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-Top News UAE News

UAE Aims to Reduce Food Loss and Waste by 50% by 2030

Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri

The ministry leads the UAE’s efforts in confronting climate change and attaining the objectives outlined in the Third Update of the Second Nationally Determined Contribution for the UAE…reports Asian Lite News

Her Excellency Mariam Bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, today announced ‘Ne’ma Food Loss and Waste Reduction Roadmap,’ a strong action plan to reduce food loss and waste in the country by 50 per cent by 2030.The roadmap was announced at the fourth National Dialogue on Food Security organized by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment with ne’ma, the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative, and held under the theme, ‘Call for Change: Reducing Food Loss and Waste in the UAE.’The event, which featured high-level panel discussions, underlined the importance of a shared understanding of how food loss and waste play a critical role in achieving food security, sustainable consumption, and circular ecosystems, as well as mitigating climate risks.

The discussions focused on identifying challenges and solutions, and mapping hotspots of food loss and waste, systemic gaps, and best practices, with emphasis on mobilizing the public and private sector, as well as the wider community, to change current consumption habits.

Announcing the strategic roadmap, HE Almheiri said: “With only a few days away to our nation hosting COP28, this event underlines the strong commitment of the UAE in addressing all sectors that have a defining role in addressing the impact of climate change. And food and agriculture systems play a pivotal role in this regard, especially with food loss and waste one of the core challenges that humanity must address as a priority.”At COP28, the UAE is placing food and agricultural systems transformation at the heart of the discussions, said HE Almheiri, who has launched the COP28 Food Systems and Agricultural Agenda – an ambitious plan to transform global food systems and ensure their long-term sustainability, earlier this year. “The importance of addressing food loss and waste is a strategic imperative for the world,” explained HE Almheiri. “Today, according to World Food Program, one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally. Further, it is estimated that all the food produced but never eaten would be sufficient to feed two billion people.”

Through the COP28 Food Systems and Agricultural Agenda, the UAE aims to bring together businesses, farmers, producer organizations and other non-state actors to drive progress across production, consumption, food loss and waste. “As part of mobilizing national leadership, we are extending a global call to action, inviting all countries to ratify the Emirates Declaration on Resilient Food Systems, Sustainable Agriculture, and Climate Action,” added HE Almheiri. She explained that at COP28, the UAE is looking at how to limit food wastage and the carbon impact of the food served. “To achieve this, we have launched a Sustainable Catering Strategy, which aims to demonstrate the potential of delivering sustainable food at scale.”

Explaining the new roadmap to curb food loss and waste, HE Almheiri said ne’ma is a compelling testament to the commitment and vision of our leadership to encourage social responsibility and promote sustainable practices nationwide. “Since its launch, ne’ma has delivered exceptional work – including food system mapping, setting goals and formalizing a three-year strategy to reduce food loss and waste.”

The roadmap will serve as a collective effort to reduce food waste by creating new social norms, scaling best practices, and enabling policies across the entire food ecosystem, said HE Almheiri. “Our strategy is to mobilize all the stakeholders and accelerate action with a holistic and government led approach. We will build capacity for food loss and waste monitoring, foster public private partnerships for food loss and waste solutions, leverage innovative approaches to build the circular economy, and introduce new mandates and policies.

Our goal is to become a nation where no food is wasted.” In the run-up to setting the strategy for food loss and waste reduction, over 200 interviews were held with food value chain and system-level actors, in addition to several workshops for collective ideation. At the event, Jumeirah Group, Hilton Group, Rotana Group and Expo City signed agreements with ne’ma to embrace food loss and waste reduction as a top priority.H.E. Ahmed Taleb Al Shamsi, CEO of Emirates Foundation, said: “This new roadmap is incredibly important as we recognize the profound impact of food loss on our shared goals of food security, sustainable consumption, and the cultivation of circular ecosystems. Addressing the challenges of today requires a united effort grounded in a shared understanding of the intricate relationship between food loss and these critical objectives. It is incumbent upon us to acknowledge that every piece of wasted food is a missed opportunity to alleviate hunger and reduce environmental strain. Through a collective commitment to responsible consumption, we can forge a path towards a more sustainable future. Let us, as global citizens, work together to minimize waste, maximize efficiency, and foster a resilient food system that not only nourishes the present but preserves the abundance of our planet for generations to come.” The event was attended by influential stakeholders from the public and private sectors, regulators, representatives from all stages of the food value-chain, technology and innovation startups, as well as local and international subject matter experts. Panel discussions on addressing food waste by creating the circular and closed loop food ecosystem, adopting more responsible sustainable habits, and the root causes of food loss as a complex challenge that requires collective effort.A demonstration of Zero Food to Landfill was also displayed, which highlighted how all food will be segregated, reused or repurposed and given back to nature. To encourage the participants to cut food loss and waste, ne’ma ‘Food is Blessing’ leftover bags were distributed.

