Indian cyber security is greatest casualty, must be renovated before long

Terrorism or the methodical application of terror especially as a means of coercion has been present in the worldwide civilized society for decades. But even this violent political or social philosophy has changed to a great extent by now and cyber terrorism or at least cyber crime has become its newest manifestation. What can India, one of the prime targets of this trigger-happy doctrine, do? In order to save its own skin and kith and kin, it must build up a commendable and potent cyber security. Well, we are not sure how far the country has comprehended this new danger but it must be said the consciousness is rising.

One of the exponents of this school of thought is Ankit Fadia, eminent cyber security expert. According to his views, courses on cyber security should be launched in schools and colleges in India straight away, while cyber cells need to be set up in police to check cyber crimes.

Ankit Fadia, known as one of the computer whiz kids in the world once, prefers to introduce himself as an ethical hacker and is, at present, engrossed with the task of advising companies, governmental bodies and security agencies both in India and abroad on cyber security.

‘International cooperation should be increased. India should propose something like an Interpol or a United Nations body for cyber security, ‘he said.

Speaking to the press and media recently, he told that educational institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) ought to operate courses on ethical hacking - practice of hacking sites and e-mail ids to identify the defects to organizations and individuals concerned and bring forth remedies to plug the loopholes. What is more, he opines, youngsters must be both informed and trained on the problem of cyber crimes and possible solutions. There is hardly any doubt of this necessity; it is already recognized that 26/11 terror attack on last year made use of most advanced technologies for communication.

‘India is no doubt the world’s IT capital. But as far as security is concerned, our country has fallen far behind, ‘Fadia said. We have no skepticism in this and the sooner India heeds this the better it is.

India remembers 26/11, can’t thwart another too

There have been several versions of terrorism in the post-WWII decades. While on one hand there was the presence of Red Army Faction or one of postwar Germany's most violent and prominent left wing groups once, there has also been the presence of dreaded Islamic hard-line outfit Lashkar Taiba or LeT. But it will be simply erroneous if you dare to place them in one-half. On the contrary there is a vast and never-ending difference between the two.

Red Army Faction or RAF asserted that it was a communist and anti-imperialist "urban guerrilla" group engaged in armed resistance against what they deemed to be a fascist state. The RAF was founded in 1970 by Andreas Baader, Gudrun Ensslin, Horst Mahler, and Ulrike Meinhof. But Lashkar Taiba or LeT is one of the largest and most active Islamist militant organizations in South Asia and has been grown in order to trounce and balkanize India, the land of infidels. While left wing terrorism springs up owing to mounting polarization and economic inequality, Islamic terrorism is set to uproot an entire civilization.

In all these years, thanks to exponential growth in worldwide technology and a profound transformation in global economy, Islamic outfits have extended considerably. Each and every attack of them, especially in India is lethal and what did Mumbai witness on the last 26/11 may be the beginning of a new chapter.

Nevertheless Mumbaikars (residents of Mumbai) are upbeat and in spite of remaining busy with their scheduled tasks, they were found to pause in their tracks to honor the memory of the 166 people killed in the shocking 60-hour terror strike last year. A similar scene was witnessed when thousands of daily commuters rushing to their offices stopped so as to pay respects to those who slaughtered in the attacks on the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST).

Well, there would be many other moments of silence, remembering and mourning slated all over the day. But the morning rush hour showed the spirit of India's financial and entertainment capital without a doubt.

However all these make us pose a new question. Is India prepared to thwart another 26/11? Perhaps not since the country even doesn’t dare to reach an eventuality with Azmal Kasav, terror face of the Mumbai attack. What a quirk of fate!

Potent, imperialist US-China entente in the pipeline!

Though the relation of China with several countries, especially India, is getting embittered increasingly, it has found a new supporter in the global arena out of the blue. It’s no save for the United States of America and owing to a volte face (seemingly) it is busy in showering praises, for the time being, on the Asian Dragon. "The rise of a strong, prosperous China can be a source of strength for the community of nations," Mr. Obama said in a speech in Japan's capital, Tokyo.

He also said, better US ties with Beijing do not mean a weakening of relations with US allies in the region. Furthermore, describing himself as the first "Pacific" US president, he said the US was committed to the area's security. Well, Mr. Obama is now in Singapore so as to attend an Asia-Pacific economic summit.

