Terrorist Attacks and Indian Response

Asghar Ali Shad & Faisal Saeed Cheema

The world community has condemned the terrorist attacks on Washington and New York on 11th of September in one way or the other. However, the world's so called largest democracy India and its official and unofficial media has shown such a ridiculous attitude towards Islamic world in general and Pakistan in particular that the latter could be depicted as sponsors of terrorism. This type of negative propaganda is still going on in India. If we see the attitude of Indian decision makers during the last two weeks, it becomes very clear that Indian Government wants to use this opportunity against Pakistan. Since 11th September night, the Indian leaders and especially L.K. Advani and other Indian fundamentalists have changed their attitude against Pakistan. That was the same attitude of the Indian policy makers as was during the May 1998 Indian nuclear tests. Besides, on 12th September morning, a renowned Indian defence analyst Maj. General Ashok Metha and eminent journalist Inder Melthora were trying to promote the ugly thesis of 'Clash of Civilization' in order to promote anti-Muslim sentiments among the non-Muslims.

After the attacks, the Indian Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee had offered voluntary support to American President in order to counter terrorism. Besides, Advani tried to project Pakistan as a terrorist state during an interview to Indian T.V. channel 'DoorDarshan. After that Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee on 14th September without mentioning Pakistan made it explicitly clear and said " the roots of international terrorism are in the neighbours India and one of the neighbouring state is patronizing terrorism and because of that India in collaboration with the USA will try to tell lesson to this neighbouring country".

The political editor of 'Times of India, Manoj Joshi, Retd. Gen. Afsar Karim, professor Dr. Vijay Lakshami of Jawhar lal Nehru University and many other Indian analysts are seem to have reached the conclusion that "the terrorist attacks upon America has provided an excellent opportunity to India to equal its all grievances against Pakistan. According to a famous Indian newspaper "Hindustan" some of the Hindu fundamentalists are ready to take revenge of their last fifty years grievances from Pakistan. However, some of the moderate Hindu analysts including Vaid Partab Vahadik, Ajay Boss and Vinod Sharma are of the opinion that " on this occasion India should respond to this incident rationally and there is not too much need of joy because if there is a threat to Pakistan's security, India will also be affected in the long run due to more than large presence of Muslims in the sub-continent and certainly the use of force to control such a large population is not possible for the Indian government".

When the Government of Pakistan decided to collaborate with the international community in its campaign against terrorism, the Indian government was so desperate that some of the Indian analysts including Dr. Garesh Pantt of Jawhar lal University, Rama Chindra of Indian daily 'Tribune' that "the Indian government has to suffer an other diplomatic failure which is severe even than the 16th September press conference of Gen. Pervaiz Musharaaf in Agra". The bureau chief of BBC in India Satish Jacob is of the opinion that " the role of the Indian leaders in the present crisis is no less than childish".

Since last few weeks, the world community is giving different opinion regarding the future of Afghanistan and some of the analysts are talking about the future role of Zahir Shah and Northern alliance. Some of the analysts in India are promoting a conspiracy theory that American attack upon Afghanistan can shatter it as was done after the second world war with Germany and the parts of Afghanistan can be divided among Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan. Through this kind of propaganda, India certainly wants to fulfil its pernicious designs.

Few days back, in an inaugural ceremony of book 'State's Religion' under RSS, L.K.Advani has prophesised that in the coming days India can also become victim of terrorism like the USA. In that way he has certainly tried to provoke the Hindus against the Muslims in India.

The Indian media has also shown a negative attitude against Pakistan. The most circulated Indian newspaper 'Nau Baharat Times' on its front page entitled "Terrorism has an old relationship with Hollywood" has stated that " the recent attacks on America are primarily motivated by the American film industry Hollywood because since the last ten years Hollywood has produced such films on terrorism in which New York and other American cities are being targeted. For example in 1973, a film " The Day of the Jackal" was produced which was based upon the novel written by Fredrick Forsmith. The interesting thing in that film was that its heroin had a great resemblance with the wife of former president Clinton. In this movie Russian Mafia offered seven crore dollars to a suicide terrorist. In 1995, another film "Die hard with a Vengious" was produced in which the terrorist planned to destroy New York with bombs. In 1997, a movie "Independence Day" was released in which White House is destroyed with the bombs. In 1998, "The Seize" was released in which series of explosions are occurred in New York following which martial law is imposed. Furthermore, in "Collateral Damage", a terrorist wanted to create terrorism in Washington. Besides, in "Son of All Fears", a nazi terrorist gets hold of nuclear weapons and caused damage during a football match. If one analyse these examples one may reach the conclusion that the recent attacks in New York and Washington may be instigated by these Holly Wood movies. Even if one not agrees with this contention, one thing is very clear that crime oriented literature and movies can motivate violence unconsciously.

However, in the recent crisis, some of the people in India argue that this crisis can be dangerous for India as well in the future. Nirja Chaudhry of Indian Express has predicted that the USA would pay serious attention to the Kashmir problem after its campaign in Afghanistan because of which Kashmir can be separated from India". It may also be pointed over here that propaganda campaign by Indian officials and media can be a great set back to the ongoing peace process in the region. The need is that India should abandon such kind of propaganda and cooperate with Pakistan for the maintenance of peace and security in South Asia.