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) was established in February 2006 as the Ministry of Environment and Water. In February 2016, its name was changed as part of a ministerial reorganisation prompted by the inclusion of the climate change portfolio into its existing mandate. The ministry leads the UAE’s efforts in confronting climate change and attaining the objectives outlined in the Third Update of the Second Nationally Determined Contribution for the UAE. These objectives encompass a 40% reduction in emissions by 2030, following the projected business-as-usual trajectory, and the achievement of The UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative through collaboration with relevant entities.The ministry spearheads the UAE’s initiatives to enhance several key sectors, including sustainable food security, biodiversity, green development, sustainable communities, marine sustainability, and other fields contributing to achieving sustainable economic development. The ministry supports the UAE’s endeavours by advancing climate action, eradicating global hunger, promoting innovative food security solutions, and safeguarding nature and endangered species.

ALSO READ-UAE leadership pays utmost attention to food safety

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-Top News USA

Security heightened in US cities amid protests, tensions

Protests around New York have been largely peaceful, but the anxieties the gatherings produced were testament to the shock felt over the attacks…reports Asian Lite News

Cities across the United States took extra security precautions after Hamas called for a day of protest around the world, rhetoric that raised tensions in Jewish and Muslim communities.

Top U.S. counterterrorism officials and law enforcement officials in many cities said there were no credible threats related to the Israel-Gaza war. But authorities still increased security around religious institutions and other public places.

In New York City, which has been on edge in the week since the attacks in Israel began, police officials reassured residents and increased patrols around synagogues and mosques and deployed more uniformed officers at large gatherings and cultural sites.

There was a noticeable increase in police presence, whether at transit hubs like Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal or synagogues and other Jewish sites. Jewish day schools were on high alert on Friday, with some canceling classes.

“We have this situation under control,” Rebecca Weiner, the Police Department’s deputy commissioner for intelligence and counterterrorism, said on Thursday at a news conference.

Officials in Los Angeles increased patrols around Jewish sites out of caution ahead of planned protests and demonstrations, according to the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency, which enabled officials to bolster law enforcement around school campuses and protests. The Connecticut State Police said there were multiple threats made to synagogues and other locations in the state but that none of them were found to be credible.

Officials across Texas urged residents to remain vigilant. In Austin, the Police Department said it took steps involving patrols in several areas of the city. In Colleyville, where nearly two years ago members of Congregation Beth Israel were held hostage by a radicalized man from England, one house of worship reached out to another.

Anna Salton Eisen, one of the founders of Congregation Beth Israel, said that the nearby Gateway Church, one of the nation’s largest Christian churches, offered to lend its security team for the time being.

“This hate, it’s been simmering,” she said. “The thing I have to accept is that this is not going to end just after today.”

Advocacy organizations have reported a rise in hateful rhetoric and violence against Jews and Muslims. The Fresno Police Department in California said on Tuesday it was investigating two incidents involving vandalism — one at a temple and the other at a restaurant and bakery — as hate crimes.

In Columbus, Ohio, protesters at a pro-Palestine demonstration Thursday night said a person shouted obscenities about Palestinians and then swerved his car to hit a protester on a bike, according to a report in The Columbus Dispatch.

Protests around New York have been largely peaceful, but the anxieties the gatherings produced were testament to the shock felt over the attacks.

