Integrated approach needed to tackle terrorism

By Vinay Kumar

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 22. As law-enforcing agencies and investigators probe into the terrorist strikes in New York and Washington, there is a growing feeling among security and intelligence agencies here for developing a cooperative ethos and reviving the ``human touch'' in intelligence-gathering methods.

With the easy availability of the latest gadgets to gather intelligence inputs, the entire scene has undergone a change and every wing of the intelligence apparatus appears keen on showing off its superiority over the other.

Even with sophisticated phone tapping devices and ability to scan the E-mail, the vast intelligence apparatus in the U.S. as well as other agencies in the world failed to pick up signals on the deep-rooted and widespread conspiracy hatched to use civilian aircraft as missiles to hit secure and safe targets such as the Pentagon, intelligence experts said.

In the process, highly-placed Government sources said, the casualty has been the collection of raw, field-level intelligence through operatives. Collection and dissemination of ground-level intelligence is of crucial importance in launching any operation, a fact often glossed over by intelligence agencies. Some of the glaring examples of ignoring ground-level intelligence had come to light during the Kargil incursions in 1999. After the Group of Ministers (GoM) on national security submitted its recommendations on overhauling and modernising the intelligence set up, the Government has put its implementation on the fast- track. The Intelligence Bureau (IB), as the nodal agency for counter-intelligence and counter terrorism, is pressing ahead with time-bound implementation of the GoM recommendations.

To handle the tasks related to counter-terrorism and counter- intelligence, it is proposed to set up an apex level Multi Agency Centre (MAC) in New Delhi and Subsidiary Multi Agency Centres (SMACs) in State capitals. In the first phase, SMACs would be made operational at Srinagar, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Guwahati.

While the MAC will be represented by all the intelligence wings of Central Para-Military Forces, Service Intelligence Directorates, the Intelligence Agencies of Ministry of Finance and the Delhi police, the SMACs will be represented by the State Special Branches and the intelligence wings of the security forces deployed in that region.

The Home Ministry is processing a working proposal on the structure, operating system, technical and manpower requirements in respect of MAC and SMACs.

The subject of adopting an integrated approach to counter terrorism and preservation of national security came up during the closed-door session at the recently-concluded two-day annual conference of the Heads of the State Police and Central Police Organisations, convened by the Intelligence Bureau here.

The GoM had recommended the constitution of a Joint Task Force on Intelligence (JTFI) in which the IB, in association with the Home Ministry, are expected to play the lead role. The JTFI should determine emerging intelligence needs, intelligence priorities, technical support requirements and training facilities countrywide.

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