The attack by terrorists on the Sri Lankan cricket team underscores the tight control that extremist networks exercise in Pakistan and the deteriorating law and order situation in the country. In November, terrorists massacred at least 183 innocent people, including foreign nationals, in Mumbai. And now, sportsmen have been targeted, too, for the first time since the 1972 Munich Olympic massacre where members of the Israel Olympic team were taken hostage and eventually gunned down. Now, no country will take the risk of playing any sport in Pakistan for some time.
Pakistan, with its protracted history of military rule, lacks definitive and mature democratic traditions. The army and intelligence agencies dominate politics. Moreover, the country is getting torn between two polarising forces — fundamentalist terrorist organisations such as al-Qaeda and Lashkar-e-Toiba on the one hand and the army on the other. The elected Pakistani government’s writ is gradually being minimised.
In strategising its relations with Pakistan, India must take cognisance of emerging realities. India needs to significantly strengthen its internal and external defence systems and put in place a dependable intelligence system. It should strengthen its cooperation with the world’s top intelligence agencies to dismantle terrorist networks operating against it.
Pakistan cannot disown responsibility, for incursions emanating from its soil as well as terrorist attacks in the country itself, by claiming ignorance, helplessness or trivial technicalities. It must act decisively to control the extremists who use the country as a safe haven to launch attacks on innocent citizens.
Rajendra K Aneja, Dubai