalty of Rs100 per day of delay, as is the system followed in failed ATM transactions.
8. At present, pensions disbursed only through - public sector banks, manypensionershave to travel long distances to get their monthly pension, causing strain on thepensioners. To prevent this problem, the RBI should arrange with both Central and state governments to disburse pensions through all banks in the private sector also, so that thepensionershave the option of getting pension from any commercial bank, public or private bank, nearer their place of residence.
9.Biggest problem faced bypensioners variation in their signatures due to passage of time and their old age. Banks should be asked to update the signatures of all senior citizens in the their records periodically, say once in two years or as often as required, so that banks do not have to dishonour their cheques due to variation in their signatures.
The other committees formed earlier for the same purpose:
Talwar Committee of 1975, the Goiporia Committee of 1990 and the Tarapore Committee of 2004.
REFERENCES:
1.MONEY LIFE
2.WIKIPEDIA
3.INDIAN EXPRESS N HINDU
by KARAN RAJPAL
Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of
Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with Terrorism
Each of Indias borders has its own specific problems. Following is a brief description of the problem which afflicts various borders.
India-Bangladesh Border
* Instead of following natural barriers, it meanders through villages, agricultural lands, and rivers, rendering the border extremely porous with many disputed pockets. Undemarcated stretches, existence of enclaves, and adverse possessions have been causing constant friction between the border guarding forces of India and Bangladesh.
* In 1974, three years after the liberation of Bangladesh, the then prime ministers of India and Bangladesh, Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Mujib-ur-Rahman, inked an agreement to settle the land boundary issue. Inter alia, the Indira-Mujib Agreement laid down the methods for demarcating various disputed stretches of the India-Bangladesh boundary. India also promised to lease in perpetuity a 178 metres x 85 metres corridor, Tin Bigha to Bangladesh to connect Dahagram with Panbari Mouza. According to the agreement, the adverse possessions in areas already demarcated were to be exchanged within six months of the agreement.
* But even after so many years, the enclaves and adverse possessions have not been exchanged. At present, there are 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh and 51 enclaves of Bangladesh in India. India does not have access to these enclaves in Bangladesh, and hence, no administrative set-up to provide facilities like police stations, courts, schools, roads, hospitals, banks, markets, etc. to their residents could be established
* A major consequence of a porous border is the ease with which it is crossed illegally. The trend of illegal migration from Bangladesh into India has continued since independence. This illegal migration has changed the demographic profile of many border states, which has resulted in separatist movements
* The porosity of the border also allows Indian insurgents to cross over to Bangladesh and other neighbouring countries for asylum
* Along with cattle, smuggling of arms, and other essential items such as sugar, salt and diesel, human and narcotics trafficking, counterfeit Indian currency, kidnapping, and thefts are quite rampant along the IndiaBangladesh border.
India-Nepal Border
* India and Nepal have shared an open border since 1950. The conception of such a border can be found in the Treaty of Peace and Friendship that the two countries signed that year. Provisions in the treaty, wherein citizens of both countries are given equal rights in matters of residence, acquisition of property, employment and movement in each others territory, provide for an open border between the two countries.
* The open border between the two countries has facilitated close social, cultural, and economic exchanges and led to a special relationship between the two countries. People from both countries are free to enter the others territory from any point on the border, while the movement of goods is allowed along 22 designated transit points.
* At the same time, it has given rise to many irritants and problems that raise serious concerns.
* There are many points of dispute along the Indo-Nepal border, mostly a result of the constantly shifting courses of the turbulent Himalayan rivers.
* Allegations of excesses such as intimidation, and forcible grabbing of land by either side along the disputed border also surface from time to time. The disputed border has created lots of unease not only between the two countries but also among their local populations.
* An open border allows easy egress to terrorists and insurgents. In the late 1980s, Sikh and Kashmiri terrorists sneaked into India via Nepal. In later years, many insurgent groups from the North East, such as the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), also misused the open border. In recent years, it has been reported that many terrorists have sneaked into India through the porous and poorly guarded Indo-Nepal border.
* Apart from insurgents and terrorists, many hard-core criminals pursued by Indian and Nepalese security forces escape across the open border.
* Unrestricted migration over the years has produced territorial pockets dominated by people originating from the other country.
Recent Terrorist Arrests and Solutions
* Recent arrests highlight the fact that terrorist and criminal groups are increasingly using Nepal as a base because the open border with India allows them to enter and exit India with ease. In addition, many hard-core criminals pursued by Indian law enforcement agencies escape into Nepal through the open border, where they set up smuggling gangs and criminal.
* The problem is further aggravated by intelligence inputs that Pakistani Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) has been using Nepalese territory to carry out anti-India activities
* The open border between India and Nepal not only addressed mutual security considerations but also fostered close socio-economic relations between the two countries. The unrestricted flow of people over the years has resulted in the dissemination of ideas, culture, and settlements of people in each others territory thereby strengthening the bilateral social and cultural relations. The open border also has a favourable impact on two economies.
* Transforming the border from an open border to a closed border would severely damage socio-economic and cultural ties with disastrous consequences for the citizens and economies of both countries. It would therefore be prudent to keep the border open but manage it more effectively by strengthening security through effective law enforcement, installing screening and detection devices at the check points, and enhancing intelligence networks.
* Policymakers in India have taken note of the deteriorating security situation along the India-Nepal border and have undertaken a number of measures in response. For instance, the presence of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) along the Indo-Nepal border has been further augmented with the construction of five additional Border Out Posts (BOPs). In addition, 1,377 km. of strategic roads are also being built along the border to facilitate the easy movement of the border guarding personnel. The SSB is also installing surveillance cameras along the border.
* Following the arrests of the two terrorists, the Nepalese security agencies had conducted a study and identified 18 types of crimes that are widespread along the India-Nepal border including human, arms and drugs trafficking, unauthorised trade, smuggling of counterfeit currency, kidnapping, robbery, and extortion. They have also prepared and enforced a Cross-Border Crime Control Action Plan 2013 to curb trans-border crimes.
* But more needs to be done. India and Nepal have to collaborate and coordinate their efforts to improve the situation along their border by setting up joint task forces to investigate cross-border crimes, sharing real time intelligence, conducting coordinated or joint patrolling, re-installing missing border pillars and repairing the damaged ones and jointly developing infrastructure along the border.
Indo-Bhutan Border
* India and Bhutan share a 669 km long boundary. The boundary is demarcated except along the tri-junction with China. The process of demarcation of the India-Bhutan border started in 1961 and was completed in 2006. Like with Nepal, Indias boundary with Bhutan is also an open boundary.
* The border was peaceful till Indian insurgent groups such as the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) established camps in the southern districts of Bhutan. Taking advantage of the open border, these insurgents would sneak into Bhutan after carrying out extortions, killings and bomb blasts. This problem has been effectively dealt with during the Bhutanese governments Operation All Clear, which saw the destruction and uprooting of all insurgent camps in Bhutanese territory. However, stray insurgent incidents such as extortion and killings are still carried out by the surviving members of ULFA along the border areas. Smuggling and trafficking are also rampant along the border.
* Chinese made goods, Bhutanese cannabis, liquor and forest products are major items smuggled into India. Livestock, grocery items and fruits are smuggled out of India to Bhutan.
Indo-Myanmar Border
* The location of the Indo-Myanmar boundary throws up many challenges for the effective management of the boundary. Though the boundary is properly demarcated, there are a few pockets that are disputed.