At a pro-Palestine rally in Times Square on Friday afternoon, hundreds of flag-waving protesters squeezed into tight scrums along two blocks and chanted angrily against Israel, as a ring of police officers and interlocked steel barriers helped maintain order.

At college campuses across the country, political tensions remain high. In support of Palestinians, students at the University of California, Los Angeles, organized a walkout Thursday. At Columbia University, competing pro-Israel and pro-Palestine demonstrations led officials to close the campus to the public.

There has been a rise in antisemitic violence in recent years in the United States, but this moment of fear among Jewish communities was especially potent, said Julie Platt, chair of Jewish Federations of North America. She said the amount of money going toward security efforts in the North American Jewish community is “massively” increasing.

“I, too, have never quite felt this level of fear and anxiety and the depths of sadness,” Platt said.

Edward Ahmed Mitchell, deputy executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said that since the fighting in Israel began, there has been a “sudden resurgence” of bigotry against Muslims and Jews.

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-Top News India News

MHA to organise G20 Conference on Crime and Security

Rashtriya Raksha University, National Forensic Science University, National Law School of India University, Interpol and UNODC are the organizing partners…reports Asian Lite News

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will organize “G20 Conference on Crime and Security in the age of NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), ArtificiaI Intelligence and Metaverse” on July 13-14 in Haryana’s Gurugram.

The two-day conference will bring together G20 countries, nine special invitee countries and domain experts around the world to delve into the challenges of advancing technologies. There will also be participation from Ministries and Organizations of the Government of India, Chief Secretaries, Administrators of states and Union Territories (UTs), Director Generals of Police of States and UTs, cyber experts and guest speakers representing legal fraternity, academia, training institutions, financial intermediaries, fintech, social media intermediaries, information and communication technology, cyber forensics, regulators, startups, over the top (OTT) service providers, e-commerce companies and others.

The event will be held in partnership with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Rashtriya Raksha University, National Forensic Science University, National Law School of India University, Interpol and UNODC are the organizing partners.

In this regard, a round table was also organized by the MHA here in the national capital in May to present the details of the conference, and it was attended by ambassadors, high commissioners and senior dignitaries from more than 20 countries apart from senior officers from various ministries and organizations of government of India and partner organizations.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla then apprised the participating dignitaries about the contours of the forthcoming conference during the round table and countries were requested to send high-level delegations for the conference. (ANI)

ALSO READ-MHA, IB to review security arrangements

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India News

Security beefed up for Eid across U P

Police officials said that the deployment would be done for three days across the state…reports Asian Lite News

Security has been beefed up for Eid-ul-Adha (Bakrid) festivities in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday.

As many as 248 companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), State Disaster Response Force, and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), along with over 1.25 lakh police personnel, have been deployed across the state to ensure the peaceful celebration of the festival.

Police officials said that the deployment would be done for three days across the state.

The festival would be celebrated for four days in Mau district.

Uttar Pradesh Police Special Director General (SDG), Law and Order, Prashant Kumar, said that as many as 238 PAC companies have been deployed across the state while seven companies of CAPF, as well as three companies of SDRF, have been deployed across the state.

He added that security has been enhanced at 33,340 mosques and Eidgah, where prayers will be offered on Thursday.

Kumar further said over 1.25 lakh civil police personnel have been deployed strategically to ensure peace and maintain law and order in the state. Besides, around 4,800 police response vehicles (PRV) of ‘UP 112’ and the integrated police emergency response centre, have been deployed for round-the-clock patrolling.

The SDG also said that police officials conducted at least 2,416 peace committee meetings at the police station and police circle levels. He said there are as many as 2,213 hot spots where any untoward incidents were reported in the past.

“In the build-up, the police and district administration officials jointly conducted meetings with imams, clerics, and religious leaders across the state to inform them about the guidelines related to the festival. They were informed about the identification of the sacrificial spots and told that sacrifices should be done at the fixed and closed spots where they have been held traditionally,” the SDG said.

The senior official further said that the police prevent the sacrifice of prohibited animals. The police force will also ensure that there is no obstruction of roads and traffic due to the festivity.

