Mayhem in Mumbai

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November 28, 2008

No words can ever be enough to condemn the horror of what has happened and continues to happen in
Mumbai. Fear walks down every street in the stricken city and lurks in every building. The costs of what is
being termed India's worst-ever terrorist attack will be many; the burden a fearfully heavy one to bear. A
day after young terrorists, who struck almost simultaneously in at least seven places including the city's top
restaurant and its two best-known hotels, wreaked havoc across the city of 15 million, killing at least 101,
wounding some 300 others and taking hostage hundreds at top hotels where rescue efforts were continuing
at the time of writing, fingers are already being pointed towards Pakistan. The accusations come not only
from within India but from international media channels too. They may well be inaccurate, but the
suspicion has been raised and Pakistan's past track record on terrorism mean they may well stick. This is
especially true as a previously unknown group, the Deccan Mujahideen, has claimed responsibility,
according to a section of the Indian media. This may well be jumping to conclusions as there could be any
number of identities of the perpetrators of the atrocity, given the complex make-up of India's society and
politics. But reports from India insinuate the guns and bombs used by the terrorists reached India aboard a
ship that set sail from Karachi. Other similar accusations are too coming in only hours after Pakistani and
Indian officials agreed in Islamabad that there would be no finger-pointing without evidence. Parallels are
being drawn with the bombing at the Marriot Hotel. Indian intelligence, under fire for failing to pick up on
the threat, is anxious to lay blame elsewhere. The awful reality of our time is that Pakistan has become the
world's centre of terrorism; attacks staged around the world whether in the US, or Europe or India seem
to link up with players within the country. Our northern areas have become a favourite refuge for men such
as Rashid Rauf, recently killed in a drone strike, and for others who favour violence. From our cities, from
our towns, we are accused of exporting terror around the world, acting as a source of weapons, knowhow
and moral support.

This reality is a curse for Pakistan. Whereas we may only be a convenient scapegoat, it is not mere
accident that has cast us in this damning role. Already, we are a nation regarded as the most dangerous in
the world by some assessors. Foreign missions and agencies have deemed Islamabad too unsafe a place to
station the spouses and children of staff; businessmen hesitate to come to our shores. Sportsmen now rarely
visit. Condemnation from around the world is pouring in for what happened in Mumbai. Our leaders too
have added their voice strongly to this but this cannot disguise the fact that in the aftermath of what has
happened Pakistan may be cast as the key culprit. The assault on the unsuspecting city of Mumbai, India's
business centre and of course the focal point of its film industry comes as the peace process between the
two sides was warming up. Just days before Pakistan's president had made a daring set of offers to India.
But the terrorist scourge goes beyond this effort at reaching greater accord. It is today the biggest threat to
the security and sovereignty of Pakistan itself. While terrorists still lurk in our hills, they will indeed be
drone attacks by the US; when it is alleged ships carrying loads of ammunition for militants set sail from
our shores there will be attributions of blame. There is no escape from this.

The question is what we, as a nation, can do to alter this situation and save ourselves. Too much time has
already been lost. The costs -- to reputation, to investment, to the welfare of the country have been
immense. Pakistanis struggle to obtain visas; colleges overseas hesitate to admit students for fear that they
are terrorists. People who are entirely innocent suffer. So, what is to be done? In the first place Pakistan
must remind its western allies that, once upon a time, it played an active part in building the extremist
networks that have now established deep roots in our country. Powerful elements inside Pakistan of course
assisted them and backed their cause through the decades, for reasons both strategic and ideological.
Today, we must find the strength to beat them back. For this we must urge the US and other powers to help
us. We must show true zeal, commitment and purpose. There is no alternative. For otherwise, the anger
directed against in the aftermath of what happened at Mumbai will grow stronger and assume the form of a
ferocious storm we may not be able to withstand.