Europe’s last running secessionist group fighting for a piece of Spain and South Western France for a Basque homeland, ETA, declared a permanent ceasefire in its fight against both those countries. ETA had earlier issued 10 ceasefires but only on this one had it used the word “permanent.” Spain reacted cautiously while France declared a self-congratulatory victory. After 40 years of war that claimed the lives of 850 people and destruction of property valued at USD 20 billion the ETA was the most durable terrorist group that turned Spaniard from Basque and even Basque against Basque. Analysts are skeptical about ETA’s promise to give up its way of life, which was violence and extortion just as Irish Republic Army (IRA) continued to indulge in them even when they were negotiation with the Government. India faces similar challenges with internal Naxalites, Kashmiri terrorist groups, North Eastern secessionist bands, and pan-Islamic terrorists. India also has the additional burden of negotiating with Pakistan, Bangladesh, and China even while they continue to support terrorism in India with impunity. Pan-Islamic terrorism is the most dangerous form because of its potential to create inter-communal violence leading to social anarchy. Recognizing this increasing number of Islamic clerics has issued fat was (religious dictates) calling all violence “un-Islamic.” Recently, one thousand delegates said “bomb blasts, plane hijackings, massacres or any such activity where people are killed or which poses a threat to any religious organization and destroys peace of the nation is condemned in Islam.”

Lt. Col. Batra, spokesperson for the armed forces, said that seizure of large caches of arms, ammunition, and explosives from different parts of the Kashmir Valley “does not augur well for the peace process.” Kashmiris, long disenchanted by violence and terrorism, have been increasingly helping the army identify, engage, and capture or kill terrorists. Recently, the army recovered a large cache of 9 kilograms (Kgs) of RDX, 19 kgs of other explosives, RPG rocket fuses, RPG bombs, Chinese made mines, plastic explosives, anti-tank Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), hand grenades, AK-47 assault rifles, radio sets, pistols. The wide variety of weaponry only suggests the sophistication of the terrorists and this experience can only be obtained from training with experience defense or intelligence sources. India accuses the Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf of not dismantling the terror network. While Musharraf is quick to come up with “out-of-box ideas” to get the Indian army out of the Kashmir Valley, he has been accused by many of over promising and under-delivering on terrorism. Western media had counseled US President George Bush not to trust Musharraf, which reflected his disdain on the Pakistani establishment during his visit early this month. Interestingly, political actors from the state who visited Pakistan recently wanted India to respond to Musharraf’s proposals. Musharraf himself has threatened to take “steps backward” if India does not respond to his non-starter ideas.

Musharraf Indian Response to his Proposals