WHY NOT PAKISTAN CITIZENS FIGHT FOR ENDING TERRORISM

The most disgraceful part of today’s civilization is the un-mindful violence being leashed out on innocent citizens in many parts of the world by a sizeable group of terrorists who have an unacceptable agenda to further their own ambitions. It is unfortunate that the countries that harbor such terror groups have done little to contain the growth of these fascists damaging the very fabric of civilization through their violent acts of killing. Such countries are equally accountable for the acts of terror and are answerable to the world at large.

The recent mumbai terror scene has exposed the perpetrators of this ghastly crime and from where they are operating and who is behind the killings. The fingers have clearly pointing at pakistan which is in no mood to acccept it which may largely due to pressure from the same outfits charged of terror.

For the present it may be satisfting to the politicians and media in pakistan to twist facts and glorify itself as an honest state, nothing to do with terror in mumbai but in the long run the conviction that pakistan is not prepared to mend its ways will sink in with the major governments world over and hence will lose its credibility. This could have several adverse repurcussions to the country as a whole and its people. Is it worthwhile to ignore global calling to cleanse terror from its soil for a few bad men who are holding pakistan to ransome? Pakistan needs leadership with guts to to save the country from the clutches of the terrorist outfits

The terror acts have been very regular and many countries have been victims where several innocent citizens have been killed. It is also no secret that peoples all over the world irrespective of religions are convinced a through reality check has to be done address the issue of terror. The capture of kasba, the credible confessions made by him and proof of involvement of ISI and LET provided by him has thrown open new opportunities to tackle terror. Use him and his candid confessions to educate the world and people of pakistan to build a consensus in pakistan to fight for eliminating terror from its soil. This may be the most unconventional and difficult method but may be worthwhile trying.

Mohd Ajmal Kasab, the lone captured terrorrist involved in mumbai shoot out has gone on record, confessing that he regrets what he has done and that he has sinned by killing many innocent lives and that ISI and LET leaders have misled him into doing all these by their wrongful indoctrination. It is a few leaders with distorted vision that are taking advantage of poverty, disillusionment and various other factors and converting young men into terrorists by misguiding them through indoctrination and denying them a life afterwards.

Kasab knows it all about the terror outfits, its roots, network, locations, leaders and supporters of terror outfits, being one of the cogs in the wheel of terror and hence could be used as a weapon against the same people who hired him to kill innocent people and create havoc in Mumbai to destabilize the country and pitch one religion against the other. Doing this he may become a hero because he has repented and acted to do good.

Kasab should now be used to spill the beans on how all the fascist organizations like ISI and LET operate, how they spread terror, with whom they collaborate internationally and mobilize pakistani people support to fight against the evil activities of these organization. The people of Pakistan should play a big role in coercing the government of Pakistan to stop misguiding the citizens of Pakistan and pressure them to protect Islam as a religion from being maligned world over. Achieving this they can live in peace and enjoy the fruits of a friendly neighbour in india.

Kasab is repenting the gory sin he has committed, which was an act that resulted from him being fully misguided with distorted vision of the real facts and building unwanted hatred against India and the wrong propaganda being disseminated among the youths in Pakistan. He should make amends by bringing out the real truth and disclose the evil designs of the perpetrators of terror to the citizens of Pakistan. He should expose how it is not serving any purpose and is only causing unwanted devastation and swelling the mistrust on people of Pakistan world over. Citizens should know that Pakistan may end up as a rogue state if it is not transparent and continue to twist the facts of 26/11 in India.

Such strong statements coming straight from the horse’s mouth will have considerable awakening in the minds of the nation he comes from. Kasab should be made to appeal to the people of his nation to stand up and fight against terror outfits within the country and eliminate it from its soil. Again this should be done in such a manner that it will have credibility and not give an opportunity to Pakistan to state that this is another handiwork of Indian government to malign Pakistan.

It is important to expose to the people of Pakistan the evil designs of these organizations and build a strong public outcry to shut these organizations and make Pakistan a peace-loving nation embracing the good teaching of Islam. The anger in Pakistan should be the same as it was demonstrated all over India on the non-performance and lack of will of the politicians forcing them to take immediate punitive action on perpetrators of crime. Only strong sentiments of the people can change the scenario as politicians have their own compulsions and agenda and hence their hands are tied to take action. They need support and only strong people support sending a clear message that the government will fall if they don’t act honestly will work.

The people of Pakistan deserve to live with their heads high and not be victims of suspicion wherever in the world they go and be subjected to embarrassment because of a few bad men. So the people of Pakistan awake, arise and act in the interest of your own well being and the world at large, lest these criminals in the name of jihad, will not think twice to kill your own brothers and sisters in your own country for their own skewed agenda.

Pakistan government, if it is interested in really supporting international agencies fighting terror should unflinchingly arrest all those directly and indirectly connected with promoting terror. The world has already a well-documented list of terrorists’ organization and list of terrorists that has also been handed over to Pakistan.

