Australia is rebooting intel-gathering: What India needs to do
The new face of terror requires a robust intelligence-gathering apparatus that reaches far and beyond to pre-empt threats looming over democracies across the world.
This is also evident by the fact that many countries are seen overhauling their intelligence setups. So much so that even private security agencies are gearing up to provide advance intelligence to their stakeholders. Intelligence-gathering is becoming an unavoidable aspect for national security as well as security of the corporate world.
Under these circumstances, according to credible reports, Australia is reported to have embarked on reinforcing its intelligence system amid apprehensions of growing threat from terrorism and foreign political interference. Foreign countries meddling and eavesdropping into another country's internal matters have been going on for ages, probably as part of political statecraft and is generally accepted as a "done thing".
According to Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), Australia is likely to undertake a thorough review of domestic and external factors as also the existing legal provisions. This move is considered by experts as the most comprehensive professional exercise since the Royal Commission on Intelligence and Security in the 1970s.
Significantly, this measure is part of a slew of reforms to check espionage attempts by foreign countries, and China has been earmarked as the "country of concern".
Independent bodies like the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and Fairfax Media recently claimed that Chinese affluent billionaires were pumping in huge sums of money to gain access to the Australian political parties. Disclosure of such selective details has irked China, which has refuted the allegations.
Australia has been focusing on its intelligence operations chiefly on illegal migration of the Asians specially from Pakistan, Afghanistan and some South Asian countries ever since hundreds of Australian tourists got killed in the infamous Bali bombings in 2002.
This literally shook the Australian establishment which quickly shifted its focus to Islamic terrorists engaged in spreading fundamentalism and terror on the Australian soil. It also entered into a functional relationship with several other countries for exchange of intelligence between them ensuring almost foolproof security guarding their interests. Apart from Australia, there are a host of other nations in relationship with others exchanging actionable intelligence.
But to take on China to preempt espionage activities targeting Australia is a serious challenge. China, which is full of experience, resources and scant respect for other country’s sensitivity, is miles ahead of Australia’s intelligence prowess. Hence, Australia must take its allies such as the US and the UK on board to adopt an aggressive posture to counter China.
In fact, some of its covert intelligence operations should be carried out in close collaboration with the CIA and the MI6 as they have a focused approach in dealing with the Chinese. Hitherto, Australia was concentrating on Islamic affairs, illegal migration, sea piracy, maritime security and other related issues. Given the importance it is giving to its expansionism of Intelligence, it is imperative to go whole hog to counter Chinese espionage offensive.
Piracy on the Indian Ocean waters is on the wane and that’s quite a reprieve for Australia. It can divert its resources to focus on other areas to pre-empt terrorism.
It has also been noticed that there is a sizeable presence of Islamic radicals in Australia and with years of over indulgence and pandering to them by flaunting its policy of tolerance, Australia is now fraught with threats from within. A group of minuscule Sikh separatists is also active though not carrying out direct threats, but occasional anti-India statements by them do appear unsettling. These also merit attention at the earliest. This has implications for India as well.
There are a large number of undercover intelligence operatives working in various Australian diplomatic missions abroad. They need to be further sensitised for optimal results. Now, that the Australians have identified their areas of focus, look determined to change radically its intelligence machinery, it should also consider making their existing laws less tolerant and should look, as part of deterrence, to be meaning business with zero-tolerance approach . It is learnt, in the meantime, that Australia has several key intelligence and security officials occupying important positions who are Australian citizens, but of Indian origin.
Their services and good offices should be adequately utilised in dealing with terror and Sikh separatism, (though not so much threatening). These officers must be in touch with India. Australia should stand to gain by the Indian expertise and experience.
The Australian move to add more muscle to its intelligence is a welcome move and all other countries in the vicinity, apart from those on the Indian Ocean rim, must follow suit since they stand threatened by the nefarious Chinese designs to penetrate deeper and enhance its geo-political interests by possibly destabilising countries that lack in robust intelligence-gathering.