Author: Editorial
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: August 29, 2008
Time to shoot jihadis on sight
Wednesday's horror story which unfolded in
a middleclass house in Jammu has once again highlighted the threat posed by
cross-border terrorism aided and abeted by Pakistan. This is not the first
time that terrorists have take hostages or used innocent civilians as a human
shield. Nor will it be the last time that people will have to pay a terrible
price for the jihadi mindset of those who rule Pakistan and the callous indifference
of those who rule India. There are three aspects to Wednesday's hostage crisis
that merit comment. First, it is astonishing that the terrorists were able
to not only cross the Line of Control and enter India by cutting through the
barbed wire fence, but also travel all the way from there to the crowded locality
of Chinore in Jammu. On the way, they were stopped at a checkpost where they
shot at the security personnel, killing one of them. From that encounter to
the one that took place at the house in Chinore it is not a short distance.
Which raises serious questions. Why were they allowed to proceed that far?
Was there a lapse in responding to the situation? Did the security command
and control system malfunction? Unless these questions are answered, it will
be impossible to plug the loopholes that allow terrorists to enter our territory
and unleash brutal violence on innocent civilians. Second, while the Army
jawans who carried out the operation on Wednesday and killed the three Islamic
fanatics without collateral damage -- the three hostages who died were slaughtered
by the terrorists -- have no doubt done a commendable job, there was obvious
lapse on part of the local police which appeared to be nowhere on the scene,
thus facilitating the free movement of the murderers without any let or hindrance.
The Army and the paramilitary forces in Jammu & Kashmir are no doubt primarily
responsible for combating terrorism, but this does not absolve the local police
of its responsibilities. To cite distraction caused by the Jammu protest would
be tantamount to inventing a reason for the abysmal lapse on part of the local
police and the administration. Third, such situations offer an excellent opportunity
to expose Islamabad's doublespeak to the world at large, especially those
Western Governments which are still reluctant to condemn Islamic terrorism
in Jammu & Kashmir and are happy to condone the crime committed by Pakistan
as well as its agents in the Kashmir Valley. Yet, there was a certain reluctance
on part of the authorities to part with real time information.
There is no percentage in berating the UPA
Government or the shockingly indifferent Union Home Minister for the worsening
situation in Jammu & Kashmir, or in reminding the Prime Minister that
his Pakistan policy has not helped save the lives of Indians. With an ineffective
'elected' Government in office but clearly not in power, Pakistan is fast
descending into chaos and anarchy. The military may have withdrawn to the
barracks, but the ISI is very much active in pushing its jihadi agenda --
across the Durrand Line as well as the Line of Control. There can be only
two responses to the reality that prevails: One, India's security forces should
be given the freedom to go in hot pursuit of terrorists and smoke them out
of their holes; and, two, they should be shot on sight if they dare enter
our territory. If jihadis desire death, let us gift it to them.
