Author: Editorial
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: October 8, 2001
British Prime Minister Tony Blair's
visit to Delhi has done little to dispel the growing impression that what
the United States and the United Kingdom describe as the global war against
terrorism has come to be focussed solely on bringing Osama bin Laden to
justice.
Mr Blair indicated as much when
he told the press last Friday, "Our focus is on dealing with the situation
in Afghanistan and closing down bin Laden's escape and terrorist networks."
It is understandable that the West, particularly the US which was the target
of the savage terrorist outrage perpetrated under the aegis of bin Laden
on September 11, should be incensed with the Saudi Arabia-born terrorist.
An almost exclusive pre-occupation with bin Laden, which obscures the need
for action against countries, groups and people that have accounted for
his rise and used him, would, however, leave the roots of terrorism untouched.
The point needs to be made because the way in which the US and Britain
are now welcoming Pakistan as an ally and a valued member of the anti-terrorist
coalition, opening the floodgates of aid, including military on it, and
showering praise on its President, Pervez Musharraf, warrants concern.
A concomitant of this is a refusal to act against fundamentalist Islamic
terrorist organisations like the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and the Lashkar-e-Toiba
(LeT) which have been spawned by Pakistan. This was clearly underlined
by the non-inclusion of these and other Pakistan-based terrorist organisations
active in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) in the list of terrorist organisations
released by Washington last Thursday. That this should happen immediately
after the JeM had perpetrated the explosion at the J&K assembly building
on October 1, is breathtaking. Both US and Britain have, of course, condemned
the act. Mr Blair used strong words in British Parliament in its special
session on terrorism and spoke in the same vein in Delhi. Such words, however,
make no difference in practice unless they are followed up by action. In
the absence of the latter, the perpetrators tend to feel that they can
go on setting off similar blasts with the US and Britain doing no more
than making stern pronouncements-which can be safely ignored.
The US and Britain fail to realise
that inaction against these organisations will not only hurt India but
also themselves. Apart from being anti-Indian, these are also pathologically
anti-US and will not hesitate to hit it again. Even now, there are indications
that the JeM may have been involved in the execution of the terrorist strikes
on September 11. According to the Jane's Intelligence Review, well known
for the authenticity of its contents, Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence
(ISI) controls the entire "army of Islam" that includes the bin Laden's
outfit, Al Qaida, and the terrorist militias unleashed on India. Pakistan,
then, cannot absolve itself of at least moral responsibility for the terrorist
strikes of September 11. It is for the US and UK to decide for themselves.
India will continuing to support their fight against terrorism not because
it expects any reward, but because it is opposed to the menace in principle.
More important, it will simultaneously continue to fight its own war against
terrorism with single-minded determination. It does not need to depend
on others.
