M A I L B A G

Talks: Pak must check terror first

I fully endorse H.K. Dua’s core argument in his front-page editorial “The peace process has ended” (July 14). The Pakistan rulers continue to behave in a callous way. They have actually done nothing to contain the cross-border terrorism. It is not a one-way traffic. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is fully justified when he says, “No talks when terror is on”.

To fight this proxy war successfully, we must close our ranks by rising above “petty concerns and squabbles, differences on caste and controversies over reservations” as Mr Dua argues.

Mumbai must be made a safe place to live in as it is India’s “economic capital”. Millions of people from different states earn their livelihood here and their safety should be the government’s prime concern.

RAJ BAHADUR YADAV, Fatehabad

II

With out track record of always being on the defensive and fighting on our soil, never attempting to penetrate the Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, a disputed territory, it would be the wisest course for our opaque-visioned leadership to work for conversion of the Line of Control into an international boundary. The same should be on the structured agenda.

V.I.K. SHARMA, Jalandhar

III

The front-page editorial is a timely warning to the UPA government. India must leave the policy of appeasement to Pakistan, especially to the members of a particular community in Jammu and Kashmir.

It is also time to warn the United States not to protect Pakistan unnecessarily as it is proving to cause damage to India. We Indians are suffering because of our weak and unstable and dependable policies.

Now we are strong enough to defend ourselves. Pakistan should be given a befitting reply if it does not stop its nefarious designs.

S.K. MITTAL, Talwara

IV

Things would have been quite different today had we taken away Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir while releasing 90,000 prisoners during the Indo-Pak war in 1971. Why should Jammu and Kashmir enjoy special status under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution as it is a part and parcel of India?

Even during the Kargil conflict, India could have resolved the Kashmir dispute once and for all had we declared a full-scale war with Pakistan. The United States should stop helping Pakistan with advanced aircraft like F-16s.

SHER SINGH, Ludhiana

V

Terminating peace process is not enough. The Government of India cannot be a silent spectator of the blasts and the mayhem of innocent people. We must take some stern action to ensure the safety of our life and property.

Pakistan should be told in unequivocal terms that it must contain terrorism from across the border.

If Pakistan doesn’t eliminate terrorists’ camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, India should, in coordination with international community, think of demolishing by whatever means possible. We should, of course, maintain communal harmony, tranquility and peace in our country at any cost. This is essential for the strength of the nation.

G.R. KALRA, Chandigarh

VI

Mr Dua’s front-page editorial rightly says that the responsibility of guarding India lies with our government. Why can’t our government emulate US President Bush’s firmness and eliminate the monster of terrorism gaining rapid ground in the country?

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s brave declaration, “We will win war on terror” rings hollow in the absence of any tangible action on the ground. In fact, he does not seem temperamentally attuned to cope with the challenge posed by the war-like situation. We need a Churchill-Indira Gandhi type of leadership to teach the 
terrorists a lesson.

TARA CHAND, Ambota (Una)

VII

Mr Dua’s editorial rightly reflects the futility of the ongoing peace process that India has always been initiating. Every time after a terrorist attack the mere shouting of slogans to pat the inherent “courage and spirit” of the citizens and repeated identification of Pakistani pug marks have not benefited the common man. 

Since one cannot continue living with such heinous terrorist attacks every now and then, it is time to strike strongly on the terrorists and their supporters, both inside and outside the country.

BALVINDER, Chandigarh