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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Red flag to green steel

Ex-Maoists forge new destiny in Gadchiroli Gadchiroli: The rugged, forested terrain of Gadchiroli district, long synonymous with the violence and deep-rooted anti-establishment tenets of the ‘Red Ideology’, is now witnessing a remarkable social and industrial transformation. At the Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd. (LMEL) plant in Konsari, once-feared Maoist operatives are shedding their past lives and embracing a new, respectable existence as skilled workers in a cutting-edge Direct Reduced Iron...

Red flag to green steel

Ex-Maoists forge new destiny in Gadchiroli Gadchiroli: The rugged, forested terrain of Gadchiroli district, long synonymous with the violence and deep-rooted anti-establishment tenets of the ‘Red Ideology’, is now witnessing a remarkable social and industrial transformation. At the Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd. (LMEL) plant in Konsari, once-feared Maoist operatives are shedding their past lives and embracing a new, respectable existence as skilled workers in a cutting-edge Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) and pellet plant. This ‘green steel’ project, part of LMEL’s push for an integrated steel complex in the region, is functioning not just as an industrial unit but as a crucial pillar in the Maharashtra government’s surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy. So far, LMEL, in coordination with the state government and the Gadchiroli Police, has provided employment and training to 68 surrendered Maoists and 14 members of families affected by Naxal violence, a total of 82 individuals, offering them a definitive pathway back to the mainstream. The Shift The transformation begins at the company’s dedicated Lloyds Skill Development and Training Centre at Konsari. Recognizing that many former cadres had limited formal education, the company implements a structured, skill-based rehabilitation model. They are trained in essential technical and operational skills required for plant administration, civil construction, and mechanical operations. For individuals like Govinda Atala, a former deputy commander, the change is palpable. “After surrendering, I got the right to live a new life,” Atala said. “I am very happy to get this job. I am now living my life on my own; there is no pressure on me now.” Suresh Hichame, who spent over a decade in the movement before surrendering in 2009 too echoed the sentiments. He realized the path of violence offered neither him nor his family any benefit. Moreover, his self-respecct was hurt. He knew several languages and carried out several crucial tasks for the banned organization remaining constantly under the shadow of death. Today, he works in the plant, receiving a steady monthly salary that enables him to care for his family—a basic dignity the ‘Red Ideology’ could never provide. The monthly salaries of the rehabilitated workers, typically ranging from Rs 13,000 to Rs 20,000, are revolutionary in a region long characterized by poverty and lack of opportunities. Trust, Stability The employment of former Maoists is a brave and calculated risk for LMEL, an industry that historically faced stiff opposition and even violence from the left wing extremist groups. LMEL’s management, however, sees it as an investment in inclusive growth and long-term stability for the district. The LMEL has emphasized the company’s commitment to training and facilitating career growth for the local populace, including the surrendered cadres. This commitment to local workforce upskilling is proving to be a highly effective counter-insurgency strategy, chipping away at the foundation of the Maoist movement: the exploitation of local grievances and lack of economic options. The reintegration effort extends beyond the factory floor. By providing stable incomes and a sense of purpose, LMEL helps the former rebels navigate the social transition. They are now homeowners, taxpayers, and active members of the community, replacing the identity of an outlaw with that of a respected employee. This social acceptance, coupled with economic independence, is the true measure of rehabilitation. The successful employment of cadres, some of whom were once high-ranking commanders, also sends a powerful message to those still active in the jungle: the path to a peaceful and prosperous life is open and tangible. It transforms the promise of government rehabilitation into a concrete reality. The plant, with its production of iron ore and steel, is physically transforming the region into an emerging industrial hub, and in doing so, it is symbolically forging the nation’s progress out of the ashes of extremism. The coordinated effort between private industry, the state government, and the Gadchiroli police is establishing a new environment of trust, stability, and economic progress, marking Gadchiroli’s transition from a Maoist hotbed to a model of inclusive and sustainable development.

Trump’s Perilous One-Man Tango with Pakistan

Donals Trump’s overture to Pakistan army chief Asim Munir reveals more about American misjudgements than any grand geopolitical strategy.

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When Donald Trump hosted Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, for an unusually high-profile lunch at the White House on June 18th, it raised eyebrows in Washington and beyond. In the midst of a volatile Iran-Israel standoff, the gesture appeared less about diplomacy and more about spectacle - a transactional manoeuvre aimed at leveraging an old ally for short-term American interests.