* The rugged terrain makes movement and the overall development of the area difficult.
* There is practically no physical barrier along the border either in the form of fences or border outposts and roads to ensure strict vigil. Insurgents make use of the poorly guarded border and flee across when pursued by Indian security forces. Close ethnic ties among the tribes such as Nagas, Kukis, Chin, etc., who live astride the border help these insurgents in finding safe haven in Myanmar. These cross-border ethnic ties have facilitated in creation of safe havens for various Northeast insurgent groups in Myanmar.
* The location of the boundary at the edge of the golden triangle facilitates the unrestricted illegal flows of drugs into Indian territory. Heroin is the main item of drug trafficking. The bulk of heroin enters India through the border town of Moreh in Manipur.
* It is reported that the local insurgent groups are actively involved in drugs and arms trafficking. The smuggling of arms and ammunition, precious stones and Chinese made consumer items finds its way into India illegally.
* Human trafficking is also rampant along the border. The provision of allowing the tribal communities of both countries to travel up to 40 km across the border without any passport or visa has also contributed to increased smuggling in the region.
Indo-Pakistan Border
* India shares 3323 km long and complicated boundary with Pakistan. The India-Pakistan boundary is categorised under three different heads.
* The first is the international boundary also known as the Radcliff line. It is 2308 km long and stretches from Gujarat to parts of Jammu district in Jammu and Kashmir.
* The second is the line of control (LoC), or the Cease Fire Line, which came into existence after the 1948 and 1971 wars between India and Pakistan. This line is 776 km long, and runs along the districts of Jammu (some parts), Rajouri, Poonch, Baramula, Kupwara, Kargil and some portions of Leh.
* And the third is the actual ground position line (AGPL), which is 110 km long and extends from NJ 9842 to Indira Col in the North.
* The LoC and the AGPL has been a scene of constant tensions with border skirmishes and firing between the armies and border guarding forces of both countries. The LoC has been vulnerable to constant infiltration by foreign terrorists, Kashmiri separatists and Pakistani army regulars for long.
* Like the Bangladesh boundary, the India-Pakistan boundary also does not follow any geographical barrier making it extremely porous.
* Porosity of this border has facilitated various illegal activities such as smuggling, drugs and arms trafficking, and infiltration. Heroin and fake Indian currency are the two predominant items of smuggling along this border. Other items include saffron, textile, mercury, which are smuggled from Pakistan.
* Money laundering is also quite rampant along the border. A large scale hawala network is flourishing in Punjab, especially in Ludhiana. In addition, the border population has also been subjected to hostile propaganda by Pakistan designed to mislead and sway their loyalties.
* The Sir Creek area, due to its peculiar terrain, makes the movement of border guarding forces very difficult and thus, provides scope for illegal fishing in the creeks.
India-China Border
* India and China share a 3,488 km long boundary. Unfortunately, the entire boundary is disputed. The line, which delineates the boundary between the two countries, is popularly called the McMahon line, after its author Sir Henry McMahon.
* In 1913, the British-India government had called a tripartite conference, in which the boundary between India and Tibet was formalised after a discussion between the Indian and the Tibetan plenipotentiaries. A Convention was adopted on April 27, 1914, which resulted in the delimitation of the Indo-Tibetan boundary. This boundary is, however, disputed by China which terms it as illegal
* India and China had never shared a common boundary till, China liberated Tibet in 1950. It was then that the hitherto India-Tibet boundary was transformed into an India-China boundary. Since 1954, China started claiming large tracts of territory along the entire border such as Aksai Chin in Jammu and Kashmir, Bara Hoti, Sanchamala and Lapthal in Uttarakhand and the entire Arunachal Pradesh. In 1957, China occupied Aksai Chin and built a road through it. This episode was followed by intermittent clashes along the border, which finally culminated in the border war of 1962. The boundary, which came into existence after the war, came to be known as Line of Actual Control (LAC). It is a military held line.
* As regards border management, the India-China border throws up only a few challenges. The Himalayan range which lies astride the boundary has prevented any large scale trans-border interactions between people residing on either side of the border.
* Presently, there are only three designated areas along the India-China border through which border trade takes place; these are LipuLekh, Shipki La and Nathu La. The volume of trade in these trading points is not large. However, large scale smuggling of Chinese electronic and other consumer goods take place through these border points.
Challenges to Coastal Security and Island Territories
* In addition to the land boundaries, India also has a coastline of 7516.6 km. The coastline is highly indented with numerous creeks, rivulets and streams. These water channels, most of which are interconnected and run deep inside the land, render the coastline porous and hence vulnerable to cross-border infiltration, smuggling, and arms and drugs trafficking.
* In recent years, the use of sea by terrorists to carry out attacks as was seen during the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts and the November 2008 attack on Mumbai, have also added a new dimension to the vulnerability of the coastline. The matter is made worse by the existence of several high value targets such as oil refineries, atomic power plants, space stations, ports and naval bases along the coastline.
* There are growing worries about nonconventional threats as well as terrorist attacks, sabotage, etc., which could potentially inflict massive damage. For example, if terrorists were to attack a very large crude carrier carrying several million barrels of crude oil and seriously damage it resulting in a massive oil spill, the environmental and economic losses would be immense. It would not only lead to the destruction of marine life in the affected area but also disrupt maritime traffic.
* Straying of both Indian and Pakistani fishermen into each others territorial waters and their subsequent arrests has also been a perennial source of concern. It is feared that some at least of the arrested fishermen could be recruited by Pakistans Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) and used as agents against India and use their boats to sneak in arms, explosives and operatives into India.
* India also has Island Territories in its eastern and western seaboards viz. Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep. The nature and location of these Island Territories necessitate their proper security. Andaman and Nicobar comprise 572 islands, but only 36 of them are inhabited, whereas ten of the 36 islands of Lakshadweep archipelago are inhabited. Their strategic location, i.e. proximity to the important Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOC) and Southeast Asian and African countries coupled with considerable distance from the mainland add to the Island Territories vulnerabilities.
* In addition, instances of piracy in the Malacca straits have increased manifold. Internal disturbances in Indias neighbouring littoral countries also make the security scenario of the Island territories extremely grim.
* The Andaman and Nicobar islands have seen large scale influx of illegal migrants from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka (Tamils) Myanmar, Thailand, and Indonesia. Besides, the Indian Ocean has been a theatre of intense rivalries between great powers, mostly extraregional powers.
* China, in recent years has been quite active in the Indian Ocean region. With an objective to contain its potential adversary (read India) in the region, China has helped Myanmar to construct a naval base at Haingyi and set up listening posts in Coco Island, close to Andaman and Nicobar. It has also helped Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to built ports, which could be utilised by China during adverse times.
Initiatives
* The management of India's international border along has remained a crucial and complex issue.
* The need for guarding these boundaries, especially the 4,096 kilometre long Indo-Bangladesh border, was felt in the mid 1980s. Fencing of the Bangladesh border was then commissioned as a potential mechanism of defending the peace and tranquillity of the North Eastern states.
* The presence of militant outfits in most of the North Eastern States and their ability to indulge in hit and run operations across borders has only added to the complexities, both in inter-state and intra-state relations. Most states in the North East have witnessed growing incidence of substance abuse. Drugs, with their origin in Southeast Asian countries, invariably find their way into the region from Myanmar, through states like Mizoram and Manipur. Apart from the unhindered migration severely impacting the demography of the North East, militant outfits operating in the region have been the prime beneficiaries of the porous and unguarded borders.
