'The Hazards Of Living In A Make-Believe Environment'

We condemn the recent terrorist attack on Mumbai and extend our heartfeltcondolence and sympathy to the victim families. Likewise, we condole andsympathize with the victims of terrorism in Delhi , Kabul , Swat, other parts ofNWFP and FATA. Pakistan's civil society is alarmed at the loss of life, denialof education to girls and large-scale displacement of civilians in FATA andSwat. The influence of militant groups is rapidly growing in all parts of thecountry without any effective challenge by the government. Regrettably, thereappears to be a total absence of a cohesive policy by the government of Pakistanto protect its own citizens or any strategy to challenge militant outfits thatoperate with impunity within and outside the country.

We regret that the media in both India and Pakistan failed to present theMumbai outrage in a proper context and, instead, used the event to fuelhostility between the two countries. It aided warmongers on both sides to whipup a war hysteria. Quite ironically, terrorism, which should have brought Indiaand Pakistan together to defend peace and people's security, pushed them to thebrink of a mutually destructive war. Confrontation between these two closestneighbours has never had such a puerile basis.

Mercifully, the tension between India and Pakistan seems to have abatedsomewhat and this is some relief. But the danger of an armed conflict persistsand we call upon both the governments not to take peace for granted. Betterunderstanding and constructive action rather than confrontation between stateswill discourage militant groups that are growing in strength in both countries.The government of Pakistan must no longer stay in a state of self-denial. Itmust not miss the opportunity of devising an effective strategy to overcome themenace of terrorism that is posing a greater threat to this country than anyother nation. India too must bear in mind that militant groups and extremiststhrive in a state of conflict and polarization. Both governments must sincerelyredouble their efforts at addressing the rise of militant groups in the region.They need to quickly compose their differences over ways of dealing withterrorism. This could be done through the composite dialogue that must resumeforthwith because neither country can bear the cost of keeping defence forces onalert and suspension of normal peacetime duties.

We should also like to caution the government of Pakistan against lapsing intoits traditional complacency with the disappearance of the war clouds.

Blinking at the existence of terrorist outfits within the country, some openand others disguised, will amount to self-annihilation and greater isolationfrom the comity of nations. The state's commitment to root out terrorist groupsmust be total. It must ensure, as far as possible, that Pakistan is not evenaccused of allowing cross-border terrorism by any group, alien or indigenous.But everything must be done within the canons of law and justice. Killing ofinnocents and extra-legal excesses will not end terrorism. They will only fuelit.

Islamabad must also repudiate the suggestion that its firmness in the ongoingstandoff with India has contributed to national cohesion, revived the Kashmirissue, and enriched the national coffers. Nobody can forget the cost paid by thecountry for unity behind Yahya Khan in his war on fellow Pakistanis, for thefinancial windfall during Zia's agency for the Afghan war, and for the 'revival'of the Kashmir issue through adventurism in Kargil. The hazards of living in amake-believe environment are all too clear.

Success neither in the fight against terrorism nor in defending the nation'sintegrity can be guaranteed by arms alone. The way to end the abuse of belieffor politics or for terrorism, there being little difference between the two, isgoing to be long and hard. The task cannot be accomplished without thewhole-hearted support of a fully informed and wide-awake society. The returns oninvestment in people's food security, education, shelter, health cover andcreation of adequately rewarding employment for both men and women will beinfinitely higher than on resources expended on guns and explosives. This can bebest achieved through regional cooperation and trade liberalisation.

It is these pre-requisites to national unity, solidarity, and survival that weurge the state to address and the people shall not fail it. Pakistan can beatoff all challenges but only through people's fully mobilized power.