The Hindu Business Line : Tap into their talk

The recent happenings in Mumbai highlighted the ruthlessness and dexterity of the modern terrorist. He shows no mercy nor does he strike without advance planning. The attacks on Taj and Oberoi hotels revealed a degree of knowledge of the two hotels that amazes us beyond belief.

How did the group acquire minute information on the topography of the two buildings that came in handy for the savage attacks?

There are several speculations, some plausible, and many bordering on the ridiculous. Nevertheless, it is reasonable to believe that there had been a meaningful exchange of information between those involved in the plot. It is likely that some of those who had assisted them indirectly had either come to Mumbai ahead of the main players or were already citizens of Mumbai with terrorist leanings and willing to take the risk of assisting in the execution of terrorist designs.

Communication channels

Leaks to the press by investigating agencies have, till now, not focused on the kind of communication channels that existed within the group and helped to fine-tune the strikes. The recovery of SIM cards by investigators does indicate that cell-phones had been extensively used for the purpose.

I strongly believe the Internet had also been employed for sharing details of the operation, although the Police have not yet confirmed this presumption. This presumption is derived from the now well known fact that many groups harbour technical talent that can give the needed logistic support.

Terrorist Web sites are expanding by the day, despite all that the authorities in various countries claim to the contrary. These sites purvey not only training material but also give specific directions on execution of attacks.

Law enforcement officials say that cyberspace is being monitored closely for terrorist activities, such as exhortation to violence and furnishing information vital to preparing explosives as also using them with perfection.

The al Qaeda has, in particular, displayed considerable interest and skill in the matter. The one name that figures often in dispatches is that of Abu Musab al Suri, an ideologue, who, though not technically qualified, has been known to glorify the Internet as one sure way of strengthening the terror organisation's message and expanding its reach. One does not, however, know how much the Internet has fortified an organisation of the al Qaeda kind.

There is a gap here that needs to be plugged if we are to arm ourselves with data that would serve to hone our counter-terrorism outfits.

What is surprising is that we have not yet come across reports of any major success in intercepting mails exchanged by terrorist groups. My own impression is that the law enforcement's success in this regard has been modest. This accounts for the frequent criticism of intelligence failure to tip off policemen on the ground in advance of every terrorist attack.

Many of us know how difficult it is to infiltrate terrorist groups, the only sure way we can get to know prior information of an operation proposed to be launched by them.

When this is the case, we may have to depend more and more on eavesdropping on their communication channels, telephone as well as e-mail, notwithstanding growing terrorist aversion to using channels that are vulnerable to hacking.

Eavesdropping is not an easy task. There are not only legal difficulties. There is also the additional constraint arising from the fact that these groups have experts in them who have the capability of taking all protective measures to secure their communication channels.

The challenge here is formidable, if not wholly impossible to overcome. In sum, the requirement is one of an ability to hack into terrorist IT systems without compromising our own.

Encryption challenge

Acquisition of sophisticated tools is only one part of the exercise.

The other is getting to know the sites that terrorists command and the specific e-mail system they use.

In this context, encrypted messages - the usual method of communication employed by those who need the highest possible standard of security - pose a major obstacle.

It is not for nothing that Indian officials recently raised the issue with RIM, which runs the Blackberry service globally.

The former took exception to the fact that all Blackberry traffic was encrypted and gave them little clue of its contents, a situation it was believed greatly facilitated terrorist communication without being broken into.

The issue seems to have been resolved, although one is still not clear how the conflict between customer privacy and protection of national interest has been handled.

The basic point is that e-mail services need to be monitored intensively by law enforcement, if we are to get at least a clue of proposed terrorist adventures to wreck public peace.

Ultimately, if counter-terrorism has to succeed, the focus should be on enhancing the technical prowess of intelligence agencies. Aggression should be the keyword here.

It is my hope that the proposed legislation to curb terror through a more deterrent law and a dedicated organisation called the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will take care of the concerns of intelligence agencies.

The NIA will need state-of-the-art technology to successfully break into terrorist communication channels. Anything short of the best that is available in the globe will not work.

(The writer is a former CBI Director who is currently Adviser (Security) to TCS Ltd.)

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