* The Indian Government has a Department of Border Management in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to pay focused attention to issues relating to border management. For the department, in addition to the 3,323 kilometre-long Indo-Pakistan border, fencing of the Indo-Bangladesh border has been accorded top priority in view of infiltration, smuggling and other anti-India activities from across the border.
* Beginning in 2001, different border guarding forces were deployed in different borders. The BSF has been assigned responsibility for the India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders, Assam Rifles (AR) for the India-Myanmar border, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) for the India-China border, and the Sahastra Seema Bal (SSB) for the India-Nepal and India-Bhutan borders
* Fencing the border with Bangladesh has progressed at a slow pace. According to the MHA, the 854 kilometre fence built in Phase-I has, however, already been damaged along most of the stretches and has consequently ceased to be effective in controlling illegal cross border activities.
* Quality of fencing in the North East has remained a problem. The fact that there has been no proposal to introduce flood light system like along the Western borders makes the militants' task even less cumbersome. Neither has there been any proposal to settle friendly population along the fencing as a second line of defence.
* Fencing along India's western borders has been relatively effective, curbing the movement of militants and activities of smugglers and subversives. Even in the North East, fencing, wherever it exists, has been able to contain the movement of militants and contraband. Smuggling in Tripura has been contained to a large extent as a result of the continuing fencing process.
* Another step to prevent illegal migration is to prepare a national register and issue multi purpose identity cards. However, the implementation has been slow due to various issues.
* For providing better facilities to legal movement of passengers and goods across the borders, the Government of India had decided to construct Integrated Check Posts (ICPs)
Coastal Security
* Major ports of the country have been made International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code compliant. These ports are guarded by the CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) personnel
* For securing the coast, the government of India has implemented a three layered mechanism. At the outermost layer, the Indian Navy patrols the high seas and carries out aerial reconnaissance with ship-based aircraft. The intermediate layer comprising of the Exclusive Economic Zone (between 12 and 200 nautical miles) is patrolled by the Coast Guard. And the territorial waters are patrolled by the Coastal Police. On the recommendation of the Task Force, the Indian government launched the coastal security scheme in 2005-06. However, coastal police stations often do not have adequate trained manpower, nor sophisticated arms or patrol boats
* Following the Mumbai terror attacks, the government has also announced a series of measures for strengthening coastal security of the country. These include:
* expediting the implementation of coastal security scheme
* speedy delivery of interceptor boats,
* easing of environmental norms for setting up coastal police stations,
* issuance of multi-purpose identity cards to all fishermen, seafaring personnel and coastal villages,
* implementation of uniform licensing of fishing boats across the country,
* installation of special transponders and Global Positioning System on registered boats for identification and tracking,
* deployment of commando units of Central Industrial Security Force in all ports,
* constituting unified command for coastal districts to counter terrorist threats from
Solutions
* It can be said without doubt that one area where the government needs to focus more is on centre-state relations. Most of the problems of implementation of any plan or programme stem from their mutually divergent perceptions and hence uncooperative attitude towards each other
* One of the factors of vital importance for border management is to have a well trained and dedicated border guarding force, which also has warm and friendly relations with the local population. Presently, it is observed that Government does not have a robust holistic training programme for the border guarding personnel, which is necessary for sensitising the security personnel towards the cultural nuances of every border area and help elicit better cooperation from the local population
* Besides, there are many hotspots along these borders whose inherent socio-cultural and political dynamics could throw up serious challenges for border management in future. Some of these are Moreh along the Indo-Myanmar border, the Siliguri corridor along the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders and Sir Creek area along the Indo-Pakistan border
* Identify sensitive areas along the border and increase the number of border posts in these areas. Also augment the strength of the border guarding personnel in sensitive border out posts.
* Ensure better coordination among all agencies involved in border management such as the border guarding forces, Customs, intelligence agencies, and state police.
* Sensitise the people living along the borders and encourage them to work as eyes and ears for the border guarding forces.
* Issue multipurpose identity cards to the people residing along the borders to distinguish between Indian citizens and illegal migrants.
* Work towards all round development of the border areas to wean away the border people from illegal activities as well as to dispel the feeling of alienation in them.
* Ensure greater participation of the border population in their economic development
* Strengthen bilateral mechanisms by frequently convening meetings of concerned officials to iron out tensions as well as to resolve border disputes.
Suggestions for Coastal Security
* As far as coastal security is concerned, while the government has initiated a number of schemes to safeguard the creek and coastal areas, many areas of concern still remain. A major challenge for the border guarding forces is the widening gap between the sanctioned and existing infrastructure and manpower. Delays in the release of funds by the government hinder their efforts to strengthen their capabilities.
* Address manpower shortage for the coastal police by recruiting retired Coast Guard and Navy personnel.
* Enlist people from coastal villages in the Coastal Police Force. Their seafaring experience is likely to be an asset.
* Consider incentives such as special allowances and insurance to overcome the reluctance of police personnel to carry out coastal patrolling.
* Impart extensive and specialised training to the Coastal Police personnel to change their indifferent attitude towards coastal security.
* Impose steep fines on fishermen found violating the international boundary. On repeated violation, cancel the licences of offending fishing boats
How is organised crime in India reinforcing terrorism? What are the linkages especially with regard to terror funding?
* Crime and terrorism can potentially have a very close linkage. While there may or may not always be a linkage between the two, however, both international case studies and those in India do point towards it.
* If we look at some of the regions in the country affected by terrorism, this linkage becomes apparent. In the Northeast, extortion is the fundamental basis for funding all forms of terrorism. In addition to this, kidnapping has been used extensively for spreading terror and raising funds. Human trafficking, drug trafficking and gun running are some of the other criminal activities that have been common in these areas.
* In J&K, counterfeit currency has been a major source of funding terrorism.
* In the Maoist terror movements, extortion is yet again a common phenomenon. They have also indulged in robberies of banks to fund their movement. There have also been reports of cuts being enforced on drug yielding crops in the region.
* The Indian Mujahideen has also resorted to crime to raise funds. This includes robberies, kidnappings, etc.
* There are also a number of insurgent groups which over a period of time have morphed into crime syndicates. What began as an ideological movement is now merely a means of generating profit. This is especially the case with insurgent groups in Northeast India.
Organized Crime and Terrorism (International Scenario)
* In the post 9/11 era, the United States has exerted considerable pressure on states to prevent charities from funding terrorists, and has cracked down on both governments and charitable organizations that have yet to stop such activities. Over 100 countries are cooperating in the global war on terrorism, and are trying to close down sources of terrorist funding. To replace this revenue and the financial support from states that are now unable or unwilling to back them, terrorist groups look elsewhere for financing.
* This crackdown on terrorist financing has led some terrorists to transform their organizations by creating in-house criminal capabilities in order to generate revenue; these units then engage organized crime groups to meet financial and operational needs.
* The expanding forces of globalization are enabling transformation and convergence through rapid communication, travel, surveillance, and information access. The growth of weak or failing states exacerbates this tendency. The absence of the rule of law in places such as Somalia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan provides ideal conditions for the blending of criminal and terrorist activities
* The nexus between terrorism and organized crime is further enabled through the widespread availability of small and light arms that can be both trafficked for money or used in operations.