The event drew sharp scrutiny from analysts and observers across South Asia and the Middle East. It was classic Trump: performative, opportunistic and aimed at securing short-term diplomatic leverage with Islamabad’s deep state.


The United States has maintained a fraught yet enduring relationship with Pakistan since its independence in 1947. While couched in the language of partnership, the ties have always been dictated by hard-nosed strategic calculus. For Washington, Pakistan’s importance lies in its geography: perched between Iran, Afghanistan, and China, it offers a convenient fulcrum for projecting American interests in a restive neighbourhood.


Yet this alliance has long been fraught with contradictions. Washington calls Pakistan a counterterrorism partner while turning a blind eye to its double game with jihadist groups. It touts military cooperation while funnelling billions into a country that has rarely aligned itself with broader American interests, especially when they run counter to those of China - Pakistan’s all-weather ally.


Why then does America persist in elevating Pakistan’s military elite to the status of indispensable partners? Part of the answer lies in Washington’s compulsive tendency to play balance-of-power politics by propping up a weaker Pakistan to hedge against a rising India.


America’s military and financial patronage of Pakistan persists despite compelling reasons to rethink the equation. Following the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, Washington is keen to preserve a foothold in South Asia. Pakistan, for its part, remains useful at least superficially in nudging the Taliban and providing intelligence. But this indulgence comes at a cost. It emboldens Pakistan’s military establishment, destabilizes India’s western flank, and risks undermining burgeoning US-India ties, which are critical to the Indo-Pacific strategy aimed at counterbalancing China. A strong Indo-US partnership is crucial for balancing China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific. By mollycoddling Pakistan, our historic rival, Washington injects instability into South Asia’s strategic landscape.


The recent $450m sustainment package for Pakistan’s F-16 fleet was justified on counterterrorism grounds. Pentagon officials even went so far as to describe Pakistan as a ‘reliable partner.’ That same Pakistan, however, was recently elevated to the vice-chair of the UN Security Council’s Counterterrorism Committee—despite decades of tolerating, if not abetting, extremist groups. Such decisions muddy Washington’s credibility and exasperate its democratic allies.


By continuing to equate Pakistan with India, the US undermines its own strategic calculus. India, unlike Pakistan, is a democratic bulwark against Chinese assertiveness in Asia. To lump them together in a Cold War-style balancing act reveals an outdated lens.


Worse still is the fantasy that Pakistan can be peeled away from China. That horse bolted long ago. Pakistan is reliant on Beijing for everything from weapons and infrastructure to bailouts and diplomatic cover. No number of White House banquets will undo that reality.


As for the luncheon itself, many see it as classic Trump: impulsive, optics-driven, and tactically shallow. Reports suggest the two-hour meeting included discussions on counterterrorism and regional peace. But almost immediately after the photo ops ended, Pakistan delivered a sharp rebuke of US airstrikes on Iran, undercutting any illusion of diplomatic alignment. This came just a day after Pakistan had lauded Trump’s role in mediating during recent Indo-Pak tensions, with Munir flattering Trump’s outsize ego by stating the President ought to be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. Yet another example of Islamabad’s breathtaking doublespeak.


Pakistan’s tightrope walk is no surprise. With strong ties to Gulf monarchies and a complicated relationship with Tehran, Pakistan cannot afford to alienate either side. Nor can it ignore the consequences of an Iranian collapse. Prolonged escalation in the Middle East, particularly near the Strait of Hormuz, would spike oil prices and plunge Pakistan, already reeling from inflation and power shortages, into deeper turmoil.


There are also deep sectarian undercurrents to consider. Pakistan, a Sunni-majority country with a significant Shiite minority, has long struggled with sectarian tensions. A wider Middle East conflict infused with religious symbolism would be a tinderbox for domestic unrest. Renewed proxy warfare, radical propaganda, or targeted violence are all plausible outcomes should regional tensions escalate.


If sectarian rhetoric takes hold, Pakistan could become a tinderbox. The last thing it needs is imported conflict cloaked in religious symbolism. Trump may view Pakistan as a pliable piece on his global chessboard, but the reality is far messier.


Trump would do well to heed the caution of Senator William Proxmire: “Power always has to be kept in check; power exercised in secret, especially under the cloak of national security, is doubly dangerous.”


(The writer is a retired naval aviation officer and a defence and geopolitical analyst. Views personal)

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