Speaking on this development, Obama’s trade representative Ron Kirk, who is already at the APEC meeting, says the US wants barriers to trade and investment removed to promote an open global trade system. It has also come to the knowledge that Mr. Obama will brush up his week-long Asian tour with stops in China and South Korea.

All this make us raise a very pertinent yet uncomfortable question and it does deal with the US-North Korea relation. Well, this subject was raised in Tokyo too and Mr. Obama told the gathering Washington’s commitment to the region's security was "unshakeable", in spite of its commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In accordance with his statement, the US would chase "pragmatic co-operation" with Beijing on issues of mutual concern. He also warned that he would not be indecisive from raising human rights concerns with Beijing, but preferred to retain silence on specific concerns, for instance Tibet.

Last but not least, the US president necessitated the need of more assistance from China to frustrate the nefarious ambitions of North Korea, and warned there would be tough, unified action by the US and its Asian partners if Pyongyang failed to abandon its nuclear weapons program.

Is this a just posture from a new friend of China or the beginning of a potent, imperialist US-China entente?

Joining Indian police force? Think twice

Can you envisage a day without police or the local or state administration deploying personnel for manning streets? No you can’t and none of us as police and administration is a vital part of the society and its absence may wreak havoc among us. I know that you do feel in the same way even though most of us don’t waste any opportunity to despise these people. There have been other factors also.

For decades, we have been taught that police and administration is an inseparable part of the State structure and hence, it is a tool of repression and comprises morons only. All these have led to skepticism among public and the dearth of essential facilities in conjunction with low pay envelopes have made the jobs less attractive among unwaged youth too.

Why should they join? Perhaps you are not acquainted with the horrific reality. Do you know the ways through which these security personnel have to work? At most occasions they go without basic facilities for boarding and lodging and accommodations are arranged either in municipal schools or local parks or perchance in the barren pavements of the urban markets. The highest echelon of police has the proud record of having the highest disregard to the lowest echelon of police.

This picture is not limited to any particular or a handful of Indian states; the picture is similar, whether it is Naxal-infested Gadchiroli or Lalagarh, Jangalmahal in Bengal, engrossed in dealing with Maoist disturbances.

What is most striking, life of the platoon of 30-odd jawans that works 24/7 to man four bunkers inside the Taj Mahal Hotel, focal point of 26/11 terror attack, is no different. These persons are in huge problems regarding everything ranging from meals, rests to morning ablutions. At the moment the Taj genially provides three meals a day and jawans don’t know when it may cease to exist. For morning ablutions they have to go to police stations or public toilet in close proximity and we prefer to keep quiet regarding the amenities there.

Now let’s crack down on the pay packets of these people, who brave all odds to let civilians have sound sleeps. It is not fit to meet the needs of a college student even.

Do you want to join this elite (you can surely ask Leftists for attaching this tag) force? Think twice.

Is China going to set off an arms race in space?

The latest stances of China have not only left the international community bemused but have also made it consider dangers that can be posed by the giant dragon. One of it is certainly India, the country with whom China’s scuffles over “Arunachal Pradesh” (Indian state but being demanded by China also) has spread like a wild fire by now. Now India, it seems, may have to have sleepless nights owing to the hottest remarks of China.

In accordance with the state media, a high-ranking China air force commander has called the militarization of space an "historical inevitability and this indicates the very nation is changing its erstwhile standpoint – opposition to weaponising outer space. As per the comprehensive interview in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Daily, air force commander Xu Qiliang elucidated that it was crucial for the PLA air force to extend offensive and defensive operations in outer space.

"As far as the revolution in military affairs is concerned, the competition between military forces is moving towards outer space... this is a historical inevitability and a development that cannot be turned back," Xu told the paper. "The PLA air force must establish in a timely manner the concepts of space security, space interests and space development.” "We must build an outer space force that conforms with the needs of our nation's development (and) the demands of the development of the space age."

What makes China focus on this very issue all of a sudden? The only reason is that the pre-eminence in outer space can give a nation hegemony over war zones both on land and at sea in conjunction with a strategic advantage. Xu Qiliang made it clear that such control was necessary to preserve the nation.

What is most striking is that China had long stated that it endorsed the passive utilizations of external space and was in opposition to the introduction of weapons there. Beijing has also sought after to set up an international treaty to control the deployment of weapons in space.

Why is China taking an alternative oath then? Is it just to admonish others or set off an arms race in space? Is China depicting the covert desires of its erstwhile Manchu dynasty instead of Communist ethics?