A BAD OMEN FROM OUR NEIGHBOUR [BANGLADESH RIFLES (BDR) VS BANGLADESH ARMY (BDA) ]

   On February 25^th, the world witnessed the lifting of about 70 army officers from the mass graves in the Bangladesh rifles military compound. This is the worst military mutiny ever to have happened in the Asian continent. Once again, it has raised the doubts that whether Bangladesh is our reliable neighbor in terms of security aspects. The reason for the revolt is assumed that the director-general of BDR is extremely unpopular among the soldiers of the lower cadres because of his corruption and bad treatment of the lower officers. As the director-general did not allow the soldiers to meet the prime minister sheikh hasina wajed, and express their grievances, they became violent and shot down the DG of BDR. They even held hostage of some army persons and later killed them. This incident has many implications.

First, Bangladesh civilian administration does not have good control over their military counterparts. Military is expected to occupy a prominent place in Bangladesh politics. Despite the PM of Bangladesh holding the defense portfolio, she could not control the mutiny.

Second, in order to combat the Indo-Bangla border insurgencies, drug &human trafficking, we need a responsible force of Bangladeshi rifles. So India is upset in this regard.

Third, setting up of two independent committees, one by the army and the other by the government to probe the mutiny, reflects the lack of confidence between the two parts. This is not desirable in a democracy.

Let us hope that the armed forces of Bangladesh remain with in their constitutional limits and be subservient to the civilian administration. This a lesson for Bangladesh that armed persons cannot be treated as mere casual labourers. Only now Pakistan has moved from military cover to civilian cover. Let Bangladesh do not repeat the same mistake.

THE KNOWN RIDER OF THE UNKNOWN TIGER [ PAKISTAN - AT THE VERGE OF BEING A FAILED STATE IN TERMS OF SECURITY]

Today, when I was watching the well often rain interrupted match of India Vs NewZealand, there was a flash news at the bottom, stating that the SriLankan cricket team have been brutally attacked by the Pakistani terrorist outfits. Yes, four SriLankan players and the SriLankan team manager have been injured. The terrorists were targeting the bus in which the SriLankan players were travelling. They were attacked by rocket launchers, pistols and AK-47s. Five Pakistani police personell were killed. Even cricket is not spared from these terrorist activities. This new tactic of the terrorists, in targeting the international players has many implications.

First, Pakistan which has been creating and using the terrorist outfits to achieve its political and military objectives, face the threat from its own child. Now the magnitude, extent, linkage and reach of these terrorist organizations has reached beyond the limit, that, it is definitely uncertain on the part of the country to control these outfits or bring the perpetrators of terror to justice.

Second, now the terrorist outfits are evolving to the next stage. Targeting the international players or international people has much significance in the international arena than any local target. Now the terrorist outfits are taking this as a tool to threaten and destabilize the Pakistani government.

Third, in terms of sports, Pakistan is well known, only for the game of cricket. The attack on the cricket players is definitely a set back to the Pakistani cricket team. Now all the countries of the world will refuse to go to Pakistan. So this is definitely a setback to the Pakistani cricket  board.

Fourth, as unfortunately Pakistan, Bangladesh and SriLanka have become a troublesome country in terms of security, in one way or the other, there is a doubt that the next cricket world cup 2011 is likely to be held in the Indian subcontinent.

Fifth, Pakistan has began to face more threat from its terrorist organizations than any other country for which it has been designed for.

Sixth, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen an earlier terrorist oraganisation of pakistan had close links with the LTTE. The LTTE carried heroine, arms and ammunitions from pakistan and afghanistan to other parts of the Islamic world. In return, LTTE obtained anti-aircraft weapons from HUM and ISI. Even now is alleged that LTTE and HUM has close contacts. So this incident can also be said as HUM paying their old debts to LTTE by attacking the SriLankans.

So, Pakistan can no longer route these terrorist organizations to India or Afghanistan. It should take this as a lesson that political or military objectives cannot be successfully achieved by these terrorist outfits through its well believed back door strategy. Some scholars have even alleged that they are riding on a tiger without any control. Of course, I do accept this stand. Even now, if Pakistan is not ready to destruct the terrorist bases, then definitely we can assume that Pakistan is marching towards the status of a failed state.