India is witnessing a changing face of terror -- which would need a special consideration from the Government, security agencies, and the people, so that an effective counter could evolve. The car-bomb blast near Red Fort in Delhi and other developments in the past some days point to the new face of terrorism in the country. Highly educated persons are getting radicalised and are accepting to become parts of different terror modules to create disturbance and disruption in the larger Indian society. The seizure of 2,900 kilograms of explosives and chemicals from different places across the country, the arrests of highly educated persons in connection with different terror modules, and the surfacing evidence of a likely attempt to push the country into chaos through chemical weapons -- all these point to a possible reality that after seeing the failure of the traditional model of terrorism, the masterminds (wherever they may have been) are changing their strategy and tactics.

 

The investigators have felt -- at least until now -- that the Delhi blast was an unplanned attempt to inflict wounds on the Indian society. The details point to this fact from different angles. No matter that, the facts do insist that a fresh wave of terror may hit the country if it is not countered by alert action on part of the security agencies. Among the persons arrested in connection with terror activities are medical doctors, science researchers, and other highly educated persons. It obviously means that the terror sponsors are now looking at an entirely different model of terrorism -- which Indian security agencies may find difficult to fathom. Such an approach may have become essential for the terror sponsors because of the constant failure on their part to radicalise young Kashmiris in sufficient numbers and frequency. Also, possibly the masterminds have felt it necessary to start using other weapons as well -- such as chemical (or even biological) weapons.

 

These possibilities should give a serious wake-up call not just the security agencies, but also to the entire nation. Having seen string defeats and drubbings by India on various occasions, the Pakistanis may try to employ methods with which the Indians are not familiar with. Hence the renewed need for India to be doubly alert and unforgiving. Though the Delhi car-bomb blast may not be attributed to the usual accusation of Intelligence failure, the fact also cannot be missed that the explosives-laden car was parked at a place for more than three hours -- but was not noticed by any person related to security activities. This means, there is still a greater scope for security agencies to be more alert and vigilant. The investigators have also arrested a woman as a leader of certain terrorist activity. This confirms the news several weeks ago after “Operation Sindoor” that terror sponsors were hiring women and forming women’s terror brigades in Pakistan.

 

The drubbing Pakistan got through “Operation Sindoor” appears to have made some impact on Pakistan. That is the reason why it is changing its approach to terrorist activity. If the terrorists are planning action based on chemical weapons, it would mean that their effectiveness may increase, considering the possible damage the new tactics and new weapons. Indian security agencies, thus, will have to remain extra alert in countering terror and continue nabbing terrorists, their masterminds, and their fund managers. It is obvious that sooner than later, India would pick up “Operation Sindoor” for its next phase implementation. The Pakistanis also knows this very well. Yet, they have chosen to needle India once again. Therefore, it is imperative that India keeps its own promise to itself that any act of terror would be treated as an act of war. The Delhi blast has given India an appropriate reason to launch the next phase of “Operation Sindoor” and teach Pakistan another -- and far more tough -- lesson (which may mean a slicing off of some Pakistani region).