The Punjabi Taliban & How to Spot a Terrorist

I need to lead off this post with what the Punjabi Taliban is first. It is an Islamic extremist militant group with ties to Al-Queda and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). These 3 groups fight together against the Pakistani government and alongside that NATO and the US as its supporters. They have been linked to a number of significant attacks in the Punjab province in the last 5 years. Each attack was well-planned and resulted in significant devastation.

As the partnerships and agendas between these 3 organizations became more combined, members of the Punjabi Taliban became council members in the TTP. They are believed to be primarily providing logistical support to the other two groups.

Recently the group stated that India is set to become a target for terrorist after Allied Forces troops withdraw from Afghanistan. In the statement, released on a jihadist terrorist forum online, the leader Asmatullah Muawiya made the announcement that India is now a target. 

This means that both pardesi's as well as Indians and other expats must be on alert for suspicious behavior. But what is suspicious behavior in a country full of so much individuality and diversity? How do you sort out the peaceful turbans from the terrorist ones? 

This is very difficult. Once while I was in Paharganj, a well-known shopping district in Delhi, there was a ring of terrorist who got busted just a few yards from me. Did I recognize them in the sea of faces? No. But since then I've learned to be more observant of life around me and I've also learned from terrorist incidents that have been on the news what to watch for. 

It is important to understand that terrorist look and seem just like everyone else. They walk amongst us and do not stand out in any of the usual ways. The clues are much more subtle. 

Here's a list of things I feel you should be concerned about:

1. If you notice 2 or more people carrying similar backpacks, knapsacks, bags, etc. but they are walking several feet apart, you should be concerned. Time and time again terrorist have went out together then split up but still followed each other. So, something could be fishy if you see such a thing. The people would be more than 5 feet apart but less than 20 feet for example.  
2. Listen to the world around you. Did a neighbor ask for training that you don't think he needed? What if your trash man decided he needed to take an electronics course? Not get a degree, just take one course with no known plan for pursuing a career in the field or furthering his education beyond that one course. I've not yet met one Indian who only wanted one course - it was either a masters degree or nothing!
3. Does the person park their car or sit in the same location more than once. This is how criminals scope out locations for their next crime. It's not normal for someone to be in the same place over and over and over. More than 3 times is definitely a red flag but I would be concerned with more than 2 in India. 
4. Know your neighbors (both at your residence and in your work environment). This is the most surefire way to catch any criminal. I'm not telling you to go and invade their space and be all up in their business but you should know them well enough that you talk to them several times a week, even if just in passing. You will get used to their habits and when something is out of place, you will notice quicker.
5. Do you see someone celebrating on a day where most would not? For example, if someone is celebrating the anniversary of the 28/11 Mumbai attacks, this would be odd behavior since many Indians consider which dates are auspicious before planning any event and this event would no longer qualify for many people. 
6. Does the person like to debate controversial issues? Sure, plenty of people love to get into hot political debates but what is important here is that you consider the topic. If someone always seems keen on debating matters of state, or about militant groups, that is of course a red flag. Pay attention to the topics and their body language. If they get tense when someone disagrees with the terrorist agenda, that's a major red flag. Even the most calm and dedicated person will not be able to fully control their passion toward the issue.
7. Listen to see if the person is too interested in a well-known potential target. If they are focused on it and fixated and keep asking questions over and over, that is not a normal interest. The average citizen does not need to know or memorize the layout of the Taj Mahal for example. They would only need to know entrance fees, how long can you stay, etc. If they need a significant amount of details, that is suspicious. 
8. Fake ID. I don't have to explain this one. It's easily understood. If someone you know has sought a fake ID for any reason, then you need to be watching them a little more closely. Many things in India don't even require an ID so why would someone want a fake one? There is something suspicious with having one! (Of course, you have to dismiss the teenagers wanting to drink and faking alcohol consumption permits.) 
9. Other suspicious activities that indicate a potential criminal intent are evasive driving - so taking odd routes of travel to their destination or taking routes they know police are not watching. 
10. Are there a high number of unrelated people living together. In our rental property we had 2 non-related families at one point. This would not be suspicious but it would be suspicious with a large number of random young men in the same home. Especially if some of them elude to being married but there is no wife around. I would say more than 4 could be suspicious and 6 is definitely suspicious. 
11. Are certain rooms in the house off limits or do they change the locks on doors frequently? If they have those sliding locks on the outside, do they change the actual lock they hook onto them frequently? When you knock on the door, are they reluctant to let you in and they step outside to talk, closing the door behind them. If it always happens, then that is suspicious. 
12. They do not have a maid. Okay, so not everyone has a maid of course but, you're looking for several grown men living alone in a home who actually clean up after themselves. It's not a common thing inside of India. 
13. How far do they park away from their home? In some areas there is no parking but if they have an area to park and choose to park 2 or 3 streets away, that is odd behavior. If they always make it a point to park somewhere different, that is suspicious too. People are creatures of habit, so going out of their way to change these habits is a sign you should be watching for.