The onus wrests with Pakistan to stop hoodwinking the world to protect a few handful of most dangerous men in the world and demonstrate its sincerity by arresting all the men in wanted list without fear or favour and hand them over to the world body United nations to try all the criminals as per international law.

Fear is the key .The citizens of Pakistan message must be loud and clear that Pakistan will no more harbor terrorists in their land and they join the efforts world over to eliminate terror.

Combatting terror

COMBATTING TERROR

Terrorism and the resulting unmindful devastation it leaves behind has been a subject of debate from centuries world over. There has been a continuous effort world over to understand what makes a normal man a terrorist and how to curb this growing tribe of terrorists as also finding ways and means to fight terrorism.

After 9/11 the concern and response to terrorism has been immediate and direct. Governments around the world have been quick to implement policies for increasing national security using innovative technologies and tools. It is a general perception that terrorism originates from religious dogma and extreme fundamentalist interpretations of belief. Though this undoubtedly remains one of the causes, a more significant cause may be identified as social despair and a sense of hopelessness resulting from poverty, Politics, indiscrimation, disproportionate wealth distribution, oppression, ignorance, poverty and injustice which may alienate such groups of affected people from the main stream society.It is such conditions which create the environment where fundamentalism grows.

Any policy which deals with a comprehensive approach to the terror environment must develop strategies to combat both. Hence the government approach must be two pronged. To come out with policies to combat terror across borders and more importantly policies for curbing local citizens/oufits from offering logistics and acting as sleeper berths for external terrorist groups. This can be done by proper education and developing mechanism for a close day to day surveillance and monitoring of suspect groups and dissuade disaffected groups from supporting terrorism from within.

The government’s conviction to take hard action on neighboring country is very understandable and desirable but the same hard action on the perpetrators of crime within the country must also be met with steely resolve. While there are hot debates and show of public anger on the recent Mumbai terror act, this kind of mass anger and demand for action from government should include action from government for defusing various small and established terror groups flourishing within the country. We should categorize these groups as terrorist and a separate law should be applicable to bring them to book quickly. A clear message should be sent that terrorism will not be tolerated , not by rhetoric by politicians but by real action on the ground.

Further, it should be made mandatory for all religious bodies to denounce terror and it should be made obligatory on their part to pass on information of any activities of terror outfits which they are aware to the local administration.

Mindless killing of innocent citizens to advance thier own agenda of any terrorist group must be denounced in unequivocal terms.

Combating terror should be a federal agency with its own hierarchy extending from national level to state level, where the state units will function under the national unit. The federal agency for combating terror should be have the latest technology and tools, be fully computerized and automated to acquire useful and sensitive data, store data with utmost security and make informed decision based on intelligence extracted out of the data. This agency should co-ordinate and be able to share information between other friendly countries fighting global terror.

India is one of the country which has been a victim for various terror attacks from various groups and hence by now should have been a treasure house of intelligence on terror groups, their modus operandi and information on thier future strike targets globally. Such an envious position will bring all the countries serious in combating terror to collaborate with India by which we can build allies for fighting terror.

Policies on national security have to be been strengthened through the build up of military capability, increase of modern armaments and armed forces, bringing in latest technology for internal and border security, refinement of intelligence gathering systems and introducing laws with stringent punishment for any breach of national security.

Citizens also have a major role to play in mitigating the threats from terorirsm and it is time the citizens also donned the mantle of responsibility. There has been a certain amount of apathy among citizens who feel that it is not their duty to keep a constant vigil and report to the government administration about anything unnatural or suspected activity seen by them. It is time the citizens also woke form their slumber and become a cog in the wheel of for combating terror. Non reporting by citizens who are suspected to be in the knowledge of planning terror activities should also be held responsible as conniving with terrorists and punishment should be awarded to them also. This will drive them into action.

Concluding this,I feel the government must seize this opportunity to fully revamp the ATS in modern lines taking clue from the most well managed agencies across the world and bring the most sophisticated technology, equipment and training methods to defeat the designs of terrorist world over and make the world a better place to live.

Lastly the citizen’s anger at non performance by the government should never die down and they should now come with greater resolve to bind the politicians to be accountable for their job and every statement they make, ensure transparency and eliminate corruption. The politician’s job is to govern the country ably and not making personal wealth and family gains.

it is time we build ahuge citizen group with one voice " Better india: Yes we can.

S.G.Balaji

My thoughts on Citizen Role

The idea of creating this blog is to bring together thoughts of many people who are interested in making India a better and safer place to live. I am of the opinion that more than pointing fingers at politicians and administrators, a time has come for introspection into the role that we as citizens can contribute to the change around us.

With this theme I propose to write more on my thoughts of how we can salvage the rot in this country. I invite like minded people who are deeply concerned about improving standard of life in our country to share their thoughts in this blog.

I welcome your feedback / comments.