The airstrikes on Gaza city by Israeli war planes for the seventh day in a row killing 160 Palestinians, mostly women and children while destroying civilian homes, utility building, government offices and media centers worth millions of dollars are nothing but acts of terror. What measures have the International community, United Nations Security Council and the UN General Assembly taken against it? It is clear now that Israel is a criminal entity and continues to defy all international laws. It’s high time that the world community should be united in taming Israel by adoption of immediate restrictive measures and sanctions to isolate it. Actions of the Israeli state are the main reason for the hatred that is growing in the hearts of people toward Israel and its supporting nations.
I share the grief of the Palestinian people in these devastating times, and hope that the world community, which is watching the Israel dance of terror silently, would be forceful enough to stop Israel from continuing its wanton strikes. Let’s all remember that violence cannot be contained by violence, and also violence begets violence. As a human being I fully share the grief of the Palestinians people who lost their loved ones.
Mir Gazanfar Ali Zaki
Jeddah
Qasab’s execution
Some people in India were rejoicing the hanging of Ajmal Qasab, the lone terrorist caught alive during the Mumbai attacks 26/11, but I wonder why such a sense of jubilation. Ajmal was just a foot soldier — an illiterate young boy brainwashed into militancy — came to Mumbai to cause death to as many as possible and then die. As long as his ideologists, financiers and handlers remained out of reach of law, mere hanging of a lone terrorist won’t achieve anything.
This is equally applicable on both sides of the border; Pakistan lost 45,000 civilians and military personnel during last decade while locally-groomed terrorists are still roaming the streets of Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta and elsewhere with impunity as Pakistan is unable to catch and implicate real culprits for these crimes. What about Samjhauta Express bombers, instigators and killers of Muslims after the demolition of Babri Mosque, Mumbai riots of 92-93, Gujarat riots of 2002, list goes on.
Unless we get away from the philosophies of bloodthirsty hatred which are used by the trainers to indoctrinate a sense of achievement and afterlife reward, nothing will change. Statements, vows, speeches won’t work anymore unless we open our eyes and see the real enemy who wants to push both the countries to Stone Age.
Masood Khan
Jubail
Qasab’s execution 2
The news about terrorist Ajmal Qasab being hanged in the Yerawada Prison in Pune, India, on Nov. 21 at 7.30 a.m. was received with surprise by most Indians across the world. He was sent to the gallows, just 5 days before the 4th anniversary of the brutal terror attack on Mumbai. His execution has to a great extent bought closure and relief to the families who lost their loved ones in the terrorist attack in Mumbai on Nov. 26, 2008. Pakistan can keep denying saying that non-state actors were involved, and the Pakistani government was not involved in this attack. For a common Indian these are of least importance. Qasab was caught in the terrorist operation alive, he accepted that he is a Pakistani national. Qasab trial took four years to conclude. All legal options were explored. He even sent a mercy plea to the president of India, which was aptly rejected. An estimated half a million US dollars was spent by Indian government in giving protection to Qasab. All is well that end’s well.
Bhaskara Sujeet Kumar
Riyadh
Qasab’s execution 3
I hope that with the death by hanging of Ajmal Qasab, the sole survivor of terrorist group and only one captured alive, and who along with others carried out huge terrorist massacre on Nov. 26, 2008 in Mumbai, India and Pakistan will move forward in improving their relations. Surely all the loved ones of those massacred will be relieved that some justice was eventually done and can now move on! It is unfortunate that India government scrapped the visit of Pakistan’s Home Minister Rehman Malik. Frequent exchange of lawmakers’ visits and continuous dialogues and engagements will foster greater understanding and trust. Pakistan on her part must do whatever it needs to close down all those madrassas which are producing extremist intolerant religious zealots who in the name of religion are ready to take to violence to achieve their misguided objectives.
It is only with full cooperation and joint intelligence sharing that both Pakistan and India can fight these militant groups who not only rain death and destruction of properties, but malign the noble religion of Islam.
Seif A. Somalya
Jeddah
Letters — Israel’s terror strikes on Gaza
