Threat From ISIS Can’t Be Ignored Anymore: Brig Gupta

The Legitimate Desk

Jammu: The Lucknow encounter should send a clear cut message to those who so far have been unwilling to acknowledge the threat to India from ISIS according to Brig Anil Gupta, a veteran and Jammu-based security and strategic analyst. ISIS is not only knocking at our doors but has made a successful entry due to the ostrich-like approach of our political leadership. Any further delay in smelling the coffee and accepting the presence of elephant in the room will be at the peril of national security warned Brig Gupta. Both the MP and UP police deserve kudos for timely sharing of the intelligence and the professionalism displayed by the Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) of the UP Police is praiseworthy. Having suffered defeat at the hand of Allied forces in Iraq ISIS has given up the dream of establishing an Islamic Caliphate but is determined to enforce its ideology of radical Wahabi Islam. To achieve this it has divided its cadre and deployed them in Europe and South Asia for spreading terror according to Brig Gupta.

ISIS cadre has been trained to eliminate those who do not subscribe and submit to their ideology of radical Islam. All those who oppose their ideology are their enemies irrespective of their religious belief according to the ISIS Chief Baghdadi. Therefore, the presence of ISIS cadre amongst us is a matter of grave concern opines Brig Gupta. So far, NIA was successful only in exposing the ISIS network of sleeper cells in the country. Lucknow encounter is the first of its kind wherein the ISIS cadre has been involved in a live encounter. The government needs to further strengthen the intelligence network before the cadre is able to spread its tentacles to the other parts of the country and spread the arc of terrorism to Central and South India.

ISIS believes in mass causalities and selects targets accordingly. The security agencies should prepare to meet the challenges of “Lone Wolf” attacks, a preferred modus operandi of the ISIS as well as the latest modus operandi of sabotage on railway tracks rued Brig Gupta. Considering the vast railway network in our country and the number of people travelling daily, it is going to be a major challenge for the security apparatus. People like Omar Abdullah who had rubbished the waving of ISIS flags in Valley as an act of “some idiots” need to come to terms with the reality and need to cooperate with the security forces to meet the threat. Brig Gupta also cautioned the Government of India to ensure that Indian youth that has joined the ISIS ranks are not allowed an entry back home as they would assume the mantle of leadership of the terror outfit.