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Pakistan connection

The editorial "Terror and the Pakistan connection" (Aug. 12) exposes Pakistan's hollow claim that it provides no infrastructure to train terrorists. Its crucial role in foiling the terrorists' bid to blow up 10 U.S.-bound planes mid-air comes as no surprise — it knows which side its bread is buttered on.

K. Panchapagesan,
Bangalore

It is most gruesome even to imagine the tragedy that would have followed had it not been for the timely detection of the plot by the Scotland Yard. That Pakistan helped to foil the bid is heartening but that alone cannot absolve it of its responsibility of indoctrinating terror. For Pervez Musharraf, who insists that India provide proof of the Pakistani connection whenever acts of terrorism are perpetrated here, evidence should no longer be insufficient.

S.K. Rajagopalan,
Chennai

While Pakistan is ready to cooperate with the West in fighting international terrorism, perhaps as a quid pro quo for aid, it denies such cooperation to India. The London arrests reveal links to Pakistan. Every major terrorist attack in India has also been linked to Pakistan but the West has been consistently ignoring it. Islamabad has eminently succeeded in fooling the West into believing that it is part of the fight against terrorism while it is actually part of the problem. As long as terrorism infrastructure continues to be in place in Pakistan, India and the West will be far from being safe. Indoctrination can drive anyone to lunatic fringe.

M.M. Kotian,
Bangalore

Post- 9/11 and its alliance with the U.S. on the war against terror, Pakistan no doubt cracked the whip on the terror outfits operating from its soil but did so selectively. The Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammed were banned in 2002 but the formal ban order was not applicable in PoK, and the Northern Areas, ostensibly to protect the terror camps in these areas. The fact that the Pakistani footprint is evident in almost every terror episode in the world, including the latest, in spite of its alleged crackdowns, is proof that there is a serious problem in that country. Its half-hearted attempts at correction do not help peace with India.

Subramanyam Sridharan,
Bangalore

Despite all efforts by the West to shield Pakistan from being branded the terror centre of the world, facts keep popping up to point to its being the epicentre of terrorism. It is understandable that the U.S. wants Islamabad to deal with the monster that Pakistan itself created. But that is not going to be possible if it is allowed to deal with terrorism on its own. Sooner or later, it will be time to grab the bull by its horns to douse the raging fire of terrorism that is emanating from Pakistan.

Suresh Sheth,
Houston, Texas

It is a paradox that Pakistan, a nation that sponsors organised terrorism, helped to foil the trans-Atlantic bombing plot. Rather than nipping it in the bud, Pakistan has allowed terrorism to grow in its soil for years. What an irony that it should be commended for thwarting a terrorist plot.

Sandeep Thatikonda,
Anakapalli, A.P.

The arrest of a few suspected terrorists, including Britons, in Pakistan, which led to the prevention of a mid-air tragedy and the arrest of over 20 suspects in London, and the visit of two terrorists accused in the 7/7 blasts to Pakistan before the tragedy, reveal that the Pakistani soil is fertile for nurturing jihadi terrorism. Unless the international community carries out an effective combing operation in Pakistan, terrorism cannot be eliminated.

R.S. Shanmuganathan,
Sriharikota, A.P.

To the world, Pakistan demonstrates that it is fighting terrorism but jihadi camps continue to thrive on its soil. It uses the terrorist training camps as an overt diplomatic tool to exert pressure in the region. Osama bin Laden, Ayman al Zawahari, Dawood Ibrahim, Tiger Memon and many other wanted terrorists are believed to be in or around Pakistan, though there is nothing to prove their presence. The situation is dangerous, given Pakistan's nuclear potential, and can cause enormous damage across the world.

H.N. Ramakrishna,
Bangalore

Though Britain's gratitude to Pakistan for its cooperation and America's claim that no country has done more for the fight against terror may be the result of their necessity arising out of political considerations, I understand them as having a message for India — that it should make no attempt, henceforth, to convince the superpower of Pakistan's involvement in acts of terror. The U.K. and the U.S. not only believe Pakistan is innocent but are even indebted to it. That the belief may soon turn into a nightmare is a different matter.

J.L. Ganjoo,
New Delhi

It was the CIA that created the Frankenstein monsters called Taliban and Osama bin Laden, and strengthened the ISI to fight the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. The irony is when President Bush claims that Pakistan is an ally of the U.S. in its war against international terrorism, the terrorist factories under the control of the ISI continue to send jihadis to target the civilised world, including the U.S. It is for the superpower to rid the world of the genie it created.

Vijay Mohan Swaraj,
Chennai

True, the latest terrorist plot could not have been foiled without the help of Pakistan. It would not have succeeded without its active support either. Pakistan has once again pulled off a grand diplomatic coup. While keeping the factories of terrorism running, the General has been occasionally busting a plot or two to please the U.S. and its allies. He has succeeded time and again and has been consistently rewarded with promises of more aid. In contrast, Indian foreign policy has failed to isolate Pakistan.

Shivaji K. Moitra,
Kharagpur, W.B.

The foiled attempt has not only isolated India on the international stage but has also raised doubts over Indian intelligence. The world will not believe accusations until they are backed by solid evidence. As pointed out in the article "India, Pakistan need to move ahead" (OP-ED, Aug. 12) India's charge of Pakistan's involvement in the Mumbai blasts lacks concrete evidence.

Sidharth Singh,
Muzaffarpur, Bihar

The open letter written to Tony Blair by Muslim groups saying Britain should change its West Asia policy, which is putting civilians to great risk in the U.K. and abroad, comes as a surprise. The need of the hour is not reaction but action. The Islamic community should come together in condemning any act of violence. By seeking to explain such actions, Muslims are only alienating themselves from the rest of the world.

Padmasani Rangarajan,
Kitchener, Ontario

The aborted attempt to bomb the U.S.-bound planes is shocking. One shudders to think of what would have happened had the terrorists succeeded in their plan. Those who practise terror in the name of Islam are practitioners of the na khuda (non-believers) cult.

Mumtaz Ali Khan,
Bangalore

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