South Asian leaders need to be very cautious
Sunday, 30 November 2008
Jahangir Alam
There is every reason for South Asian countries and particularly their leaders to be extremely wary about the unfolding events in the region. The Mumbai carnage is the immediate case for practising such caution.
For centering around this bloodbath, some unholy quarters behind the wings are probably very active to set in motion a destabilizing process in the region. It was probably the express aim of the engineer of this gruesome incident behind the scene, to use it to inflame communal passions in India and create a warlike situation there blaming Pakistan and other neighbouring countries for the troubles.
On its part, Pakistan has in particular been facing difficult times itself, with extremist religious terrorism posing a threat to its stability. Under its present conditions or its mainstream society, its government is unlikely to have any hand in committing such ghastly crimes, as it already is too embroiled in its domestic problems and is fighting on its own different Islamist terrorist groups. The issue of involvement of any intelligence agency or terrorist group, operating there in Pakistan remaining outside the control of its government, is a different matter here.
So, pointing the accusing finger at the governments in neighbouring countries of India will be considered illogical and unfair. India has its own home-grown formidable problems from the Kashmiri independence struggle to similar insurgencies in its north eastern areas. Therefore, it must not ignore developments on its domestic front while looking for an answer to the causes of terrorism within.
Meanwhile, fanning communalism in the wake of the Mumbai incidents will be the worst thing to conceive of. The emerging conditions of India as an economic great power could be strained under such circumstances and the South Asian region could them become dangerously insecure and unstable. India as the biggest country in the region may have to pay the most price economically, if the communal forces there try to fan up troubles.
On their part, the leaders of the South Asian countries need to be extremely careful not to step into any trap that may purposefully be set to destabilize the region. They should practise restraint as the highest conduct in their relations while making concerted efforts to combat terrorism which is a common threat.
There is every reason for South Asian countries and particularly their leaders to be extremely wary about the unfolding events in the region. The Mumbai carnage is the immediate case for practising such caution.
For centering around this bloodbath, some unholy quarters behind the wings are probably very active to set in motion a destabilizing process in the region. It was probably the express aim of the engineer of this gruesome incident behind the scene, to use it to inflame communal passions in India and create a warlike situation there blaming Pakistan and other neighbouring countries for the troubles.
On its part, Pakistan has in particular been facing difficult times itself, with extremist religious terrorism posing a threat to its stability. Under its present conditions or its mainstream society, its government is unlikely to have any hand in committing such ghastly crimes, as it already is too embroiled in its domestic problems and is fighting on its own different Islamist terrorist groups. The issue of involvement of any intelligence agency or terrorist group, operating there in Pakistan remaining outside the control of its government, is a different matter here.
So, pointing the accusing finger at the governments in neighbouring countries of India will be considered illogical and unfair. India has its own home-grown formidable problems from the Kashmiri independence struggle to similar insurgencies in its north eastern areas. Therefore, it must not ignore developments on its domestic front while looking for an answer to the causes of terrorism within.
Meanwhile, fanning communalism in the wake of the Mumbai incidents will be the worst thing to conceive of. The emerging conditions of India as an economic great power could be strained under such circumstances and the South Asian region could them become dangerously insecure and unstable. India as the biggest country in the region may have to pay the most price economically, if the communal forces there try to fan up troubles.
On their part, the leaders of the South Asian countries need to be extremely careful not to step into any trap that may purposefully be set to destabilize the region. They should practise restraint as the highest conduct in their relations while making concerted efforts to combat terrorism which is a common threat.