07-22-2007, 11:58 PM
<b>JIHADI Terrorism & 123 Agreement-International Terrorism Monitor-Paper No.261 </b> - By B.Raman
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>3. Western counter-terrorism experts have expressed concern and resentment over the manner in which the Government of India has been trying to exercise pressure on the Government of Australia to release before the completion of investigation Dr.Mohammad Haneef, who has been arrested in Brisbane and charged with the offence of providing "reckless support" to a terrorist organization by allegedly giving his SIM card to his cousin Dr.Sabeel Ahmed of Liverpool, who has been charged by the British Police under Section 38(B) of the Terrorism Act 2000 that he had information which he "knew or believed may be of material assistance in preventing the commission by another of an act of terrorism". </b>
<b>8. There is an impression in Western counter-terrorism circles that whereas the Indian authorities co-operated readily when the suspects or perpetrators were Arabs or Pakistani nationals or Indian Muslims of foreign nationality, they have been dragging their feet when they found the suspected involvement of Indian Muslims with Indian nationality in global jihad for the first time. </b>
10. Whereas the Madrid detentions, where the suspects were Hindus, did not lead to any campaign or controversy in India, the Australian detention has been over-dramatised and the Australian Federal Police has been sought to be demonised in India just because the detained suspect is an Indian Muslim.
<b>11. This has, unfortunately, been giving rise to an impression that the Indian political leadership and officials want to cover up the full extent of the alleged involvement of Indian Muslims in global jihad. If this impression persists and if the intelligence and counter-terrorism officials of Western countries share with their respective Congressional or parliamentary over-sight committees their concerns over the perceived unco-operative attitude of the Indian authorities, this could come in the way of the final Congressional approval of the 123 agreement on Indo-US Nuclear Co-operation as and when it is signed and Australia supporting the agreement when it comes up before the Nuclear Suppliers' Group.</b><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>3. Western counter-terrorism experts have expressed concern and resentment over the manner in which the Government of India has been trying to exercise pressure on the Government of Australia to release before the completion of investigation Dr.Mohammad Haneef, who has been arrested in Brisbane and charged with the offence of providing "reckless support" to a terrorist organization by allegedly giving his SIM card to his cousin Dr.Sabeel Ahmed of Liverpool, who has been charged by the British Police under Section 38(B) of the Terrorism Act 2000 that he had information which he "knew or believed may be of material assistance in preventing the commission by another of an act of terrorism". </b>
<b>8. There is an impression in Western counter-terrorism circles that whereas the Indian authorities co-operated readily when the suspects or perpetrators were Arabs or Pakistani nationals or Indian Muslims of foreign nationality, they have been dragging their feet when they found the suspected involvement of Indian Muslims with Indian nationality in global jihad for the first time. </b>
10. Whereas the Madrid detentions, where the suspects were Hindus, did not lead to any campaign or controversy in India, the Australian detention has been over-dramatised and the Australian Federal Police has been sought to be demonised in India just because the detained suspect is an Indian Muslim.
<b>11. This has, unfortunately, been giving rise to an impression that the Indian political leadership and officials want to cover up the full extent of the alleged involvement of Indian Muslims in global jihad. If this impression persists and if the intelligence and counter-terrorism officials of Western countries share with their respective Congressional or parliamentary over-sight committees their concerns over the perceived unco-operative attitude of the Indian authorities, this could come in the way of the final Congressional approval of the 123 agreement on Indo-US Nuclear Co-operation as and when it is signed and Australia supporting the agreement when it comes up before the Nuclear Suppliers' Group.</b><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->