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-Top News India News

In an era of proxy wars, people make a nation secure

The collaboration between the government and the people is required in the sphere of security as well – citizens have to realise that national security was not the concern of the government alone and that their contribution to it was of great significance, writes D.C. Pathak

National security is about protection of the nation’s physical boundaries, its citizens and its information assets. Our defence forces deal with any open attack or aggression of an enemy, the police machinery takes care of the safety and security of the people and the national security set up based on Intelligence agencies protects our national secrets against the hidden designs of the adversary to access them.

In an era of proxy wars, covert attempts to cause sabotage, recruit agents from among our own citizens by turning their loyalties or gain unauthorised access to ‘protected’ information – which is the classical definition of espionage – have made the counter-intelligence charter of India’s national Intelligence agencies a lot more complex and large – requiring a timely review of their tasks, capabilities and resourcefulness.

There has been a significant consolidation and expansion of the national security set-up in the Modi regime under the watchful eye of the National Security Advisor.

Security is not a one-time event and the new geopolitical developments, large scale induction of technology in security and the newer threats to cyber systems – all make for rapid upgradation from time to time through a competent appraisal.

The rise of terrorism and faith-based radicalisation of our own nationals have taken the call of internal security closer to the ground and given a new-found importance to the need for citizens to have a good idea of the threats facing the country, act as the eyes and ears of the nation and become a voluntary contributor to the safeguarding of national security. This should be considered a part of the mandate of the Age of Information that lays down that being well informed was the prerequisite of success in any sphere – one therefore, had to read both opportunities as well as the risks in the environment at any given time.

It follows that there has to be a strategy of creating awareness of national security dimensions among the people at large. Those in the job of handling governance should be the first recipient of any programme formulated for this objective.

It is a matter of great satisfaction that on the initiative of NSA the content for the Foundation Course – in which all officers of Civil Services of India including Indian Foreign Service, are put together at the LBS National Academy of Administration at Mussoorie for a few months of shared orientation – was enriched with the inclusion of a segment on India’s national security and strategic affairs.

New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the third ‘No Money for Terror’ (NMFT) Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism Financing in New Delhi on Friday, November 18, 2022. (Photo:IANS/PIB)

These services provide the ‘steel framework’ of the country’s governance and their officers exposed to some crucial knowledge about the nation’s security concerns at the beginning of the career itself would be better placed to handle their responsibilities and also have the advantage of being able to coordinate with their colleagues wherever required. The officers would go on to hold senior positions in organisations of strategic importance whose security would be of crucial importance for the nation.

The learning acquired at a younger stage stays forever and this was the logic behind the introduction of this new segment in the Foundation Course – for which some of the most experienced national security and strategy experts were invited to interact with the probationers. The policy has turned out to be extremely fruitful in terms of serving the cause of national security.

Another sphere where a general awareness of India’s security interests can help the nation on a long-term basis is an appropriate introduction of security education as a part of Civics and Humanities at a level where the students were mature enough to imbibe it.

The High School stage is perhaps the right occasion where this knowledge can be imparted more as an extension of the discussion on the rights and duties of a citizen as indicated in the Indian Constitution.

A simple add-on can be thought of for the current syllabus – it can point out the significance of geopolitical placing of India, the external and internal threats to national security and the country’s preparedness to deal with them. The exercise should be free of any political tint. If the classroom can be made an interactive place it would be more productive and reduce the tediousness of a serious sounding subject like national security.

The third instrument for popularising the idea of national security is to pitch it as a subject of education at the academic level – some universities in India have separate departments for security studies. The Centre has – at the initiative of Prime Minister himself – established the Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) at Gandhinagar which is expanding fast as a premier national institute for training and research on defence, security and Police matters.

Bihar Popular front of India office raids.



The RRU, formerly Raksha Shakti University, is a Central University and an institute of national importance which specialises in national and internal security education and has some of the best experts on these subjects on its roll.

Time has also come for making arrangements that would facilitate the process of informed citizens sharing their observations of a suspect activity or individual -from national security point of view – with the designated authorities without fear of running into any hassle as a consequence.