* The above trends have led groups such as al Qaeda and Hezbollah to develop their own in-house criminal capabilities. While Hezbollah has been involved with methamphetamine labs and cigarette smuggling in the United States and Canada, al Qaeda has well-developed connections with criminal syndicates in Central Asia that include Pakistani and Afghani opium traffickers.
* Maritime piracy represents an area where the mixing of militant Islamic terrorism and crime can converge with potentially severe consequences for global military and economic security. Given heavy concentrations of al Qaeda cells and radical Islamic sympathizers, shipping lanes and pre-existing criminality, it comes as no surprise that Indonesia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, India and Nigeria experience most of the worlds maritime piracy attacks.
* The narcotics industry remains the most common and lucrative source of revenue to terrorists groups. Narcotics remains the most common and most lucrative form of organized crime used by terrorists groups such as the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), al Qaeda, and Hezbollah. In addition, terrorist groups participate in other forms of crime ranging from petty theft to the mining and distribution of conflict diamonds in AfricaThe dramatic spike in opium cultivation in Afghanistan over the years provides yet more evidence of the terrorism-narcotics nexus.
* Both organized crime and terrorist groups run in the same circlesthey already operate outside of the law and they often need the same re-sources, including: false identification, shipping documents, operators, transportation networks, and counter-surveillance techniques. Terrorist groups just beginning to develop their own revenue generation enterprises often come into contact (sometimes hostile) with criminal elements who generally have reliable revenue streams.
* Terror groups have embraced (either by choice or necessity) a long-stand-ing structural feature of organized crime: working through affiliated op-erational cells which have minimal connections to the leadership. Loosely networked cell structures effectively frustrate law enforcement and intelli-gence penetration. This structure also enables tremendous operational flex-ibility, in stark contrast to the rigidity characteristic of governmental law enforcement and intelligence forces. This flexibility allows terrorist and organized crime groups to set up or close down operations overnight, maintain distance between operational and planning cells, move and use financial resources quickly and secretively, and make decisions without headquarters approval. This distribution of power and authority also re-duces the possibility of a decapitating strike that could close down the organization
* While criminal and terrorist groups do appear to be moving closer together and have shared strategies, tactics, and resources, significant roadblocks to further cooperation exist. There remain cultural, operational, and practical differences between the two groups. No organized crime group is built around adherence to religious or ideological tenets, while groups like al-Qaeda or Hamas are fundamentally based on religious beliefs and motiva-tions. While ideology, religion and politics form the basis of many terrorist organizations, pure profit is what drives criminal organizations.
* In theory, as the two threats cooperate or mimic each other, it should be helpful for governments to use the lessons learned from fighting each type of organization. In reality, though, the threats are changing daily and both organized crime and terrorist groups are learning from past mistakes while probing recent defenses erected by targeted nations
* In theory, as the two threats cooperate or mimic each other, it should be helpful for governments to use the lessons learned from fighting each type of organization. In reality, though, the threats are changing daily and both organized crime and terrorist groups are learning from past mistakes while probing recent defenses erected by targeted nations
Name Abhishek Sharma
Source www.idsa.in
Book Preference I dont need books
Each of Indias borders has its own specific problems. Following is a brief description of the problem which afflicts various borders.
India-Bangladesh Border
* Instead of following natural barriers, it meanders through villages, agricultural lands, and rivers, rendering the border extremely porous with many disputed pockets. Undemarcated stretches, existence of enclaves, and adverse possessions have been causing constant friction between the border guarding forces of India and Bangladesh.
* In 1974, three years after the liberation of Bangladesh, the then prime ministers of India and Bangladesh, Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Mujib-ur-Rahman, inked an agreement to settle the land boundary issue. Inter alia, the Indira-Mujib Agreement laid down the methods for demarcating various disputed stretches of the India-Bangladesh boundary. India also promised to lease in perpetuity a 178 metres x 85 metres corridor, Tin Bigha to Bangladesh to connect Dahagram with Panbari Mouza. According to the agreement, the adverse possessions in areas already demarcated were to be exchanged within six months of the agreement.
* But even after so many years, the enclaves and adverse possessions have not been exchanged. At present, there are 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh and 51 enclaves of Bangladesh in India. India does not have access to these enclaves in Bangladesh, and hence, no administrative set-up to provide facilities like police stations, courts, schools, roads, hospitals, banks, markets, etc. to their residents could be established
* A major consequence of a porous border is the ease with which it is crossed illegally. The trend of illegal migration from Bangladesh into India has continued since independence. This illegal migration has changed the demographic profile of many border states, which has resulted in separatist movements
* The porosity of the border also allows Indian insurgents to cross over to Bangladesh and other neighbouring countries for asylum
* Along with cattle, smuggling of arms, and other essential items such as sugar, salt and diesel, human and narcotics trafficking, counterfeit Indian currency, kidnapping, and thefts are quite rampant along the IndiaBangladesh border.
India-Nepal Border
* India and Nepal have shared an open border since 1950. The conception of such a border can be found in the Treaty of Peace and Friendship that the two countries signed that year. Provisions in the treaty, wherein citizens of both countries are given equal rights in matters of residence, acquisition of property, employment and movement in each others territory, provide for an open border between the two countries.
* The open border between the two countries has facilitated close social, cultural, and economic exchanges and led to a special relationship between the two countries. People from both countries are free to enter the others territory from any point on the border, while the movement of goods is allowed along 22 designated transit points.
* At the same time, it has given rise to many irritants and problems that raise serious concerns.
* There are many points of dispute along the Indo-Nepal border, mostly a result of the constantly shifting courses of the turbulent Himalayan rivers.
* Allegations of excesses such as intimidation, and forcible grabbing of land by either side along the disputed border also surface from time to time. The disputed border has created lots of unease not only between the two countries but also among their local populations.
* An open border allows easy egress to terrorists and insurgents. In the late 1980s, Sikh and Kashmiri terrorists sneaked into India via Nepal. In later years, many insurgent groups from the North East, such as the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), also misused the open border. In recent years, it has been reported that many terrorists have sneaked into India through the porous and poorly guarded Indo-Nepal border.
* Apart from insurgents and terrorists, many hard-core criminals pursued by Indian and Nepalese security forces escape across the open border.
* Unrestricted migration over the years has produced territorial pockets dominated by people originating from the other country.
Recent Terrorist Arrests and Solutions
* Recent arrests highlight the fact that terrorist and criminal groups are increasingly using Nepal as a base because the open border with India allows them to enter and exit India with ease. In addition, many hard-core criminals pursued by Indian law enforcement agencies escape into Nepal through the open border, where they set up smuggling gangs and criminal.
* The problem is further aggravated by intelligence inputs that Pakistani Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) has been using Nepalese territory to carry out anti-India activities
* The open border between India and Nepal not only addressed mutual security considerations but also fostered close socio-economic relations between the two countries. The unrestricted flow of people over the years has resulted in the dissemination of ideas, culture, and settlements of people in each others territory thereby strengthening the bilateral social and cultural relations. The open border also has a favourable impact on two economies.
* Transforming the border from an open border to a closed border would severely damage socio-economic and cultural ties with disastrous consequences for the citizens and economies of both countries. It would therefore be prudent to keep the border open but manage it more effectively by strengthening security through effective law enforcement, installing screening and detection devices at the check points, and enhancing intelligence networks.
