Nov 27, 2008
India Burning
Update: 5/7/2001 — In the years since the Mumbai terrorist attacks, I have thought as to whether I should delete this post or amend it. I have decided is it better to own up to my glaring mistake, to amend the post, and maintain its original text struck out.
In hindsight, I can see that I was incorrect in my assessment that Indian-based Muslims conducted the Mumbai attacks. My opinion was shaped by the recent attacks by the Indian Mujahideen, which appeared to be a purely local outfit.
In reality, Pakistan-based terrorists attacked Indian civilians and others on that day. Much of what I had originally written about India’s internal challenges is true. But it is equally, if not more applicable to Pakistan, which is corroding from within due to militancy and terrorism.
My apologies for any offense caused.
Mumbai is a war zone. Dozens of innocents have been butchered by cold, depraved young men.
But rather than blaming Pakistan, India must look at itself.
Earlier in the week, Indians boasted of the alleged sinking of a pirate vessel by their navy. An Indian columnist proclaimed that the Indian navy had come of age.
Days later, U.S. officials revealed that the Indians sunk the pirated vessel — not the pirates’.
And last night, terrorists stormed the seaside Taj Hotel, coming into Mumbai via boats.
Clearly the Indian navy has not come of age.
Presumptuousness has plagued India. ‘India shining’ belied the plight of its darkened masses. Nine hundred million there live on less than $2 a day.
Incompetence has also plagued India. After failing to prevent this sophisticated attack and bungling the subsequent operations, New Delhi has magically found out the origin of the terrorists’ vessel and even their hometown!
In blaming Pakistan, Indian officials are masking their own incompetence. India’s security establishment has, much like Pakistan’s, failed to protect its citizenry. States are reluctant to acknowledge that non-state threats are purely that; it is humiliating.
The 800 pound gorilla in the room is the rising threat of homegrown Muslim militancy in India. Muslims are an underclass in India and increasingly plagued by a Hindu chauvinism that has come from the periphery to India’s center. Yesterday’s events are the natural outgrowth of Hindu fascism, which belies the spirit of Hinduism in burning Muslims alive and raping Christian nuns.
India must confront its inner demons. But it is clearly proving resistant to do so, given that elections are not too far.
Terrorism is politics of the most morally decrepit sort. It can involve religion, but only by removing its ethical constraints. It is also imprecise. As I write, a family friend and his father — both Muslim — are holed up in the Taj, uncertain of their fate.
[...] The Pakistan Policy Blog says “Not so fast”: In blaming Pakistan, Indian officials are masking their own incompetence. India’s security establishment has, much like Pakistan’s, failed to protect its citizenry. States are reluctant to acknowledge that non-state threats are purely that; it is humiliating. [...]
Arif,there is absolutely no doubt in the fact that this LeT opertion had full support of the ISI(Navy component).They have taken advantage of the vast, unguarded coastline of India.Ironically,these so called soldiers of Islam have killed many innocent muslims in Mumbai.India will avenge this act of war.Wait and watch.
If indeed the speculation is true: that the ISI managed to slip some terrorists into Mumbai via boats from Karachi, that is a terrible indictment of the actual readiness of India’s navy and intelligence apparatus (this occurring would be like Cuba dropping terrorists originating in Havana into New York City by sea). I remain very skeptical of such claims, and hope that in the coming days we will have a clearer picture of what transpired. But it is not lost on me that Indian intelligence has been generally unable to pinpoint the source of recent attacks, blaming a number of militant groups without ever coming to a concrete conclusion.
Hi, I have no idea about the nationalities of people commenting here, but I think that I should say at the outset that I am an Indian, living outside the country. From where I am, I would draw a distinction between the government of Pakistan and militants who have lodged themselves in various pockets in the country. My Prime Minister said that he did not like the territory of ‘neighbours’ being used as a base for attacks against India. However, it is very difficult to see what the government of Pakistan can do about this, especially in the conditions prevailing along the Afghan – Pakistan border. To this extent, I would tend to see this as something of ‘playing to the gallery’ – he needs to sound tough, otherwise the BJP and other elements of the Indian Right will accuse him of going soft on Pakistan, which no Indian politican would like to be seen to do.