Even a communication made with anonymity should be looked at. External threats to internal security are translating on the ground – closer to where people live – such as terrorist activity, drug trade, attempts at radicalisation, appearance of strangers and bomb making.

The receiving point for this type of feedback from citizens should be centralised enough to keep the communicator from being identified too easily.

The US Homeland Security is reportedly using Fusion Centres to maintain information inflow from people on matters related to security. Ever since Warren Christopher, Bill Clinton’s Secretary of State famously said in 1993 that ‘national security is inseparable from economic security’, there has been a closer rapport between corporate America and the CIA on the matter of garnering information of national security interest for the US from across the world.

Correspondingly this adds to the dimension of security awareness that all nationals engaged in globalised business interactions should have, in the interest of their own country. National security orientation is desirable in citizens working for the government, for the private sector and for civil society projects.

India is moving in the direction of Public Private Partnership in all spheres under the Modi regime – this is a measure of democratic governance and of the trust that the state had in the citizens. Awareness of the importance of national security facilitates this welcome advance.

Economic development apart, collaboration between the government and the people is required in the sphere of security as well – citizens have to realise that national security was not the concern of the government alone and that their contribution to it was of great significance.

No caste, community or regional identity can be above the national identity and this is to be specially remembered today since anti-India lobbies were out to play up ‘identity politics’ and negate the strength India had acquired as a functional democracy putting all citizens on the same footing through the secular principles of ‘one man one vote’, equal opportunity for all and the same protection of law for everybody.

Threats to internal security are permeating to the grass root levels making it important that credible security agencies in the private sector were suitably utilised for joint pursuit of certain national security tasks, that Centres of Excellence are established for training and research in PPP format as was recommended by India’s National Cyber Security Policy some years ago and that security orientation programmes were run for senior management in public and private enterprises, by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

There is no political play in safeguarding national security or in maintaining law and order – these are the prime responsibilities of the Centre and states respectively in our Constitution and a close liaison between the two is truly the hallmark of ‘Cooperative Federalism’ that India wants to head for.

(The writer is a former Director of Intelligence Bureau. Views expressed are personal)

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India News

Security beefed up at Kenya ahead of general elections

Analysts say the 2007 and 2008 experience was a reminder of the significance of building strong institutions of governance…reports Asian Lite News

Kenyan police has said that security has been enhanced across the country to ensure peaceful general elections slated for Tuesday.

Police spokesman Bruno Shioso on Monday said that more than 150,000 security officers from the National Police Service (NPS), Kenya Prisons Service, National Youth Service, Kenya Wildlife Service and Kenya Forest Service, have been deployed to various parts of the country to secure the polls.

“The security officers are well resourced and in a high state of readiness to handle all forms of threats that may arise before, during, and after the general elections,” he added on the phone.

Nearly 22.1 million Kenyans will vote on Tuesday to elect the country’s fifth President, members of the National Assembly, Senators, and County governors, among others, according to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

The east African nation is seeking to avoid all reasons that would raise doubts about the legitimacy of the Tuesday elections as it is an opportunity to put the country on political track after the post-poll violence of 2007/2008 that was caused by a disputed presidential vote tally.

Analysts say the 2007 and 2008 experience was a reminder of the significance of building strong institutions of governance, Xinhua news agency reported.

The two leading candidates are veteran Opposition leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, and sitting Deputy President William Ruto.

The elections are hotly contested, with President Uhuru Kenyatta backing Odinga.

The most recent opinion polls have shown a tight race between Odinga of the Azimio la Umoja (Resolution for Unity) One Kenya Coalition, and Ruto of the Kenya Kwanza (Kenya First) Alliance.

Shioso said the security officers are under instructions to guarantee Kenyans their safety as they go out to cast their votes and that all people go about their activities without fear of crime or harm.

The police spokesman noted that the government has resourced the service adequately, especially with additional vehicles and operational equipment, to ensure seamless and continuous operations during and after the polls.

He said the police are conducting threat and risk analysis to identify threats to national security which in turn will inform resource deployment in real-time.

Shioso said the NPS has established a national election security command center to be manned on a 24-hour basis and is fully equipped to handle election-related security challenges.

