“Black Tuesday” has altered forever the concept of security and warfare, which threatens to plunge the world into economic gloom. Post September 11, a new world is emerging – a world that may get united against terrorism. Pakistan, Afghanistan and India are the key players in the events that are will unfold in the coming weeks. While these countries have their individual concerns and national interests, there is one common element in their reactions. All of them have shown remarkable flexibility. India has rather enthusiastically offered all support. Pakistan has also offered support with some conditions. Afghanistan’s leader Mullah Mohammad Omar has gone into hiding after the Shura decreed that Osama bin Laden could be requested to leave Afghanistan “voluntarily”. The Indian offer of support is sound on the premise of the larger issue of terrorism. India has been living with Pakistan sponsored terrorism from across the border for nearly two decades. Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) have suffered the most.

A few historical facts need to be seen in the correct perspective. Firstly, Afghanistan’s foreign policy has traditionally been anti-Pakistan. It opposed Pakistan’s admission into the United Nations. It has still not given up its claim to the Pashtun-speaking areas extending upto the Indus river. It has also refused to renew the border treaty which expired in 1993, demarcating the Durand line. Secondly, Afghanistan has provided sanctuary to Pakistan’s most dreaded sectarian organization, Lashkar-i-Jhangri, and a host of other criminals and anti-Pakistan militants. Thirdly, despite the ISI’s all pervasive presence in Afghanistan and its massive financial assistance, Afghanistan does not see Pakistan as their ally in Islamic fundamentalism. Fourthly, Pakistan’s Western border with Afghanistan has been activated by the deployment of Taliban and Pakistani troops. There are reports of large scale exodus of Afghan people into Pakistan, which will create social and demographic imbalances in its society. Fifthly, despite these fundamental differences, Pakistan by (a well thought out long term policy) has virtually converted Afghanistan into its colony. The administration and military operations there are controlled by Pakistan. Sixthly, Osama bin Laden who has promoted himself as Chief Qazi of Islam, is unlikely to be handed over to America. He has reportedly left on horse-back for an unknown destination. He cannot be physically targeted. In the most unlikely event of his being handed over to America, the war against terrorism will not end as he has influence over followers in 60 countries in four continents.

Osama bin Laden has already declared USA, Israel and India as his enemies. For India, internal security has become as important as external security. It must therefore evolve a sound and proactive strategy to seize this opportunity. At the political level, there must be total consensus on our approach to terrorism and support to America in their war against it The Indian public, particularly the Muslims, need to be educated on the hideous monstrosity of terrorism, despite the irresponsible ranting of the Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid. The politics of the vote-bank must not transcend national interests.

J&K has been bereft of development and genuine democracy. It has a large number of educated unemployed youth, primarily because of their reluctance to move out to other parts of the country. Emotional integration of J&K with India is fragile. All these and other evils that bedevil J&K are rooted in Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. It is time to have a hard look and scrap it by a Presidential ordinance whilst the public mood is favorable. At the strategic level India needs to support the Northern Alliance in their war against Taliban. Unfortunately Northern Alliance suffered a serious set back in the death of its leader Ahmad Shah Masood recently . This support can be financial, material and, if necessary, Indian army troops deployment. Taliban, Pakistan’s prop outfit, must be militarily defeated.

We can draw considerable solace from the fact that Pakistan is heading towards civil war, regardless of President Musharraf’s address to his country on 19 September 2001. Pakistan is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. China’s Israel and the “Citadel of Islam”, Pakistan, has chosen a ruinous path. This is the time to strike in pursuance of our national objectives. This may be long drawn conflict, but India has the tenacity and resilience to withstand it. We have had terrorism tormenting us for too long. The time has come for a Jehad against terrorism and its perpetrators.