* Policymakers in India have taken note of the deteriorating security situation along the India-Nepal border and have undertaken a number of measures in response. For instance, the presence of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) along the Indo-Nepal border has been further augmented with the construction of five additional Border Out Posts (BOPs). In addition, 1,377 km. of strategic roads are also being built along the border to facilitate the easy movement of the border guarding personnel. The SSB is also installing surveillance cameras along the border.
* Following the arrests of the two terrorists, the Nepalese security agencies had conducted a study and identified 18 types of crimes that are widespread along the India-Nepal border including human, arms and drugs trafficking, unauthorised trade, smuggling of counterfeit currency, kidnapping, robbery, and extortion. They have also prepared and enforced a Cross-Border Crime Control Action Plan 2013 to curb trans-border crimes.
* But more needs to be done. India and Nepal have to collaborate and coordinate their efforts to improve the situation along their border by setting up joint task forces to investigate cross-border crimes, sharing real time intelligence, conducting coordinated or joint patrolling, re-installing missing border pillars and repairing the damaged ones and jointly developing infrastructure along the border.
Indo-Bhutan Border
* India and Bhutan share a 669 km long boundary. The boundary is demarcated except along the tri-junction with China. The process of demarcation of the India-Bhutan border started in 1961 and was completed in 2006. Like with Nepal, Indias boundary with Bhutan is also an open boundary.
* The border was peaceful till Indian insurgent groups such as the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) established camps in the southern districts of Bhutan. Taking advantage of the open border, these insurgents would sneak into Bhutan after carrying out extortions, killings and bomb blasts. This problem has been effectively dealt with during the Bhutanese governments Operation All Clear, which saw the destruction and uprooting of all insurgent camps in Bhutanese territory. However, stray insurgent incidents such as extortion and killings are still carried out by the surviving members of ULFA along the border areas. Smuggling and trafficking are also rampant along the border.
* Chinese made goods, Bhutanese cannabis, liquor and forest products are major items smuggled into India. Livestock, grocery items and fruits are smuggled out of India to Bhutan.
Indo-Myanmar Border
* The location of the Indo-Myanmar boundary throws up many challenges for the effective management of the boundary. Though the boundary is properly demarcated, there are a few pockets that are disputed.
* The rugged terrain makes movement and the overall development of the area difficult.
* There is practically no physical barrier along the border either in the form of fences or border outposts and roads to ensure strict vigil. Insurgents make use of the poorly guarded border and flee across when pursued by Indian security forces. Close ethnic ties among the tribes such as Nagas, Kukis, Chin, etc., who live astride the border help these insurgents in finding safe haven in Myanmar. These cross-border ethnic ties have facilitated in creation of safe havens for various Northeast insurgent groups in Myanmar.
* The location of the boundary at the edge of the golden triangle facilitates the unrestricted illegal flows of drugs into Indian territory. Heroin is the main item of drug trafficking. The bulk of heroin enters India through the border town of Moreh in Manipur.
* It is reported that the local insurgent groups are actively involved in drugs and arms trafficking. The smuggling of arms and ammunition, precious stones and Chinese made consumer items finds its way into India illegally.
* Human trafficking is also rampant along the border. The provision of allowing the tribal communities of both countries to travel up to 40 km across the border without any passport or visa has also contributed to increased smuggling in the region.
Indo-Pakistan Border
* India shares 3323 km long and complicated boundary with Pakistan. The India-Pakistan boundary is categorised under three different heads.
* The first is the international boundary also known as the Radcliff line. It is 2308 km long and stretches from Gujarat to parts of Jammu district in Jammu and Kashmir.
* The second is the line of control (LoC), or the Cease Fire Line, which came into existence after the 1948 and 1971 wars between India and Pakistan. This line is 776 km long, and runs along the districts of Jammu (some parts), Rajouri, Poonch, Baramula, Kupwara, Kargil and some portions of Leh.
* And the third is the actual ground position line (AGPL), which is 110 km long and extends from NJ 9842 to Indira Col in the North.
* The LoC and the AGPL has been a scene of constant tensions with border skirmishes and firing between the armies and border guarding forces of both countries. The LoC has been vulnerable to constant infiltration by foreign terrorists, Kashmiri separatists and Pakistani army regulars for long.
* Like the Bangladesh boundary, the India-Pakistan boundary also does not follow any geographical barrier making it extremely porous.
* Porosity of this border has facilitated various illegal activities such as smuggling, drugs and arms trafficking, and infiltration. Heroin and fake Indian currency are the two predominant items of smuggling along this border. Other items include saffron, textile, mercury, which are smuggled from Pakistan.
* Money laundering is also quite rampant along the border. A large scale hawala network is flourishing in Punjab, especially in Ludhiana. In addition, the border population has also been subjected to hostile propaganda by Pakistan designed to mislead and sway their loyalties.
* The Sir Creek area, due to its peculiar terrain, makes the movement of border guarding forces very difficult and thus, provides scope for illegal fishing in the creeks.
India-China Border
* India and China share a 3,488 km long boundary. Unfortunately, the entire boundary is disputed. The line, which delineates the boundary between the two countries, is popularly called the McMahon line, after its author Sir Henry McMahon.
* In 1913, the British-India government had called a tripartite conference, in which the boundary between India and Tibet was formalised after a discussion between the Indian and the Tibetan plenipotentiaries. A Convention was adopted on April 27, 1914, which resulted in the delimitation of the Indo-Tibetan boundary. This boundary is, however, disputed by China which terms it as illegal
* India and China had never shared a common boundary till, China liberated Tibet in 1950. It was then that the hitherto India-Tibet boundary was transformed into an India-China boundary. Since 1954, China started claiming large tracts of territory along the entire border such as Aksai Chin in Jammu and Kashmir, Bara Hoti, Sanchamala and Lapthal in Uttarakhand and the entire Arunachal Pradesh. In 1957, China occupied Aksai Chin and built a road through it. This episode was followed by intermittent clashes along the border, which finally culminated in the border war of 1962. The boundary, which came into existence after the war, came to be known as Line of Actual Control (LAC). It is a military held line.
* As regards border management, the India-China border throws up only a few challenges. The Himalayan range which lies astride the boundary has prevented any large scale trans-border interactions between people residing on either side of the border.
* Presently, there are only three designated areas along the India-China border through which border trade takes place; these are LipuLekh, Shipki La and Nathu La. The volume of trade in these trading points is not large. However, large scale smuggling of Chinese electronic and other consumer goods take place through these border points.
Challenges to Coastal Security and Island Territories
* In addition to the land boundaries, India also has a coastline of 7516.6 km. The coastline is highly indented with numerous creeks, rivulets and streams. These water channels, most of which are interconnected and run deep inside the land, render the coastline porous and hence vulnerable to cross-border infiltration, smuggling, and arms and drugs trafficking.
* In recent years, the use of sea by terrorists to carry out attacks as was seen during the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts and the November 2008 attack on Mumbai, have also added a new dimension to the vulnerability of the coastline. The matter is made worse by the existence of several high value targets such as oil refineries, atomic power plants, space stations, ports and naval bases along the coastline.