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India News

Security of former J&K CMs scaled down in Srinagar

Under the new arrangement, the former chief ministers will not be provided with jammers and ambulances in their cavalcade while travelling in Srinagar district…reports Asian Lite News

The Union Territory government of Jammu and Kashmir has scaled down the security of former Chief Ministers of the erstwhile state, sources in the know of things said on Sunday.

Under the new arrangement, the former chief ministers will not be provided with jammers and ambulances in their cavalcade while travelling in Srinagar district, Jammu and Kashmir officials said.

These facilities were provided to former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.

However, during inter-district movement of former chief ministers jammers and ambulances would continue to be deployed, the officials in the security set up of the Jammu and Kashmir administration said.

The Union Territory government’s move came in the wake of the recent decision to downsize the specialised security wing Special Security Group (SSG), which had been created under a law enacted by the Assembly of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir for protection of Chief Ministers and former Chief Ministers in the year 2000.

In January this year, the SSG security cover was withdrawn from the security of these former Chief Ministers.

Now, the former chief minister get the security cover of the Jammu and Kashmir Police supported by the central para-military forces.

The elite force SSG has now been given the responsibility of serving Chief Ministers and their immediate family members.

The Union Territory government decision came amid the continuous threats from across the border when a number of terror incidents have taken place in Srinagar where all of the three chief ministers except Azad reside in Srinagar.

The intelligence agencies have also sent a report to the government apprehending attacks on the political workers, the officials in the security grid said on condition of anonymity.

However, Azad and Abdullah will continue to get the ‘Z’ category security provided by the National Security Guard as usual.

Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti will continue to have Z-plus security cover in Jammu and Kashmir but they will likely have a reduced security outside the Union Territory.

The security to the leaders would be provided by the district police as well as the security wing based on threat assessment, the officials said.

The vehicles and other gadgets have been transferred to the police’s security wing, they added.

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Africa News Arab News World

UNSC extends mandate of mission in Sudan

UNSC extends mandate of mission in Sudan

The Security Council has extended the mandate of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), the peacekeeping force in the disputed Abyei area which straddles northern and southern Sudan, until December 15, 2021…reports Asian Lite News

Unanimously adopting Resolution 2606 and acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the US, the council reaffirmed all previous resolutions and presidential statements concerning the situation in Abyei and along the border between Sudan and South Sudan, underlining the importance of full compliance with and implementation of these, reports Xinhua news agency.

UNSC extends mandate of mission in Sudan

The council recognised that the current situation continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security.

It decided to remain actively seized of the matter.

The UNISFA was set up by the Security Council in June 2011 in response to the renewed violence, escalating tensions and population displacement in the Abyei region as South Sudan was preparing to formally declare its independence from the Sudan — the culmination of a comprehensive 2005 peace agreement.

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The eesource rich Abyei had in the weeks prior to the Security Council decision been the scene of deadly clashes that displaced more than 100,000 people from their homes.

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-Top News India News

Panchtantra of Internal Security

The hostile Sino-Pak axis has become particularly active after the Indian Parliament abolished Art 370 relating to J&K and took to concerted moves against India… writes D.C. PATHAK

Developments in the Pak-Afghan belt resulting in the return of the Taliban-led Emirate at Kabul, a further deepening of the strategic alliance between China and Pakistan in the backdrop of an increasing recalcitrance of Prime Minister Imran Khan towards the US on the ‘war on terror’ and the signs of the Sino-Pak axis stepping up a coordinated attempt to fish in India’s troubled waters at home, put our internal security in sharp focus.

The situation calls for full implementation of the basics of what would safeguard the nation against the covert threats actualising within our own borders — in addition to meeting the threat of an external attack. An understanding of the dimensions of internal security has to be acquired by every informed citizen if the nation has to protect itself against all dangers.

Five of the fundamentals of internal security come to mind — the very first is the mandate that THERE IS NO HALFWAY HOUSE IN SECURITY. You cannot be satisfied with your establishment being half secure — it is either secure or not secure. This means you know what all has to be done and are prepared to spend on that.

