India chose to have a diplomatic offensive over military action against Pakistan in response to the Mumbai attacks in November. Did it do so out of choice or having no choice?
Manmohan Singh rightly said that military action would achieve nothing constructive. If India wanted, it could have attacked the terrorist training camps in Pakistan territory. But any such action would surely result in retaliation by Pakistan's military, may be resulting in all-out war, Kargil style, and in the longer term, more terrorist attacks.
Yet if an equivalent number of people had died in a terrorist attack in the US, UK or Israel, military action would be inevitable. The mess created by that is visible in Paletine, Iraq and Afghanistan. What India has done shows restraint, wisdom, and regard to the long term.
So all of you who say India is weak, shut up.
Showing posts with label pakistan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pakistan. Show all posts
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
Sunday, 7 December 2008
Root Cause
The recent horrific attacks in Mumbai has 'awakened' the Indian public, government, as well as caused some fear and negative sentiment among Pakistan's public and media. Accusations have been made that the terrorists were 'home-grown', i.e. Indian based, whereas India finds evidence and backing by the US to say that they were in fact Pakistan based.
However, terrorism is a long term problem, and even if these attacks were not by home grown terrorists, there is a no doubt that there are Muslim communities in India, particularly so in Kashmir, which are hostile towards India. (This is NOT to say that all Muslims in India are like this). Why so?
In theory Muslims across India can command equal treatment like any other Indian, and Kashmiris especially have some privileges since its inception. But that theory has not been put into practice effectively. The real success of these would be achieved when every Muslim in India feels proud to be an Indian. This would be an enormous blow to all the terrorists who try to expand in India.
Sure it may be too idealistic, but so are all real goals. So people of India - yes we shall condemn terror, yes we shall make our government be more responsible, but lets make sure that responsibility spans across internal affairs as well as external ones.
However, terrorism is a long term problem, and even if these attacks were not by home grown terrorists, there is a no doubt that there are Muslim communities in India, particularly so in Kashmir, which are hostile towards India. (This is NOT to say that all Muslims in India are like this). Why so?
In theory Muslims across India can command equal treatment like any other Indian, and Kashmiris especially have some privileges since its inception. But that theory has not been put into practice effectively. The real success of these would be achieved when every Muslim in India feels proud to be an Indian. This would be an enormous blow to all the terrorists who try to expand in India.
Sure it may be too idealistic, but so are all real goals. So people of India - yes we shall condemn terror, yes we shall make our government be more responsible, but lets make sure that responsibility spans across internal affairs as well as external ones.
Thursday, 27 September 2007
Aftermath
Okay, it seems that twenty20 is likely to gain popularity after that immensely exhilirating final. You've seen it all in pictures, on TV, in the news... or have you? Besides the cheerful celebrations, there has been a sad aftermath at the same time:
1. Shoib Malik's rather apologetic 'thanks' to Muslims all over the world -- caused outrage by Indian Muslims and non-Muslim Pakistanis alike. Many reasons why this might have happened: was he scared ? (think Bob Woolmer conspiracies). A case of miscommunication due to poor English perhaps? Whatever the cause, spare the man; he's a good cricketer!
2. Hindu-Muslim clashes in Rajouri (J&K) and in other parts of India. Did not see a single mention of this on TV news, and even online I had to dig it out. Comparing the different sources which do have this story, I can say that some Pakistani sources do seem to have exaggerated the story. Kashmiri sources have a slightly different way of presenting the news; some describing the Rajouri incident as a mere misunderstanding between two groups of people - not labelled by religion - and some clearly describing a apparent religious basis, and involvement of hardline groups like the Bajrang Dal - as opposed to the common man. And the national news? Well you know that most of them are
pathetic...
The saddest thing of all? In this global infomation age, a person who keenly seeks out information still cannot obtain it. Oh well, i'd still like to believe Darwin: "The Truth Will Out."
1. Shoib Malik's rather apologetic 'thanks' to Muslims all over the world -- caused outrage by Indian Muslims and non-Muslim Pakistanis alike. Many reasons why this might have happened: was he scared ? (think Bob Woolmer conspiracies). A case of miscommunication due to poor English perhaps? Whatever the cause, spare the man; he's a good cricketer!
2. Hindu-Muslim clashes in Rajouri (J&K) and in other parts of India. Did not see a single mention of this on TV news, and even online I had to dig it out. Comparing the different sources which do have this story, I can say that some Pakistani sources do seem to have exaggerated the story. Kashmiri sources have a slightly different way of presenting the news; some describing the Rajouri incident as a mere misunderstanding between two groups of people - not labelled by religion - and some clearly describing a apparent religious basis, and involvement of hardline groups like the Bajrang Dal - as opposed to the common man. And the national news? Well you know that most of them are
pathetic...
The saddest thing of all? In this global infomation age, a person who keenly seeks out information still cannot obtain it. Oh well, i'd still like to believe Darwin: "The Truth Will Out."
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