Govt not keen to hunt Dawood

Unfortunately, the Modi government has been a disappointment in tackling Pakistan. It does not know whether to adopt an aggressive line, as it had promised throughout the Lok Sabha poll campaign last year, or continue with the ‘soft’ approach of the Manmohan Sarkar that it used to regularly condemn. Then, we have Ministers who declare that they have “taught a lesson” to Pakistan when nothing of the sort has happened

Successive governments on the Raisina Hill, irrespective of the party in power, have refused to learn from past follies and continue to ‘goof up’ on security-related matters. The latest episode features the dreaded Mumbai don, Dawood Ibrahim, who has been living in a tony Karachi suburb for the past two decades.

The Home Ministry informed Parliament this week that India did not know the ‘location’ of the Don who had masterminded the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts in order to settle ‘scores’ for the demolition of the Babri Masjid. Expectedly, the ‘confession’ invited ridicule. Sure enough Pakistan envoy in New Delhi was quick to exult over this scandalous statement by the Minister of State for Home, Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary.

No doubt, Dawood is rarely seen in public in his ‘adopted’ home but that does not mean he does not live or stay in Pakistan, as another Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju, told reporters outside Parliament in what was essentially a damage control exercise. Both Chaudhary and Rijiju may have incurred breach of parliamentary privilege, and, given the aggressive mood in the Congress, they may have to face some music.

The fact of the matter is that Dawood has deep contacts with the Pakistani establishment, which is a euphemism for the Army and its ISI. It was these contacts that had helped him ‘settle’ in Pakistan. For his hosts, he is a valuable ‘asset’, whom they need, to carry out their design of inflicting thousands of cuts on India. And they can afford to take in their stride his remote-controlled activities like extortion and contract killings.

By now it is well documented in the media that from the time he escaped from India, Dawood has been ensconced in ISI-fortified mansions in Karachi and Dubai. Indian intelligence agencies have at least three Karachi addresses, and reportedly traced 10 bank accounts linked to Dawood and his outfits. One of these addresses is in an upscale part of Karachi which is known as Clifton. It is an area inhabited by the well-known and influential, away from the gaze of the ‘awam’ (common man).

Anyhow Dawood need not stay at one address for long as he has many options. Neither he nor his protectors would want him to be seen in public. Perhaps one of the few Pakistanis who must have met him several times is none other than the former cricketer Javed Miandad, whose son is married to Dawood’s daughter. The couple reportedly live abroad but Miandad, a self-confessed India-baiter, does live in Karachi.

Since Dawood is in a position to shift residences as frequently as advised by the ISI, it may not be possible to pinpoint one address that can be called his exact ‘location’ or permanent abode. The ISI would instantly move him out from one place to another safer place, if there is any possibility of an unwelcome visitor. And this constant shifting cannot be used by the Government of India as an excuse to declare that his address in Pakistan is unknown.

Dawood patronises terrorists in Pakistan. That makes him a ‘wanted’ criminal all over the world — except, of course, in Pakistan, the epicentre of global terror. Clearly, Islamabad will never hand him over to India or, for that matter, any other country. The US has not exerted any pressure on Pakistan for the extradition of Dawood despite being familiar with his background. India’s wavering on Dawood makes it easier for Pakistan. The claim in a section of the media that some years ago, Dawood had expressed a desire to ‘surrender’ and return under certain conditions does not materially change the situation.

When the Government of India feigns ignorance about the whereabouts of Dawood, it sends a disturbing signal—that New Delhi has given up on its efforts to get him. The need is for New Delhi to up the ante against Islamabad on this score. Pakistan has already refused to hand over Hafiz Sayeed, a proclaimed international terrorist, to the US. Considering the $10 million bounty on Hafiz Sayeed, announced by the Americans, the Pakistanis have made a big ‘sacrifice’ by keeping him in their safe custody.

Pertinent to recall in this context is the boast of former military dictator Pervez Musharraf that he ‘sold’ terrorists to the US during the ‘Bush-II war on terrorism’ after 9/11 happened. Now that Pakistani Army corps commanders, who constitute the GHQ Shura, have made a rather extraordinary allegation that Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the premier intelligence agency of India, is whipping up terrorism in their country, India has to hit back. The absurd theme of the Pakistani army has since been taken up by the Defence Minister of Pakistan who makes similar charges with a more fanciful addition that the Baloch nationalist leaders have Indian passports.

While Pakistani leadership is known to make such noise, it is for the first time in recent years that the Pak Army Commanders deemed it fair and proper to echo the charge against India. It clearly and unambiguously points to Pakistan’s resolve to step up its propaganda offensive against India. Neither in the past nor now Pakistan has offered any evidence to substantiate its allegation but the charge is becoming more frequent because of ‘silence’ by India.

Joining a propaganda war may not be a good diplomacy, but when you have a rascally adversary like Pakistan you have to return the compliments in some measure, more so because India has plenty of proof that proves Pakistan’s complicity in terror attacks on this country. Unfortunately, the Modi government has been a disappointment in tackling Pakistan. It does not know whether to adopt an aggressive line, as it had promised throughout the Lok Sabha poll campaign last year, or continue with the ‘soft’ approach of the Manmohan Sarkar that it used to regularly condemn.

Then, we have Ministers who declare that they have “taught a lesson” to Pakistan when nothing of the sort has happened. Pakistan has stepped up its verbal aggression against India and the borders are flaring up quite frequently. Under such circumstances, to declare that we do not know the address of Dawood not only brings us ridicule but also weakens our case to get Dawood back. Surely, we do want Dawood here so that he can be tried for all his crimes.

(The writer, a Delhi-based senior journalist and South Asia analyst, can be reached at [email protected])