Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

India's troubles

This refers to the editorial "India's troubles in Afghanistan" (May 2). The Taliban that killed telecom engineer K. Suryanarayana is the offshoot of American hegemony. Among the other Frankensteins of American global ambitions are the terrorists playing havoc in our own Jammu and Kashmir.

M.K.D. Prasada Rao,
Ghaziabad, U.P.

When the Government of India is unable to protect its people from the terror strikes of naxals and jihadi militants, security for Indians in Afghanistan is wishful thinking. The observation that there can be no protection against the threat of abduction from free-roaming outlaws reveals the ground reality. Either the Indians should return home or work there at their own risk.

D. Asokan,
Tiruvarur, T.N.

Killings by the Taliban, naxalites, and terrorists have become so commonplace that we have become insensitive to them. The frequency of such incidents not only gives rise to concerns over security, but also highlights the immature and shortsighted decisions taken by our governments in the name of policies.

Harshvardhan B. Saraogi,
Mysore

The killing of telecom engineer K. Suryanarayana by the Taliban shows how inhuman some can be under the intoxication of religious fanaticism. One wonders what these zealots stand to gain for themselves and Afghanistan by killing innocent people.

E.P. Menon,
Bangalore

It is quite impossible to educate the Taliban in civility, born and bred as it was under certain unwholesome circumstances. The only solution is to organise instantaneous strikes like Mossad. But we have been taught by our savants, including the apostle of peace, Mahatma Gandhi, that an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. The Government must register a strong protest with Kabul.

C.G. Sivakumaran,
New Delhi

The Government's commitment to rebuild Afghanistan cannot be faulted but it also has the responsibility to deal with terrorist activities that affect its citizens. More than six years have elapsed since the gruesome murder of Rupen Katyal during the IC 814 hijack. There is no sign of bringing the culprits to book. If Maniappan and Suryanarayana are not to become just additions to a list, the Government should act fast.

Sriram Varadharajan,
Pasadena, California

The media glare to which Suryanarayana's family has been subjected is unwarranted and insensitive. Why splash such large photographs of the shattered family? Surely extensive text reporting would suffice. Can't one even grieve in privacy?

Akila Narasimhan,
Hyderabad

While we sympathise with the bereaved family, what is baffling is the Andhra Pradesh Government's reaction. Suryanarayana went to Afghanistan knowing the danger involved. Why then should the Government pay ex gratia to his family? The Government cannot squander away taxpayers' money like this.

Saroja Prasad,
Hyderabad

I have had the opportunity to take up private assignments in countries that have been declared as not so safe. I accepted them with a clear vision and under terms that are really worth it. A private citizen taking an assignment in Afghanistan would have exercised a similar option. A choice was made and an obvious risk accepted.

Mohan Menon,
Puthur, Palakkad

I fail to understand the logic behind the media hype and the Government's offers of compensation to the engineer's family. Suryanarayana went to Afghanistan knowing the risk involved, of his own free will. He did not go on government deputation. Do governments and the media care about those who die in India while discharging their duty, or as a result of being shot by naxals?

N. Gopalan,
Bangalore

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