Pathankot terror: RSS talks tough, asks Pakistan to defeat non-state actors

Days after India provided Pakistan with leads on the Pathankot terror attacks, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological mentor of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has asked Pakistan to defeat non-state actors within and stressed that bilateral dialogue cannot move forward if Islamabad fails to act promptly. “Non-state actors operate within boundaries of state with overt or covert support of some elements within. Therefore, national governments have to make a firm resolve to defeat them, without that no composite dialogue can take place. Resultantly, non-state actors become state themselves, as happened in case of the IS. Hope Pakistan does not move in the same direction,” the editorial in ‘Organiser,’ the RSS mouthpiece, said. The Pathankot terror attacks that started on January 2 lasted for four days. While India has put the ball in Pakistan’s court to act decisively against the perpetrators of the airbase assault, the RSS’ statement could prod the government to toughen its stance vis-à-vis dialogue with Pakistan. Highlighting the lapses in the security pointed out by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, the editorial also expressed concern about the complacency of Punjab police and possibility of assistance from within. Mr Parrikar had admitted to gaps in security that led to the Pathankot attacks.  Making the case for a unified command in border areas, the publication said: “neither mere blaming Pakistan as perpetrator of cross-border terrorism nor cornering government for the sake of opposition will yield any results”. The publication, however, praised the government for ensuring self-sufficiency in the defence sector and said it was the right approach. Criticising the previous UPA government, the report said that due to lack of decision making and corruption in the earlier government, the gap created has to be filled up by fast-tracking the defence acquisition process.