At the same time, I do take heart from other reports that the ISI chief may visit India to help with the current investigation, that President Zardari has offered help, etc. After all, he lost his own wife to a bomb attack!
So, at the end of the day, I think that some tough talk in the media is fine because relations between the two countires are so multi-layered and complex. However, it is important that it should not stop there, but that there should be some genuine cooperation between our governments, behind the scenes. At the end of the day, both our countries and peoples deserve better than to be held hostage by terrorists – of all kinds and of all persuasions.
Sanjib, thank you for that balanced and humane message.
Death is on its way to Pakistan.
Go under cover you pigs. Nukes are over your head.
Proud Indian Patriot.
NeoPatriot, you have misnamed yourself.
You are no neo-Patriot. You are a retrogressive idiot.
I only accepted your comment to give an example of the madness of extreme nationalism and identity politics. Two hundred or so human beings were butchered this week. It seems to have brought out the beast in you — not the human.
You can proclaim your Indian pride, injured it appears to be, and call for the annihiliation of 165 million Pakistanis. In addition to ignoring proportionality and targeting those responsible, you match the mindset of those that murdered your own people.
In the end, you are nothing but a big talking coward. You write from Toronto, Canada — thousands of miles away from the center of activity.
Arif, i think you are absolutely correct. India conveniently points to Pakistan and seems unable to look in the mirror. It has strayed a long way from the principles of Gandhi which seems to provide its strident Hindu nationalists a perfect cover.
I was born a Hindu. I am today, first, and last, an Indian. And that is a definition that fits many who are born Muslim and are as patriotic as any Hindu.
NeoPatriot is not a patriot. Arif is right in calling him a retard. People like NeoPatriot threaten the unity and integrity of India and weaken India by sowing the seeds of hate based on religion…..they are traitors aginst India.
Its a matter of concern that the Pakistan government, after a meeting with the Army chief, has reconsidered its earlier decision to send the ISI chief to India. It is not a good thing for Pakistan’s difficult road to democracy that the Army apparently continues to call the shots. The elected representatives of the people should control the army and not the other way around.Another concern is that, according to a Reuters report reproduced on the Yahoo page, the Pakistan government is saying that if tensions with India increase, it will move troops away from its western border to the Indo-Pak border, thus threatening the USA that its ability to support the “war on terror” in the NWFP will be effectively nil. The message seems to be aimed at the US to put pressure on India not to push Pakistan too much on the origins of the terrorists who attacked Mumbai.
I appreciate of course that the Pakistan govt has to contend with numerous powerful constituencies whose agendas are very different from what its own agenda might be. There are no easy answers.
This act seems to have hand of Al Qaida with terrorists from Pakistan, Middle East and Bangladeshis with help from some unpatriotic Indians.
I have lot of Pakistani friends and they are peace loving people. I do not blame the state of Pakistan or its people for this attack. There are these extremists who are based in Pakistan and it is unfortunate the government of pakistan is not able to control them. Pakistan itself is a victim of terror and has bomb attacks almost every week in Karachi.
I wish the now Pakistani government will not play politics and take this opportunity to clear the extremists who are operating from there. This will be beneficial to pakistan more than any other country. Majority of people in Pakistan are themselves fed up with terrorist attacks.
I also hope the Indian govt. takes security issue as one of its top agenda and safe guard its boarders and important locations.
No war is needed just becoz of this attack, this is an opportnity to join hands and get rid of this extremism.
Peace
well i truly think so that pakistan and india both have huge problems in own countries we should fight those and not with each other. we pakistani believe that we can defeat any threat with in or external threat on us. but if 165 million pakistani get good education, safe drinking water, equality for all. only this way nation our build