Terrorist attacks in financial hub of India (Bombay) should be condemned in the strongest terms because it is not only an attack on India but it is alarming for west also. The loss of more than a hundred and injuries to many more is as despicable an act as is humanly conceivable in any circumstances. In actual more than 300 families are hurt by this incident.
It is ironical that the attacks came in the wake of the two-day talks between the home secretaries of Pakistan and India in Islamabad earlier in the week where cooperation in fighting terrorism came under discussion. Détente between the two neighbors does have the potential to curb the menace because militancy does not distinguish borders and it is only logical to challenge it through a joint venture.
Wednesday night incident indicates an immediate test for the resolve of the two sides not to indulge in a blame game every time something goes wrong on either side. It helps no one except the terrorists and it is time everyone realized this fact. The Joint Anti-Terrorism Mechanism that was set up in September 2006 did not bear the desired fruit.
It was supposed to meet on a quarterly basis, but Indian stance in the wake of the suicide attack on its embassy in Kabul in July this year clearly violated that understanding and poured cold water on the scheduled meeting between the two foreign secretaries.
There is need for confidence building between the two countries. Other than terrorism, talks have also focused on a host of issues such as disarmament but they sound too optimistic in the current environment. But even a symbolic cut in defense spending on both sides of the border would be a welcome step for it will herald a move towards addressing the major underlying causes of terrorism: poverty and illiteracy.
But for the moment the focus will obviously be on how the two countries manage the fallout of the Mumbai blasts. Without apportioning blame on each other they should cooperate in the investigations to make them productive and facilitate effective measures for domestic security in the two countries while promoting bilateral understanding between them.
Feroz Ahmed Bawany goal is to increase my knowledge and to understand the only civilized creations of Almighty Lord are HUMAN. He is a regular contributer to TRCB.com.
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