The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Hope amid threat

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Thursday, Dec 11, 2008
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Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Hope amid threat

Mr. Zardari’s mature and touching narrative on the threat posed by the religious fanatics gives rise to the hope that his government will pull out all stops to eliminate well-established terrorist groups in Pakistan. But right now, it appears that his government is not strong or bold enough to go beyond a point. There are other aspects which could go against religious fanaticism and the threat posed by it: illiteracy, superstition, and poverty which are rampant in that country.

P.U. Krishnan,

Udhagamandalam

Confining a hardcore terrorist in a house is surely a step forward from the complete denial mode the country went into a few days ago. Also, while condemning the terror attacks, Mr. Zardari has never mentioned Kashmir as an excuse for the attacks. The President’s intentions may be true but does he have the will to enforce what he says? See how his government has backtracked on well-intentioned measures such as reining in the ISI and sending its chief to India.

Arvind Narayan,

Mauritius

Your editorial (Positive step, Dec. 10) says that the restrictions on Masood Azhar and the arrest of Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi are positive steps and advises ‘sober and responsible’ policy approach. Time and again Pakistan has played the game of hide and seek. In 1999, when Masood Azhar walked away from the hijacked IC-814 Air India plane towards the wilderness of Kandahar desert, Pakistan was asserting that they never knew him and assured India that if he reached Pakistan soil he would be arrested and tried. Where is he now and should we be believe that the democratically-elected government in Pakistan will do justice to India?

R. Gopimony,

Thiruvananthapuram

What is the point in displaying goodwill gestures periodically to a country that fails to respond despite all evidence? If Pakistan has to act only after being warned by the U.S., there is no point wasting time in drafting bilateral treaties that remain only on paper. A country kneeling before the IMF for funds to pay the current month salary of its citizens needs to be attacked economically rather than militarily. Enormous international pressure is needed for Pakistan to discover that there are higher priority issues than protecting Masood Azhar and Dawood Ibrahim.

R.Venkataraman,

New Delhi

Undoubtedly, India is soft on terror. While the 9/11 attacks led the U.S. to completely revamp its security systems — internal and external — despite repeated attacks, we are still pondering over the ifs and buts with no concrete measures taken. There seems to be little or no information sharing among the intra-security/intelligence forces or between the Centre and the States. Ego and suspicion rule the roost.

The arms strength of the Indian forces needs to be closely looked at and augmented. When the terrorists come armed with the latest gadgets and sophisticated arms, it is indeed dismal to see our policemen fight, albeit valiantly, with outdated guns. India needs to set its house in order first. Only then can it afford to glance at our even more dishevelled and disoriented neighbour.

Jeyshree Jayaraman,

Mangalore

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