What mission was the Pakistani boat really onIJ
The Indian Coast Guard's interception of what was purportedly a Pakistani terror vessel, shows that the country has its guards up. The episode brought back memories of the 26/11 carnage, when terrorists in boats had exploited India's western seaboard to carry out a massive attack on the country's financial capital. At that time, questions had been raised, and rightly so, about how secure India really was, and it was found that there were indeed many chinks in the armour. In the six years since then, repeated reviews and assessments of India's national security and preparedness have shown that, while the authorities learnt many lessons after 2008, not all of them were effectively implemented. This has remained a matter of concern. Against the backdrop, the December 31-January 1 episode in the high seas is a source of re-assurance for the common man — but is also troubling. As the situation in Pakistan deteriorates and regional security enters an uncertain phase following the drawdown of Western forces from Afghanistan, it is comforting to know that India's own fences have been reinforced, and that its security apparatus is on alert.
Having said that, it is important to underline that the full story of the boat episode is yet to emerge. Some security experts have not ruled out the possibility that the suspicious vessel may have been carrying just petty smugglers. Even the Coast Guard has not labelled the incident as a terror attack; it has only stated that the occupants of the vessel were involved in some “illicit activity”. That said, there are aspects of the episode which stand confirmed: We know for a fact that, based on intelligence from the National Technical Research Organisation, the Coast Guard had been monitoring a suspicious vessel which had set sail from Karachi on December 31, 2014. We also know that after the boat was in Indian waters, its crew members refused to follow the orders of the Coast Guard and sought to speed away. The boat was then chased down, until the crew eventually blew up the boat. These events indicate something fishy. After all, had the vessel been a regular fishing boat or even ferrying petty smugglers, those on board would have more likely handed themselves over to the Coast Guard and let bilateral diplomacy takes its course, rather than put the boat aflame.
There is some circumstantial evidence pointing to criminality. There were preliminary reports that another boat from Pakistan, tailing the suspected vessel, too was under the surveillance of Indian authorities. But the Coast Guard did not pursue it because it never entered Indian waters. The ‘second boat’ theory has been reportedly denied. Nevertheless, the timing of the incident is worrisome — the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and the Vibrant Gujarat Summit are around the corner. Also, US President Barack Obama is only weeks away from coming to India for the Republic Day celebrations. Any untoward development now will attract considerable global attention and allow the terrorists to mark their presence more effectively. There are reports that at least eight terror groups are plotting attacks in the run-up to Mr Obama's visit. Meanwhile, we will know in the coming days what mission the ill-fated Pakistani boat really was on.