There is a saying: ‘Security does not come cheap’. The standard package of security includes an impregnable perimeter, identification of the points of entry for ‘access control’, proof of identity of those legitimately coming in, inner perimeter controls if any for any sensitive segments and arrangements for intrusion detection. Technology has transformed the execution of the first and the last of these requirements — the framework of security as a whole, however, remains unaltered.

A protected establishment like an army campus cannot go easy on the ‘secure perimeter’ principle on the ground that it was too sprawling for the purpose of defining its boundaries. ‘Brick and mortar’ wall is not always feasible but there are alternatives — the point is about understanding the concept of a secure fence. When the terrorists attacked the Air Force base at Pathankot in 2016, this weakness did attract notice. The principle of secure perimeter does apply to nations, establishments and sensitive campuses alike.

The security management architecture always takes its orders from the top person of the enterprise — our national Intelligence agencies work on the authority of the Centre where the Prime Minister heading the political executive oversees national security in exercise of sovereignty itself. The principle is that the head of the enterprise must consider himself or herself as the chief of security as well.

The second relates to the material change that has come about in the global security scenario post-Cold War because of the RISE OF ‘PROXY WAR’ AS AN ALTERNATIVE OF THE OPEN WARFARE. India has been at the receiving end of the Pak-sponsored cross-border terrorism in Kashmir and elsewhere which was used as an instrument of ‘low intensity warfare’ against this country.

Internal security strategy of India has had to include special arrangements of border management involving both Army and the Border Security Force (BSF) for preventing infiltration and conducting Intelligence-based counter-terror operations. Advent of terrorism as the new age threat to national security has thrown up the challenge of inducting Army in the terror affected border regions, creating necessary laws in this regard and building an entirely new level of civil-military coordination.

Proxy wars have necessitated the use of army — that was attuned to neutralising an open attack of the enemy right at the border and inflicting maximum casualties in the act — on our own soil as a first responder against terrorists. In India, the army has got suitably trained for keeping collateral damage to the minimum while performing that new function.

The hostile Sino-Pak axis has become particularly active after the Indian Parliament abolished Art 370 relating to J&K and took to concerted moves against India. The country has had to step up our defence build-up on LAC as well and taken further measures to intensify internal vigilance against any covert activities of these hostile neighbours inside our territory.

Security by definition is protection against covert plans of the adversary — distinguishing it somewhat from defence which is the term used for protection of the country from an open attack from outside that would be dealt with by our defence forces.

It is clear that Intelligence is the anchor of security — the responsibility of unearthing the hidden plans of the enemy to operate on our soil is taken squarely by the Intelligence agencies of the country and it is a matter of great satisfaction that our Intelligence has risen to new challenges and kept the nation secure. Intelligence is information that must fulfil the tests of reliability, relevance, confidentiality, timeliness and actionability — that is why ALL INTELLIGENCE IS INFORMATION BUT ALL INFORMATION IS NOT INTELLIGENCE.

Intelligence is too precious a thing to be allowed to go unutilised and that is why a much-needed systemic progress was put in motion after the establishment of the National Security Council in 1999 whereby all pieces of Intelligence about a threat available with different agencies were put together for collation and assessment at the national apex and it was further ensured that an integral response to that threat was put in action cutting across organisations and states.

Internal security in India is often conditioned by the phenomenon of a ’cause and effect’ relationship existing between internal and external happenings such as communal events in India’s neighbourhood or ideological conflicts elsewhere finding their reflection in India. This is an additional reason why external and internal Intelligence agencies have to maintain a very close exchange of information.

In today’s world, NATIONAL SECURITY IS INSEPARABLE FROM ECONOMIC SECURITY. Security and development have a perfect equation. If there is development, it is easier to strengthen security while it is also true that without security there cannot be full development. Internal security is particularly important in a situation where the adversary is using terrorism to disrupt the economy of the target country.

Attacks on symbols of economic growth such as a refinery, popular markets or an airport are known to have been made with this aim. Proxy wars are now being taken to the cyber domain — cyber attacks for disrupting economic lifelines of the target country such as the railways, civilian nuclear plants or the banking system pose a new threat.

