Opinion
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Letters to the Editor
Past catching up?
Sir, - Although Pakistan happens to be a frontline state fighting terrorism alongside the U.S.-led coalition today, its past history of promoting terrorism is fast catching up with it. Religious fundamentalism owing allegiance to the Taliban and the Al-Qaeda have struck deep roots in the country. Therefore, it is no surprise that speculation is currently rife that Osama bin Laden might be sheltered by Pakistani extremists.
If this proves to be true, then India's patience will have paid off, because, sooner or later, the U.S. will focus its attention on Pakistan and start its combing operations there to accomplish its mission of capturing Osama.
It naturally follows that it will target the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammed, who have made no bones about their support to the Taliban and the Al-Qaeda. Gen. Musharraf will then have no choice but to comply with the U.S.' wishes of tightening the noose around these militant groups.
Nevertheless, in the best interest of Pakistan and the stability of South Asia, the time is now ripe for Islamabad to root out religious extremists, or, they will soon prove to be as detrimental to the country, as the Taliban and the Al-Qaeda were to Afghanistan.
Nalini Vijayaraghavan,
Thiruvananthapuram
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Sir, - The root cause of the crisis in Indo-Pak. relationship is Pakistan's fundamentalist and theocratic political system that sponsors terrorism in Kashmir and elsewhere in India in a bid to destabilise its secular democratic fabric. The West must impress upon Pakistan that it must stop cross- border terrorism. As India takes on this challenge, the anti- terrorist global alliance, it is hoped, will join in a mission that makes the world safe for secularism and democracy.
Jacob George,
Changanacherry, Kerala
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