* There are growing worries about nonconventional threats as well as terrorist attacks, sabotage, etc., which could potentially inflict massive damage. For example, if terrorists were to attack a very large crude carrier carrying several million barrels of crude oil and seriously damage it resulting in a massive oil spill, the environmental and economic losses would be immense. It would not only lead to the destruction of marine life in the affected area but also disrupt maritime traffic.
* Straying of both Indian and Pakistani fishermen into each others territorial waters and their subsequent arrests has also been a perennial source of concern. It is feared that some at least of the arrested fishermen could be recruited by Pakistans Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) and used as agents against India and use their boats to sneak in arms, explosives and operatives into India.
* India also has Island Territories in its eastern and western seaboards viz. Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep. The nature and location of these Island Territories necessitate their proper security. Andaman and Nicobar comprise 572 islands, but only 36 of them are inhabited, whereas ten of the 36 islands of Lakshadweep archipelago are inhabited. Their strategic location, i.e. proximity to the important Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOC) and Southeast Asian and African countries coupled with considerable distance from the mainland add to the Island Territories vulnerabilities.
* In addition, instances of piracy in the Malacca straits have increased manifold. Internal disturbances in Indias neighbouring littoral countries also make the security scenario of the Island territories extremely grim.
* The Andaman and Nicobar islands have seen large scale influx of illegal migrants from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka (Tamils) Myanmar, Thailand, and Indonesia. Besides, the Indian Ocean has been a theatre of intense rivalries between great powers, mostly extraregional powers.
* China, in recent years has been quite active in the Indian Ocean region. With an objective to contain its potential adversary (read India) in the region, China has helped Myanmar to construct a naval base at Haingyi and set up listening posts in Coco Island, close to Andaman and Nicobar. It has also helped Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to built ports, which could be utilised by China during adverse times.
Initiatives
* The management of India's international border along has remained a crucial and complex issue.
* The need for guarding these boundaries, especially the 4,096 kilometre long Indo-Bangladesh border, was felt in the mid 1980s. Fencing of the Bangladesh border was then commissioned as a potential mechanism of defending the peace and tranquillity of the North Eastern states.
* The presence of militant outfits in most of the North Eastern States and their ability to indulge in hit and run operations across borders has only added to the complexities, both in inter-state and intra-state relations. Most states in the North East have witnessed growing incidence of substance abuse. Drugs, with their origin in Southeast Asian countries, invariably find their way into the region from Myanmar, through states like Mizoram and Manipur. Apart from the unhindered migration severely impacting the demography of the North East, militant outfits operating in the region have been the prime beneficiaries of the porous and unguarded borders.
* The Indian Government has a Department of Border Management in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to pay focused attention to issues relating to border management. For the department, in addition to the 3,323 kilometre-long Indo-Pakistan border, fencing of the Indo-Bangladesh border has been accorded top priority in view of infiltration, smuggling and other anti-India activities from across the border.
* Beginning in 2001, different border guarding forces were deployed in different borders. The BSF has been assigned responsibility for the India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders, Assam Rifles (AR) for the India-Myanmar border, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) for the India-China border, and the Sahastra Seema Bal (SSB) for the India-Nepal and India-Bhutan borders
* Fencing the border with Bangladesh has progressed at a slow pace. According to the MHA, the 854 kilometre fence built in Phase-I has, however, already been damaged along most of the stretches and has consequently ceased to be effective in controlling illegal cross border activities.
* Quality of fencing in the North East has remained a problem. The fact that there has been no proposal to introduce flood light system like along the Western borders makes the militants' task even less cumbersome. Neither has there been any proposal to settle friendly population along the fencing as a second line of defence.
* Fencing along India's western borders has been relatively effective, curbing the movement of militants and activities of smugglers and subversives. Even in the North East, fencing, wherever it exists, has been able to contain the movement of militants and contraband. Smuggling in Tripura has been contained to a large extent as a result of the continuing fencing process.
* Another step to prevent illegal migration is to prepare a national register and issue multi purpose identity cards. However, the implementation has been slow due to various issues.
* For providing better facilities to legal movement of passengers and goods across the borders, the Government of India had decided to construct Integrated Check Posts (ICPs)
Coastal Security
* Major ports of the country have been made International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code compliant. These ports are guarded by the CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) personnel
* For securing the coast, the government of India has implemented a three layered mechanism. At the outermost layer, the Indian Navy patrols the high seas and carries out aerial reconnaissance with ship-based aircraft. The intermediate layer comprising of the Exclusive Economic Zone (between 12 and 200 nautical miles) is patrolled by the Coast Guard. And the territorial waters are patrolled by the Coastal Police. On the recommendation of the Task Force, the Indian government launched the coastal security scheme in 2005-06. However, coastal police stations often do not have adequate trained manpower, nor sophisticated arms or patrol boats
* Following the Mumbai terror attacks, the government has also announced a series of measures for strengthening coastal security of the country. These include:
* expediting the implementation of coastal security scheme
* speedy delivery of interceptor boats,
* easing of environmental norms for setting up coastal police stations,
* issuance of multi-purpose identity cards to all fishermen, seafaring personnel and coastal villages,
* implementation of uniform licensing of fishing boats across the country,
* installation of special transponders and Global Positioning System on registered boats for identification and tracking,
* deployment of commando units of Central Industrial Security Force in all ports,
* constituting unified command for coastal districts to counter terrorist threats from
Solutions
* It can be said without doubt that one area where the government needs to focus more is on centre-state relations. Most of the problems of implementation of any plan or programme stem from their mutually divergent perceptions and hence uncooperative attitude towards each other
* One of the factors of vital importance for border management is to have a well trained and dedicated border guarding force, which also has warm and friendly relations with the local population. Presently, it is observed that Government does not have a robust holistic training programme for the border guarding personnel, which is necessary for sensitising the security personnel towards the cultural nuances of every border area and help elicit better cooperation from the local population
* Besides, there are many hotspots along these borders whose inherent socio-cultural and political dynamics could throw up serious challenges for border management in future. Some of these are Moreh along the Indo-Myanmar border, the Siliguri corridor along the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders and Sir Creek area along the Indo-Pakistan border
* Identify sensitive areas along the border and increase the number of border posts in these areas. Also augment the strength of the border guarding personnel in sensitive border out posts.
* Ensure better coordination among all agencies involved in border management such as the border guarding forces, Customs, intelligence agencies, and state police.
* Sensitise the people living along the borders and encourage them to work as eyes and ears for the border guarding forces.
* Issue multipurpose identity cards to the people residing along the borders to distinguish between Indian citizens and illegal migrants.
* Work towards all round development of the border areas to wean away the border people from illegal activities as well as to dispel the feeling of alienation in them.
* Ensure greater participation of the border population in their economic development
* Strengthen bilateral mechanisms by frequently convening meetings of concerned officials to iron out tensions as well as to resolve border disputes.
Suggestions for Coastal Security
* As far as coastal security is concerned, while the government has initiated a number of schemes to safeguard the creek and coastal areas, many areas of concern still remain. A major challenge for the border guarding forces is the widening gap between the sanctioned and existing infrastructure and manpower. Delays in the release of funds by the government hinder their efforts to strengthen their capabilities.
* Address manpower shortage for the coastal police by recruiting retired Coast Guard and Navy personnel.
* Enlist people from coastal villages in the Coastal Police Force. Their seafaring experience is likely to be an asset.
* Consider incentives such as special allowances and insurance to overcome the reluctance of police personnel to carry out coastal patrolling.