Cyber security has, in fact, emerged as the biggest challenge so far as the ‘asymmetric war’ is concerned. Even the US administration puts this threat on top of the national agenda. India has initiated timely measures to strengthen its cyber system in strategic domains and improve emergency responses to any breach.

Finally, in a democratic dispensation citizens have an important role as contributors to national security — the Constitution reminds them of their duties in this regard. SECURITY FOR ALL MEANS ALL FOR SECURITY — this has to be conceptually understood as a mandate for making people aware of the dimensions of national security for India and, in particular, preparing them for being watchful against any signs of ‘anti-national’ activity in their immediate environ.

Internal security in these times of covert offensives of the enemy requires arrangements by which a conscientious citizen would share information with the authorities of the state on matters related to it without the fear of getting entangled with the police or any other official machinery.

This is an area where India has to develop a lot — the quality of democratic governance depends on it. Since law and order is a state subject and policing in the state suffers from multiple flaws, a lot has to be done to bring the Centre and states on the same page in the area of internal security.

In the present scenario, defence services, paramilitary, state police, national Intelligence agencies and civil society — all have to come together to safeguard internal security. In a democratic system the parties in electoral contests must keep national security above party politics and abstain from communal and divisive campaigns. Also, while the states are autonomous in the area of maintenance of law and order they must fully complement the Centre’s efforts to ensure national security.

In this, the most important aspect is the willingness of the state governments — regardless of their political complexion — to get their state and district intelligence organisations to fully support and coordinate with the moves of the agencies of the Centre to safeguard internal security, including operations on the ground.

This tradition, fortunately, has already been developed fully through many practices including the all important three-day annual conference of DGPs and DGs (Int) of states that was convened and chaired by Director Intelligence Bureau (DIB). All states participate in it with full enthusiasm. The format and agenda of this conference is totally non-political and focused on different dimensions of national security.

Prime Minister Modi has taken keen interest in the DGPs Conference and in his address always emphasised the need for a totally professional and dedicated approach to the task of safeguarding security of the country and complete coordination among the agencies of the Centre and between the Centre and the states. Internal security has been greatly strengthened under the Modi regime.

(The writer is a former Director of Intelligence Bureau)

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Arab News Dubai UAE News

H.H. Sheikh Mansoor visits Hatta Border Crossing

H.H. Sheikh Mansoor visits Hatta Border Crossing

H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Council for Border Crossing Points Security, visited the Hatta Border Crossing and reviewed its operations…reports Asian Lite News

Sheikh Mansoor said Dubai has developed one of the world’s best border security and control systems as part of its efforts to maintain global excellence across sectors. Dubai’s border security systems have developed a high level of readiness to deal with any unforeseen situation, he noted.

Under the directives of Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, several measures have been taken to further streamline the efforts of both local and federal entities to maintain efficient border security mechanisms and develop policies and regulatory frameworks to ensure the highest levels of efficiency and preparedness at border crossing points. Dubai is committed to ensure the highest international standards and best practices in this field, Sheikh Mansoor said.

H.H. Sheikh Mansoor visits Hatta Border Crossing

He was accompanied during the visit by Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Council for Border Crossing Points Security and members of the Council.

Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed said Dubai’s various border-crossing points are well prepared to welcome a large influx of travelers. With Expo 2020 Dubai expected to attract millions of visitors, the number of travelers passing through its border crossing points is set to increase markedly, he noted.

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Sheikh Mansoor further said it is critical to ensure border crossing points have the optimal security mechanisms to deal with any potential risks and challenges and provide efficient services. This requires streamlined coordination between all entities in charge of border security, he stressed.

H.H. Sheikh Mansoor visits Hatta Border Crossing

His Highness reviewed the services provided to travelers passing through the Hatta Border Crossing, which connects the UAE to Oman. The Hatta Border Crossing plays an important role in the movement of goods and trade between Dubai and Oman. The volume of trade between Dubai and Oman conducted through the Hatta Border Crossing in H1 2021 reached AED15.26 billion.

Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed commended the efforts of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, Dubai Customs and all entities involved in maintaining security in the emirate.