Although we still have a great deal to learn about the origins and organization of the terrorists, it does seem that the group who created such mayhem in Mumbai over two days were trained, financed and probably directed from Pakistan, said The Independent in an editorial yesterday. Excerpts:
But it is also true that none of these allegations have been proven, that India has a vested interest in blaming it all on Pakistan rather than home-grown extremists, that the Pakistani government as such does seem to be genuinely surprised and shocked by the course of events and that this was a criminal act, subject to the processes of law as much in international relations as domestic prosecution.
Pursuing military actions, however limited, as an act of revenge or even in pursuit of criminals has no part in international law. It might please an angry public. It might seem tempting in the light of Pakistan’s often feeble and dilatory efforts to control its own extremists. But it will only breed more extremism and angry nationalism in the nation attacked. Terrorism has its aims, not least, in this case, undermining the standing of the elected governments of India and Pakistan and killing off any hopes of rapprochement between the two. For India to take unilateral action against its neighbour would only serve the purposes of the murderers of Mumbai.
