Terrorism in India

"An anchor is often required to speak impromptu when a news just breaks in. Such was the frequency of terror blasts in those days that I had become used to speaking on such incidents. I even taught media students how to delve on the news of a terrorist act in the initial few minutes and how the news could eventually turn from a suspected cylinder blast to a major terror conspiracy. The news of a blast would come all of a sudden in those days. Such events had ceased to evoke the same astonishment from the viewers. I had also become used to the terror-related news much like a pathologist becomes accustomed to post-mortems."

"In Pakistan, in particular, the military are seen as the bulwark and protector of the nation and are largely free from civilian control and scrutiny. The infamous Inter- Services Intelligence Directorate has backed and funded terrorist groups in India, the disputed territory of Kashmir, Afghanistan and Central Asia, not for the good of those countries or of Pakistan itself. It is widely accepted that some of Pakistan’s generals have sold nuclear technology to North Korea. Civilian leaders who have tried to rein in the military have rapidly found themselves out of office and, if they are lucky, in exile. In both India and Pakistan civilian politics have taken on a military tinge, with some political parties sponsoring paramilitary organisations whose members wear uniforms, march in formation with flags and carry sticks to menace their opponents."

"In 2008, Hindutva leader B.L. Sharma Prem held a secret meeting with key members of a terrorist group responsible for a nationwide bombing campaign targeting Muslims. [...] Likes Europes mainstream right-wing parties, the BJP has condemned the terrorism of the right — but not the thought system which drives it. Its refusal to engage in serious introspection, or even to unequivocally condemn Hindutva violence, has been nothing short of disgraceful. Liberal parties, including the Congress, have been equally evasive in their critique of both Hindutva and Islamist terrorism. Besieged as India is by multiple fundamentalisms, in the throes of a social crisis that runs far deeper than in Europe, with institutions far weaker, it must reflect carefully on Mr. Breviks story — or run real risks to its survival."

"Today Israel and India are embattled democracies, sharing values and the challenge of terrorism. United in our quest for life, liberty and peace our joint determination to fight for these values can inspire our hopes for a better future for our people."