RIYADH: Saudis, Pakistanis and Indians alike deplored the Mumbai attacks, saying they were well coordinated and launched by terrorists to create insecurity in India, in particular and in the subcontinent in general. Many Indians raised accusing fingers at Pakistan, while most Pakistanis contacted by Arab News believed that such kind of attacks could not have been possible without local logistics support, even if some foreign elements were involved.
"The well-planned and very orchestrated attacks, probably, were intended to create a sense of panic by choosing high-profile targets and indiscriminately killing innocent people," said Adnan Jaber, business development manager at Saudi Specialized Publishing Company. "It is evident that the terrorists had come with single-minded determination to create havoc in the financial capital of India."
Referring to the attacks, Riaz Mehdi, president of the Riyadh-based Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA), said: "We were shocked and greatly disturbed at the dastardly act of terrorism and mayhem perpetrated by the terrorists at so many places in Mumbai. We are deeply aggrieved by the loss of so many innocent lives at the hands of the barbarians."
"It was a crime against humanity which no religion or community permits," he said, adding that they have sent a letter of solidarity to Rajeev Shahare, deputy chief of the Indian mission, in this hour of grief.
But, Pakistanis differed in the views. "The problem is India's intentions; every time some attacks take place in India, they start blaming Pakistan," said Naeem Jameel, a senior executive working for Hana Al-Meshari Company, who strongly condemned the attacks in Mumbai.
In Jeddah, a cross-section of citizens and expatriates said they were shell-shocked by the kind of terrorism that was unleashed in Mumbai for 59 hours. "We as a nation condemn the Mumbai attacks. Terrorist actions are a hindrance to the progress of any country. Pakistan as a nation condemns it and sympathizes with India. However, without proper investigation India has blamed Pakistan. In the bomb blasts in Malegaon that took place in recent months, too, they blamed Pakistan but investigations proved otherwise; their own military officers were involved in it. They should make complete investigation before indulging in a blame game," said Chaudhry Shahbaz Hussain, a former Pakistani federal minister.
Some of the Pakistanis contacted said their country was also a victim of terrorism and wanted the two countries to cooperate and collaborate in fighting terrorism. "Pakistan has also been a victim of terrorism and we should make unified efforts to combat it rather than blame each other. I take exception to (Indian Prime Minister) Manmohan Singh's statement blaming Pakistan for the Mumbai attacks before completing a thorough investigation. Pakistan also has had terrorist attacks, including one at Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, but we did not comment until investigations were over. Pakistan has been grappling with its own terrorist experience. So we should help each other in combating terrorism rather than blaming each other," said Ehsanul Haque, convener of Pakistan Repatriation Council.
All India Sunni Jami'athul Ulema General Secretary Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, a popular scholar from India's southern state of Kerala who is currently in Saudi Arabia for Haj, said to Arab News, speaking from Madinah: "It is a heinous crime against humanity. All of us, irrespective of religion, should close ranks. We should not allow a few misguided, disgruntled and communal elements to play havoc in society. It is the primary duty of the state and the central governments to unravel the truth. Complete truth. Whoever is behind these attacks should be unmasked."
— With input by K.S. Ramkumar
