[anu verma]

India takes stock of security scenario

As Benazir Bhutto’s assassination in a terror attack yesterday plunged crisis-ridden Pakistan deeper into the vortex of turmoil, bloodletting and uncertainty, its wide-ranging security and other implications has kept India on the edge.
With the Islamist militant forces, led by Al Qaeda and Taliban, appearing to be gaining ground in Pakistan, the Indian leadership across the political spectrum is concerned over its possible “spill-over effect” in the country in terms of not only its security but also the future of Indo-Pak bilateral relations and the Kashmir question. An unstable Pakistan under the increasing grip of radical Islamist groups may be bad news for the entire world, but especially for India, given the fact that the strife-torn neighbouring country is also armed with nuclear weapons.
The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, today convened a Cabinet Committee on Security meeting to take stock of the security and stability scenario in the South Asian region in the wake of Bhutto’s killing.
The situation in the region as well as in the domestic front came up for a close scrutiny at the CCS meeting, sources said. The hour-long CCS meeting was followed by a meeting of leaders of major political parties, convened again by the PM at his residence, where the national security adviser Mr MK Narayanan briefed them about the situation in the region on the basis of preliminary information on the Benazir episode.
The leaders of various parties were apprised of the steps taken by the Centre to deal with the evolving situation. The all-party meeting was attended by the external affairs minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, defence minister, Mr A K Antony, home minister, Mr Shivraj Patil, Opposition leader, Mr LK Advani, and leaders of CPI-M, CPI, RJD, SP, BSP, Akali Dal and DMK.
In a resolution adopted unanimously at the hour-long meeting, the leaders strongly condemned Bhutto’s brutal assassination and expressed their resolve to defeat the forces of terrorism in the region, the PM’s media advisor, Mr Sanjaya Baru, said. The meeting hailed Bhutto as an outstanding leader of South Asia and a voice of moderation and democracy in Pakistan and conveyed their heartfelt sympathies to members of her family and the people of Pakistan.
According to Mr Baru, the leaders thanked the PM for taking the initiative in convening the meeting and the government for responding to the grave situation in the “most wise and mature manner”. Dr Singh earlier said the “grievous blow” of Bhutto’s assassination is “once again a reminder to all of us of the great harm that terrorism can do to the peace, prosperity and well being of the region,” adding “We all have obligations to work together to deal with this menace which threatens the ways of civilised people living all over the world.”
Mr Pranab Mukherjee dropped plans to attend Benazir’s funeral in the wake of a security advisory from the Pakistan government which, sources said, advised India against sending any delegation for the funeral of Bhutto citing security reasons. The prevailing unrest and violence in Pakistan have risen following Bhutto’s killing. Security at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad has also been beefed up.
New Delhi was actively considering to send an official delegation led by Mr Mukherjee to attend Bhutto’s burial at her ancestral village Garhi Khuda Baksh at Larkana near Karachi. The slain former Pakistani Premier Bhutto’s funeral today was a “private affair” with no foreign leaders being reported to have attended it because of same security grounds cited by Islamabad in the case of New Delhi. Sources, however, said the Centre may send an Indian delegation if there was going to be “a formal memorial service later”.
Sources also said a decision to re-start rail and bus links with Pakistan, suspended temporarily, will depend on the security situation there. Earlier today, the NSA Mr Narayanan met Mr Advani and briefed him about the Pakistan situation and its implications for India. The PM had yesterday told Mr Advani that he will direct the NSA to brief him in this regard.

source:The statesman.