What kinds of things would you label as suspicious behavior in India?
Have you ever been near to a terrorist incident?
What are some signs I might have missed that you feel are important?


Recommended Reading:
West Point: Combatting Terrorism Center
The National Terror Alert Response System: Suspicious Activity

The Groups Past Terrorism:
Morning Cable: Taliban Threaten Kashmir
Times of India: Punjab Taliban Behind Attacks
Rediff News: Punjab Taliban announces jihad in Kashmir

Indians Don't Understand Mental Health Issues

One thing I remember distinctly about my time in Amritsar is how a friend's husband owned a mental health clinic. It was in the most heavily traveled part of town and part of a well-known Indian national health system. He was UK educated and a good businessman (he owned 3 other businesses that were thriving in Amritsar and 1 in the UK). So what was surprising? The fact that he had to shut it down after a few months because he couldn't get enough clients to make the business profitable.

It was then that I started looking around me and I noticed that mental illness was not treated the same in India as it was in the US. In some cases I discovered people thought they could force the mental health issues out of a person. As in maybe they could beat them, lock them away in a room or starve them to cure the issue. In other cases I noticed that the issue was completely ignored and was written off as the persons "nature" or "habit."

If someone had a mental health issue it was more acceptable for them to drink to the point of becoming an alcoholic rather than see a doctor. Another woman found it more acceptable to drink poisonous chemicals and try to kill herself than to seek help outside of the home. While these may be some extreme examples that may or may not happen everyday, they are evidence of how Indians view mental health. These issues are simply dealt with at home and hidden from society.

In the US some people still try to hide their mental health issues from society but overall it's become widely acceptable to seek out medical assistance. The way I heard it as a child is: Why not seek help for your mental issues from a doctor when you clearly seek help for any other medical issues. The brain is a part of the body just like your liver is. I've adhered to that principal my whole life. Mental health is just as important as physical health.

We are rapidly seeking more understanding of mental health issues here in the US. This started long before the Columbine shooting and the Susan Smith drownings but those cases only emphasized the need to recognize and treat mental health issues. As such, Americans are more open to asking for help when they are depressed, suffer from anxiety or other lesser life-disrupting disorders.

From what I see, most Indians in general disapprove or shy away from any sort of diagnosis of mental health issues. This includes senility (which I know is a medical disorder) as the person ages and begins to forget things, act irrationally, etc. Indians are very dismissive of these issues and very quick to cover them up.

Before anyone gets their panties in a twist, I am not saying Indians are wrong for this. It's simply a difference in culture and understanding between the US and India. Most things in India are kept at home, done at home, and center around the home and the family and outsiders are not let in easily -whether they would understand or not.

When it comes to interacting with those with mental health issues, some Indians try to use insults to get a person to act 'normal' again. Others talk down about the person as if the mental illness was not the problem but instead their moral character were. I've even noticed one Indian who spread the bad moral character thoughts to the entire family because one member had mental health issues that were not understood - thus the whole family must be bad.

It all leaves me wondering just how Indians would deal with someone who had schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, or even ADHD (which again I know is medical and not mental). In the US many decades ago, these people used to be considered 'demon possessed' under Christian thinking. I wonder if religion in India causes some to have similar views.

Have you had experience with Indians who had mental health issues?
How did you address them?
How did you see other Indians address them?

Musical Monday - Hard Kaur ft. Mika and Anushka Manchanda: Make Your Move

I'm not typically a Hard Kaur fan. Her music is a little rough/aggressive for me many times. For some reason I like this one lol. It's a great feminist anthem I think. She's a girl who knows what she wants and isn't opposed to going after it and asking for it. I can relate to that.

The song comes from her latest album, Party Loud All Year (P.L.A.Y.). I find it kind of funny how she keeps saying he's scared to get close to her, he's shy, etc. Then he (Mika) comes back and tells her how he's not scared of her, why would he be. He's up for whatever she's asking for and he's going to give it to her. (That sounded dirtier here on the blog than it does in the song.

I giggle at songs like this. I really like mixed up music anyway and the fact this is in English and Punjabi, there's multiple artists and they interact with each other in the way they do just appeals to me. I know Hard Kaur is Indian but she's speaking to him in English, he answers in Punjabi. That appeals to me especially because it has a small representation in the way I live. Hubby and I do this sometimes as well.

As for quality, this is not some hard-hitting super hit in the making. It's not a fantastic, out of this world song. But it is an interesting listen, IMO. Take a minute to check it out. Here's a link to listen to it online:

Gaana.com: Hard Kaur ft. Mika, Aunushka, Manchandra: Make Your Move

I wasn't able to find a video to share with you.


Hard Kaur World