Factors to be considered while planning and executing a counterinsurgency/terrorism campaign
• First, an overall multipronged strategy must be evolved. Clear-cut aims and objectives must be spelt out for all players. This strategy should be worked out at the national and state level to include all dimensions of the problem – the political, socioeconomic, military, ethnic or religious.
• There must be maximum synergy amongst all forces and the government.
• Intelligence sharing amongst all agencies should be the norm.
• Good governance should be ensured by committed and motivated administrators and police machinery down to the district level.
• Implementation of the strategy of an ‘iron fist and a velvet glove’.
• The people play a vital role as determinants of success.
• The terrorists adopt an irregular form of warfare that follows no rules, and has scant respect for human rights.
• We must employ tactics and plans that are innovative and unpredictable, and have an inbuilt element of surprise.
• The conduct of the security forces should be impeccable.
• An attractive surrender policy should be enunciated.