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On Pakistan

There is one word that is being flashed repeatedly on our television screens with respect to the Mumbai attacks — Pakistan. As a young citizen, I am afraid of the direction my anger is taking. Afraid, because I see that as a people we seem to have developed a gut-level violent reaction to that word. There seems to be an intrinsic inability to distinguish between the people of a country, the governing body, the military and the various extremist groups that exist in that region.

We must ask our leaders some tough questions and demand more accountability. Pointing fingers at an outsider should not ease the pressure on our political elite. Our self-righteous rage against Pakistan’s inability to control its violent groups is a bit misplaced. We turn a blind eye to the devastation and violence committed by Indian extremist groups against fellow citizens. If we don’t take a breath to cool off, our angry chest-thumping could destroy us. We want action. But let us not use the language of war.

Devika Narayan,

Mumbai

M. Ramankutty,

Kochi

Pakistan’s willingness to share intelligence on the terrorist attacks is indeed a welcome move. The main beneficiary in the event of an escalation of hostilities between India and Pakistan will be terrorists. Both countries face a grave problem of militancy and the latest attacks in Mumbai are a grim reminder of the endless possibilities of great consequences.

Syed Waris Shere,

Toronto

I am willing to believe that the current administration of Pakistan is not directly involved in the Mumbai attack and that its government cannot be blamed for every plot that is hatched from its soil. But there is a lot that the Pakistan government can do. There is enough proof that Dawood Ibrahim, the mastermind of a major terrorist attack in Mumbai, is operating freely from Pakistan. Deporting him to India will be a great start.

S. Subramanian,

Hyderabad

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