IB starts exercise to find tactical solutions to six major threats

NEWDELHI: Domestic intelligence gathering agency, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) started a twoday exercise on Wednesday to look for solutions – tactical and strategic – for six of the biggest threats to the country’s internal security.

The six issues being discussed are the path forward for the security scenario in J&K, India’s cyber security, counter-terror strategy for the hinterland, strategies for choking terror financing, north-east insurgency and left-wing extremism.

“The major difference in comparison to other such deliberations is that it will solely focus on solutions, rather describing the problem. The panelists have been asked to suggest tactical and strategic solutions,” said a home ministry official.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh will also be attending some sessions. Each session is being helmed a senior IB official for a panel discussion followed by an open house dialogue.

“This conference is basically culmination of preliminary conferences on different theaters. Many suggestions and solutions emerged in the preliminary conferences and they have formed the beginning point,” added the official. All stakeholder security agencies are participating.

It comes at time when the Valley is seeing a near-continuous wave of unrest after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in July last year. More than 100 protestors have died in the action taken by the security forces and militant ranks have swelled with locals.