* Impart extensive and specialised training to the Coastal Police personnel to change their indifferent attitude towards coastal security.
* Impose steep fines on fishermen found violating the international boundary. On repeated violation, cancel the licences of offending fishing boats
How is organised crime in India reinforcing terrorism? What are the linkages especially with regard to terror funding?
* Crime and terrorism can potentially have a very close linkage. While there may or may not always be a linkage between the two, however, both international case studies and those in India do point towards it.
* If we look at some of the regions in the country affected by terrorism, this linkage becomes apparent. In the Northeast, extortion is the fundamental basis for funding all forms of terrorism. In addition to this, kidnapping has been used extensively for spreading terror and raising funds. Human trafficking, drug trafficking and gun running are some of the other criminal activities that have been common in these areas.
* In J&K, counterfeit currency has been a major source of funding terrorism.
* In the Maoist terror movements, extortion is yet again a common phenomenon. They have also indulged in robberies of banks to fund their movement. There have also been reports of cuts being enforced on drug yielding crops in the region.
* The Indian Mujahideen has also resorted to crime to raise funds. This includes robberies, kidnappings, etc.
* There are also a number of insurgent groups which over a period of time have morphed into crime syndicates. What began as an ideological movement is now merely a means of generating profit. This is especially the case with insurgent groups in Northeast India.
Organized Crime and Terrorism (International Scenario)
* In the post 9/11 era, the United States has exerted considerable pressure on states to prevent charities from funding terrorists, and has cracked down on both governments and charitable organizations that have yet to stop such activities. Over 100 countries are cooperating in the global war on terrorism, and are trying to close down sources of terrorist funding. To replace this revenue and the financial support from states that are now unable or unwilling to back them, terrorist groups look elsewhere for financing.
* This crackdown on terrorist financing has led some terrorists to transform their organizations by creating in-house criminal capabilities in order to generate revenue; these units then engage organized crime groups to meet financial and operational needs.
* The expanding forces of globalization are enabling transformation and convergence through rapid communication, travel, surveillance, and information access. The growth of weak or failing states exacerbates this tendency. The absence of the rule of law in places such as Somalia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan provides ideal conditions for the blending of criminal and terrorist activities
* The nexus between terrorism and organized crime is further enabled through the widespread availability of small and light arms that can be both trafficked for money or used in operations.
* The above trends have led groups such as al Qaeda and Hezbollah to develop their own in-house criminal capabilities. While Hezbollah has been involved with methamphetamine labs and cigarette smuggling in the United States and Canada, al Qaeda has well-developed connections with criminal syndicates in Central Asia that include Pakistani and Afghani opium traffickers.
* Maritime piracy represents an area where the mixing of militant Islamic terrorism and crime can converge with potentially severe consequences for global military and economic security. Given heavy concentrations of al Qaeda cells and radical Islamic sympathizers, shipping lanes and pre-existing criminality, it comes as no surprise that Indonesia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, India and Nigeria experience most of the worlds maritime piracy attacks.
* The narcotics industry remains the most common and lucrative source of revenue to terrorists groups. Narcotics remains the most common and most lucrative form of organized crime used by terrorists groups such as the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), al Qaeda, and Hezbollah. In addition, terrorist groups participate in other forms of crime ranging from petty theft to the mining and distribution of conflict diamonds in AfricaThe dramatic spike in opium cultivation in Afghanistan over the years provides yet more evidence of the terrorism-narcotics nexus.
* Both organized crime and terrorist groups run in the same circlesthey already operate outside of the law and they often need the same re-sources, including: false identification, shipping documents, operators, transportation networks, and counter-surveillance techniques. Terrorist groups just beginning to develop their own revenue generation enterprises often come into contact (sometimes hostile) with criminal elements who generally have reliable revenue streams.
* Terror groups have embraced (either by choice or necessity) a long-stand-ing structural feature of organized crime: working through affiliated op-erational cells which have minimal connections to the leadership. Loosely networked cell structures effectively frustrate law enforcement and intelli-gence penetration. This structure also enables tremendous operational flex-ibility, in stark contrast to the rigidity characteristic of governmental law enforcement and intelligence forces. This flexibility allows terrorist and organized crime groups to set up or close down operations overnight, maintain distance between operational and planning cells, move and use financial resources quickly and secretively, and make decisions without headquarters approval. This distribution of power and authority also re-duces the possibility of a decapitating strike that could close down the organization
* While criminal and terrorist groups do appear to be moving closer together and have shared strategies, tactics, and resources, significant roadblocks to further cooperation exist. There remain cultural, operational, and practical differences between the two groups. No organized crime group is built around adherence to religious or ideological tenets, while groups like al-Qaeda or Hamas are fundamentally based on religious beliefs and motiva-tions. While ideology, religion and politics form the basis of many terrorist organizations, pure profit is what drives criminal organizations.
* In theory, as the two threats cooperate or mimic each other, it should be helpful for governments to use the lessons learned from fighting each type of organization. In reality, though, the threats are changing daily and both organized crime and terrorist groups are learning from past mistakes while probing recent defenses erected by targeted nations
* In theory, as the two threats cooperate or mimic each other, it should be helpful for governments to use the lessons learned from fighting each type of organization. In reality, though, the threats are changing daily and both organized crime and terrorist groups are learning from past mistakes while probing recent defenses erected by targeted nations
Name Abhishek Sharma
Source www.idsa.in
Book Preference I dont need books
ADIZ- Air Defense Identification Zone
* Airspace (land or water) in which the identification, location, and control of civil aircraft is required in the interest of national security.
* They extend beyond a country's airspace to give the country more time to respond to foreign and possibly hostile aircraft.
* The authority to establish an ADIZ is not given by any international treaty nor prohibited by international law and is not regulated by any international body.
The first ADIZ was established by the United States soon after World War II
Usually such zones only cover undisputed territory, only apply to civilian aircraft, and do not overlap
ADVANTAGES OF ADIZ
* Provides an added measure of security
* Can help reduce the risk of midair collisions
* Combat illicit drug flows
* Facilitate search-and-rescue missions
* Reduce the need for fighter jet sorties for purposes of visual inspection.
* Can increase transparency, predictability, and strategic stability by reducing uncertainty on both sides about when, where, and how aerial interceptions might take place.
INDIAS ADIZ: 6 zones
Stringent clearance requirements for all aircraft entering them
1. NORTH: Along the International Border / Line of Control with Pakistan and Line of Actual Control with China
2. WEST: Along the International Border with Pakistan
3. CENTRE: A point over the International border with Nepal and then line along the Indo-Nepal boundary and Line of Actual Control with China
4. EAST: Along the borders of India in the East excluding the airspace covered by territories of Bangladesh, Bhutan and part of Nepal
5. SOUTH: Includes airspace over and upto the territorial waters of Lakshadweep Islands.
6. SOUTH-EAST: sub-ordinate organisation under ADIZ South
Chinas ADIZ Controversy
* On 23rd Nov. 2013, China set up an air defence zone covering the international airspace over parts of the disputed East China Sea.
* This requires all non-commercial aircraft to notify its authorities of their flight plans to avoid triggering a response from air defence forces.
What is the Issue then?
* Chinese ADIZ overlaps with the Japans ADIZ already established in the region,
* Both zones cover the disputed Diaoyu or Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.
* It also includes SOCOTRA rock which is claimed by south korea.
