NO one can deny the barbarism of the act of terror in Mumbai. My heart and prayers go out to all those who lost their loved ones and those who sustained injuries. However, this heartless act of terror raises other issues which need to be handled with caution. It is, for example, painful for Pakistanis that the finger of blame is again being quickly pointed at them without any proof. How could the Government of India which was unable to preempt the attack know who was behind it within hours? ‘Knee-jerk reactions' should be avoided on both sides. What a pity that the three-day confidence-building visit of Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has been spoiled. It is clear that the terrorist elements do not want the two countries to live in peace and harmony. Pakistan criticized India for jumping to conclusions. In an unprecedented move it decided to send an ISI representative to India. It was a positive attempt on Pakistan's part to prove itself a peace-loving neighbor. India has seen the growth of religious extremism since 1990. There are almost one hundred groups fighting the Indian government each of them with a long list of complaints and grievances providing enough motivation to carry out terrorist acts. These home-based separatist movements are destabilizing influences that rumble beneath the surface and unexpectedly explode into the open. Therefore, blaming only Muslims or Pakistanis for India's internal problems is an oversimplification of a very complex issue. We should also not forget that the Indian government is dealing with ruthless Tamil separatists due to the violence in Sri Lanka. Tamils are regrouping in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The Christian, Dalit, and Muslim community of Kashmir and the Sikhs were targeted by Hindu mobs as 12 to 14 separatist rebellions raged across India's north and Northeastern regions. Currently, two serving Indian army officers have been found to have been involved in crimes that were attributed to Indian Muslims. This has only served to increase restlessness among Indian minorities. This has led some to believe in the involvement of Indian Military Intelligence officers in orchestrated acts of terrorism against Muslims in order to create a division between Hindus and Muslims. The Indian police were forced to uncover terrorists of the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), Bajrang Dal and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in the Indian military and intelligence system. As something had to be done to divert attention from acts of terrorism by Hindu extremists, some people believe that the Mumbai terrorist attack plan was conceived. It has also been reported that the terrorists were seen wearing a yellow thread revealing their belief in Hinduism. It should also be asked why some were quick to assume that the terrorists were Muslims from Pakistan who conveniently left behind their ID cards, family pictures and a cell phone with a SIM card originating in a ‘neighboring' country. The terrorists spoke Urdu with a Punjabi accent while they pretended that they came from Hyderabad, India. This could easily be a trick to confuse people and conceal their real identity. Why could they not be Hindu extremists who are opposed to India developing friendly relations with Pakistan? Nobody ever heard of the ‘Deccan Mujahideen' before Nov 26. How did this group suddenly become so powerful that it could drench the entire city of Mumbai in blood? Such a large and well-orchestrated attack was definitely planned internally but, unfortunately, like many other intelligence agencies in the world, the Indian anti-terror intelligence network was unable to prevent the attack. It is also possible that Muslims were used in the Mumbai terror attack after being brainwashed to avenge the injustice and cruelty they have suffered in the country, with the real mastermind being someone else. India has lost Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad's (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare who led the operation against the terrorists at the Taj Hotel. With his death, Indian minorities, like Muslims, have lost a ray of hope. Karkare was made the ATS chief in January this year, solved the serial bomb blasts in Thane, Vashi and Panvel, and the September 29 blast in Malegaon. He was a man known for his discipline and fairness. He had received numerous death threats and threats to blow up his house. It is possible that he was deliberately murdered during the terrorist attack. India should not only take measures to strengthen its police and intelligence authorities, but it should also carry out positive steps to build the confidence of its minority citizens and maintain good relations with neighboring countries, especially with Pakistan. It should provide concrete proof before blaming Pakistan and it should ask for help in a responsible way. Otherwise, it will be India which will be responsible for destroying the peace of the region. And, yes, Pakistan should also focus on cooperating with India to build confidence. It is time to stop blaming each other and instead to join hands to deal with the problem. Pakistan and India are both victims of terrorism and extremism. They must sit together and think of strategies for coping with threats from either home-grown groups or international terrorist organizations. Agony sometimes leads to affection. And maybe with a positive attitude and a sense of responsibility, the horror of Mumbai can be transformed into friendly relations between the two neighbors. __
