Lows and Highs in Security in October

For reasons not requiring any clarifications, expressions like Taliban and Al Qaeda evoke genuine apprehensions. The resurgence or return of Taliban in Afghanistan is now an admitted fact. The Afghanistan President has gone to the extent of inviting the Taliban for negotiating peace – may be the result of Pak-Taliban agreement reached some time back. The Al Qaeda is believed to have shifted its Hqrs to Waziristan in Pakistan. The ULFA in the northeastern State of Assam, India, has extended threats of extortion to the ruling Congress party and has been registering its protest against the Government of India’s decision to call off talks and resume security operations. Overall terrorism extortion has been badly crippling the economy of the northeast, a formal study group report has stated. Have you heard of extortion in the Himalayas? Foreign trekkers are now being obliged to pay taxes to the Maoists.

The other side! October 21, 2006, is one historic day that deserves to remembered and noted by every one. The Shia and Sunni sectarian groups from Iraq have signed an accord in the holy city of Mecca, asserting mutual accommodation. The LTTE has agreed to talk to the SriLankan Government. Fatah and Hamas, two rival Palestinian outfits, have agreed to end violence.

Look for more? A Muslim girl in Kerala has topped the post-graduate Sanskrit examination. While universities in the UK have been officially advised to spy on Asian looking and Muslim students, the Harvard University in the USA has brought religious studies in its curriculum.

Back to private security industry! While the industry leader ASIS has duly completed its Annual Seminar-cum-Exhibition in September, 2006, the month of November, 2006, has been rather significant for the private security industry in India. The IISSM held its XVIth Annual International Seminar on November 21-23, 2006, in New Delhi. The newly set-up CAPSI (Central Association for Private Security Industry) and APDI (Association for Private Detective Industry) jointly organized their first National Conference on November 4-5, 2006. Significantly, the Hon’ble Union Home Minister of India Mr. Shivraj V. Patil had addressed the delegates in both the events. His presence and words of advice have been highly encouraging. The private security industry in India is likely to advance in the right direction. The bonhomie developed should be kept up.

D. C. Nath, IPS (Retd.)
Former Special Director, IB (MHA), Govt. of India,
Executive President & CEO,
International Institute of Security and Safety Management,
New Delhi, India.