* Chinas ADIZ has deepened regional fears about Chinas long-term intentions, it has actually increased this risk
In a reaction, U.S. dispatched two B-52 bombers to fly through the contested area
Why did China establish its East China Sea ADIZ?
1. Reducing the risk of surprise attack - No
* Because there was no real danger of that to begin with.
* Though Tensions in the region are undoubtedly high at the moment, but this is not a Cold War.
* No country wants a major shot to the heart of the global economy.
2. To reduce drug smuggling in the East China Sea - No
* It is not a significant drug route.
* Due multiple and overlapping maritime jurisdiction claims in the area, there is no shortage of willing search-and-rescue providers.
Neither motive figured in the Chinese defense ministry's statement announcing the establishment of the zone.
1. To reduce the risk of midair collisions Somewhat yes
* E.g.: In 2001 when a U.S. Navy EP-3 collided with an F-8 fighter from the Chinese Navy over the South China Sea.
* In the case of military flights, the risk of midair collision primarily stems from conflicting understandings of overflight rights.
* ADIZ puts even more pressure on China to intercept foreign military flights; it actually increases the risk of such accidents.
2. Prospect of increasing transparency, predictability, or strategic stability No
* It has prompted confusion among commercial airlines
* Ostentatious demonstrations of noncompliance by the U.S., Japanese, and South Korean militaries.
* Since Chinas ADIZ overlaps with Japans, there is now a very real possibility that a plane in the area could receive conflicting instructions and face simultaneous Chinese and Japanese interception.
* From a security and safety perspective, Chinas announcement clearly makes things worse, not better.
Then why the hell they declared?
In the belief that it would aid in its dispute with Japan over the Senkaku (Diaoyu) Islands.
Three reasons
1. They believed that an ADIZ signals or confers sovereign rights. Completely wrong belief
2. Declaring an ADIZ covering the disputed islands would enhance their bargaining position.
Can only be justified if bargaining was taking place and if Washington and Tokyo could be cowed
1. Chinese government may have intended to remind the U.S. that it is the dominant power in the region - Ironically, this episode has brought the U.S. and its allies together in a huddle
Way Ahead
* It is evident that China miscalculated
* China cannot walk back - Would be a major embarrassment.
* Noncompliance also represents an embarrassing loss of face for Beijing.
* It also reinforces Chinese misconceptions about the legal implications of an ADIZ.
* Also South Koreas tit-for-tat expansion of its own ADIZ is full of misconceptions.
* This will only further increase the dangers of inadvertent confrontation.
* Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington have already reacted.
* But they can drop the subject publicly and start quietly arranging some something with Beijing, behind the scenes that let it save face while operationally returning to the status quo ante.
Links
1. The Hindu
2. Foreignaffairs.com
3. AAI website
pushpender singh
* They extend beyond a country's airspace to give the country more time to respond to foreign and possibly hostile aircraft.
* The authority to establish an ADIZ is not given by any international treaty nor prohibited by international law and is not regulated by any international body.
The first ADIZ was established by the United States soon after World War II
Usually such zones only cover undisputed territory, only apply to civilian aircraft, and do not overlap
ADVANTAGES OF ADIZ
* Provides an added measure of security
* Can help reduce the risk of midair collisions
* Combat illicit drug flows
* Facilitate search-and-rescue missions
* Reduce the need for fighter jet sorties for purposes of visual inspection.
* Can increase transparency, predictability, and strategic stability by reducing uncertainty on both sides about when, where, and how aerial interceptions might take place.
INDIAS ADIZ: 6 zones
Stringent clearance requirements for all aircraft entering them
1. NORTH: Along the International Border / Line of Control with Pakistan and Line of Actual Control with China
2. WEST: Along the International Border with Pakistan
3. CENTRE: A point over the International border with Nepal and then line along the Indo-Nepal boundary and Line of Actual Control with China
4. EAST: Along the borders of India in the East excluding the airspace covered by territories of Bangladesh, Bhutan and part of Nepal
5. SOUTH: Includes airspace over and upto the territorial waters of Lakshadweep Islands.
6. SOUTH-EAST: sub-ordinate organisation under ADIZ South
Chinas ADIZ Controversy
* On 23rd Nov. 2013, China set up an air defence zone covering the international airspace over parts of the disputed East China Sea.
* This requires all non-commercial aircraft to notify its authorities of their flight plans to avoid triggering a response from air defence forces.
What is the Issue then?
* Chinese ADIZ overlaps with the Japans ADIZ already established in the region,
* Both zones cover the disputed Diaoyu or Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.
* It also includes SOCOTRA rock which is claimed by south korea.
* Chinas ADIZ has deepened regional fears about Chinas long-term intentions, it has actually increased this risk
In a reaction, U.S. dispatched two B-52 bombers to fly through the contested area
Why did China establish its East China Sea ADIZ?
1. Reducing the risk of surprise attack - No
* Because there was no real danger of that to begin with.
* Though Tensions in the region are undoubtedly high at the moment, but this is not a Cold War.
* No country wants a major shot to the heart of the global economy.
2. To reduce drug smuggling in the East China Sea - No
* It is not a significant drug route.
* Due multiple and overlapping maritime jurisdiction claims in the area, there is no shortage of willing search-and-rescue providers.
Neither motive figured in the Chinese defense ministry's statement announcing the establishment of the zone.
1. To reduce the risk of midair collisions Somewhat yes
* E.g.: In 2001 when a U.S. Navy EP-3 collided with an F-8 fighter from the Chinese Navy over the South China Sea.
* In the case of military flights, the risk of midair collision primarily stems from conflicting understandings of overflight rights.
* ADIZ puts even more pressure on China to intercept foreign military flights; it actually increases the risk of such accidents.
2. Prospect of increasing transparency, predictability, or strategic stability No
* It has prompted confusion among commercial airlines
* Ostentatious demonstrations of noncompliance by the U.S., Japanese, and South Korean militaries.
* Since Chinas ADIZ overlaps with Japans, there is now a very real possibility that a plane in the area could receive conflicting instructions and face simultaneous Chinese and Japanese interception.
* From a security and safety perspective, Chinas announcement clearly makes things worse, not better.
Then why the hell they declared?
In the belief that it would aid in its dispute with Japan over the Senkaku (Diaoyu) Islands.
Three reasons
1. They believed that an ADIZ signals or confers sovereign rights. Completely wrong belief
2. Declaring an ADIZ covering the disputed islands would enhance their bargaining position.
Can only be justified if bargaining was taking place and if Washington and Tokyo could be cowed
1. Chinese government may have intended to remind the U.S. that it is the dominant power in the region - Ironically, this episode has brought the U.S. and its allies together in a huddle
Way Ahead
* It is evident that China miscalculated
* China cannot walk back - Would be a major embarrassment.
* Noncompliance also represents an embarrassing loss of face for Beijing.
* It also reinforces Chinese misconceptions about the legal implications of an ADIZ.
* Also South Koreas tit-for-tat expansion of its own ADIZ is full of misconceptions.
* This will only further increase the dangers of inadvertent confrontation.
* Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington have already reacted.
* But they can drop the subject publicly and start quietly arranging some something with Beijing, behind the scenes that let it save face while operationally returning to the status quo ante.
Links
1. The Hindu
2. Foreignaffairs.com
3. AAI website
pushpender singh
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