Terrorism

“The cries of pain are there and pain understood.”

Terrorism means the use of force or aggression against a person, group or
government. The aims of such a destructive activity are to create fear and alarm in
the masses and weaken their resistance. Terrorism is not a modern activity. It has
been going on in the in the world for a very long time. In the past, the societies
were not organized. However, in the old world, the robbers and dacoits waylaid
people during their journey and robbed them of their belongings and deprived the
weak of their life but now the terrorist activity has changed it. Now, it has become
an organized activity.
"Terrorism is the tactic of demanding the impossible and demanding it at
gunpoint."
In the modern age, terrorist groups have emerged which train for life
destruction activities. Now a days, the terrorist organizations are financially helped
and aided by the secret services of different governments. The hostile neighbors
train the terrorists and send them for the destructive activities. They create dread
and alarm in the people and try to destabilize the government.

"The war on the terrorism cannot be won."

A regular terrorist organization usually works against the government. Its

main object is to create disorder and anarchy in the country. The forces of law and
order are weakened. The government cannot pay proper attention to build the
nation and look after the welfare of its people. Most of their attention is diverted to
curb the terrorists. Now a days, a terrorist use modern destructive weapons to
destroy the buildings, offices and public places like railway stations and airports.
They implant bombs and cause a great loss to public property and life.
“Violent delights have violent ends.” (Shakespeare)
Terrorism has virtually become a global issue fraught with severe and tragic
consequences. In recent decades, it has verily acquired new dimensions and there
seems no end to it. The way it has grown and spread beyond limits during the last
few years is a matter of great concern for all of us. The terrorists and extremists use
all sort of weapons and strategies to horrify their victims. They explode bombs, use
rifles, hand grenades, rockets, ransack houses, loot banks, destroy religious places,
kidnap people, hijack buses and planes, indulge in gang rapes and do not spare
even children. Terrorism is also a form of surrogate warfare. It is a very cheap way
to fight without actually going to war.
“Terrorism is contempt for human dignity.”
Consequently, the world is becoming a totally unsafe, insecure, dangerous
and fearful place day by day. This ruthless chain of action and reaction is much too
dangerous to be ignored or taken lightly. Terrorism, violence, bloodshed, and
killings have become the order of the day. Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Middle
East, parts of Europe, America and Sri Lanka all seem to be in the cruel grip of this
many-headed monster.
“Terrorism has become a festering wound. It is an enemy of humanity.”
Terrorists act committed for various reasons. Some terrorist groups support a
particular philosophy. Other terrorist organizations fight against the government to
get liberation on the ethnic basis. Dictators use violence to frighten or eliminate
their opponents.
“Terrorism is the preferred weapon of the weak and evil men.”

The Kashmiris in Kashmir are engaged in a holy war of their freedom

against the Indian soldiers and the state terrorism. The Sikhs in India have been
committing acts of terrorism to win freedom from India. The Irish people of North
Ireland have been terrorizing the British government to gain their independence.
The Palestinians in Palestine are fighting against Israeli state terrorism. The chief
cause of terrorism is injustice and persecution of the down-trodden people. The
wrong policies of certain governments also lead to terrorist activities.

“If we like them, they’re freedom fighters…. If we don’t like them,

they’re terrorists.” (Carl Sagan)

Terrorism in the United States rocked the world when two U.S. planes
crashed into the World Trade Centre in New York On Sep 11. The terrorists were
killed along with hundreds of passengers and thousands of innocent people in the
building. The massive loss of lives made the entire world stand against terrorism.

“Ashamed is the humanity of the wounds given by thee.”

Terrorism is of two kinds, one is political terrorism which creates panic on
large scale and another one is criminal terrorism which deals in kidnapping to take
ransom money. Terrorism spreads at the national as well as at international level.
Regional terrorism is the most violent among all. Because the terrorists think that
dying as a terrorist is sacred and holy, and thus they are willing to do anything. All
these terrorist groups are made with different purposes.

“Terrorism and deception are the weapons not of the strong, but of the
weak.”

There are some main causes of terrorism development or production of

large quantities of machine guns, atomic bombs, hydrogen bombs, nuclear
weapons, missiles, etc. rapid population growth, Politics, Social, Economic
problems, dissatisfaction of people with the country’s system, lack of education,
corruption, racism, economic inequality, linguistic differences, all these are the
major elements of terrorism, and terrorism flourishes after them.

“What causes terrorism is disrespect, injustice and poverty.”

(Jodie Evans)

Terrorism in Pakistan is on the rise. Suicide bomb blasts have terrified the
entire nation. Many innocent people lose their lives. It has shattered the economy
and disrupted the peace process. The Pro-American policies of the government
have led chaos everywhere. Americans have been killing the Muslims everywhere
in the world since September 11. But the Quran says:

“Could Islam, whose name itself stands for “peace” and “submission to.
God”, encourage its adherents to work for death and destruction?”

These acts of violence have virtually shaken the very foundations of our
country in the recent years. A constant sense of insecurity and uncertainty has
demoralized the public overwhelmingly. Hundreds of innocent people are being
killed every year by these coldblooded terrorists and saboteurs. They are
professional killers who have no personal feelings towards the intended victims.
Their assignment is based on hatred and desperation and they are usually actuated
with a big amount of money. Joblessness, injustice, Afghan war, Kashmir issue,
religious strife, improper security measures and sectarianism are the obvious
causes of this brutal and inhuman act.
 “Violence is often the reflection of itself, and terrorism becomes the
manifestation of anger in its victims.”

During the last many years, Pakistan has become a place for terrorists to
execute their destructive activities. In the preceding year, the mosques, Imam
Bargahs, the places of worship and religious centers had been the special targets of
the terrorists. The last few years, innocent men, women and children were killed.
During year 1998, more than 1700 citizens killed in Karachi. Terrorist attack in
Army Public School Peshawar, Pakistan left behind more than hundred children
dead. It was the highest death toll of children in the world in a single terrorists
attack.

“Whoever kills an innocent life it is as if he has killed all of humanity.”

(AL-Quran)

It has become customary to say that terrorism cannot be abolished until its
causes are identified and removed. Terrorism will remain a part of our political
scenario, unless we adopt a neutral policy in the world of politics. We should not
render ourselves an absurd puppet in the hands of big powers which have waged a
cold war against one another. Secondly, the de-weaponization programme should
be implemented without any discrimination. Thirdly, the provision of justice
should be made sure, for sometimes, people lift weapons to settle their personal
scores and eventually become professional killers.
“Nothing good ever comes of violence.” (Luther)

The government should try its best to eliminate ignorance and joblessness
from the country. Also, the security measures should be made foolproof and police
officials should remain high alert on crucial public places. Lastly, the government
should make the example of the terrorists by hanging them on the public places.

“There is no priority higher than the prevention of terrorism.”

(John Ashcroft)
 Besides these measures, the government should adopt strong and single-
minded opposition to it on every front. The public should be motivated to combat
this colossal crime against society. Religious leaders and the intellectuals also
have a fundamental obligation to help create a climate of peace and respect for
all the conflicting sects.

“With guns you can kill terrorists,

With education you can kill terrorism.”

To put the pre-going discussion in a nut-shell, we may be able to cope with

this monster which has threatened the very bedrock of our national existence and
peace by the greater use of television and radio to high-light the negative effects
of terrorism and violence. Terrorist activities may come to an end if the
grievances of the victimized people all over the world are alleviated. The cruelty
against the weak must be stopped to solve the disputes fairly.

“Terrorism is a global challenge demanding a global answer.”