Editorial

Terror on the field

We must hope that there is no terrorist outrage and that all the excitement is restricted to the field.

Editorial March 25, 2011

Terror on the field

There was a time when mention of terror on the cricket field referred only to an especially fierce fast bowler or perhaps a ruthless batsman dismissing a desperate bowling attack for boundaries all around the field. This is no longer the case. Terror now means a strike with bombs or guns or grenades — and Pakistan’s interior minister has suggested his security apparatus had ‘credible information’ that such an attack was possible on the Pakistan cricket team as it moves to India for its semi-final against the host country. It would appear that even though international cricket has been banned from Pakistan, the terrorist scourge may be following it around the world.

Mr Malik’s warning cannot be entirely dismissed, especially as it seems to stem from an arrest made by Interpol in Sri Lanka. The indications that Pakistan is now ready to cooperate with the world against terrorism is welcome. There is no direct indication of where the threat comes from, but there has been talk of possible Taliban activity in India. It is too early to say how much of this is completely reliable. To add to the risk of possible Taliban action, there is also — as always when Pakistan visits India — a possible threat from the Shiv Sena, with the final, ominously enough, scheduled for Mumbai.

We must hope that there is no terrorist outrage and that all the excitement is restricted to the field. This has so far been a wonderful World Cup, it would be a tragedy if it was ruined in any way. Of course, there will be sceptics on both sides who will scoff at such comments but it is always better to take such threats seriously given the fact that anti-Muslim violence has often occurred in India. What is encouraging is the cooperation we see between Pakistan and India. Only a willingness of this nature to work together can save us from the terrible fallout that would come with any act of terrorism. We must do everything possible to ensure this does not happen, by sharing information across borders and working together to ensure the World Cup proceeds as smoothly as possible, without a major hitch. This, in the final analysis, is far more important than who wins or loses.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (5)

ani | 13 years ago | Reply Every opportunity will be taken to score points and seek parity with India. Yes, even if it is an editorial by ET. A wolf in sheeps clothing, as they say. Gujrat and Samjhauta express tragedies are perfect justification for decades of state policy of terror and thousands of deaths. From the shameless only the shameful is expected.

Ashutosh | 13 years ago | Reply Respected Sir, Unlike your opinion column, this is the Editorial. We respect editorial much more and often quote the editorials in a discussion or in a debate. Our expectation are high for the editor and believe that it is based on facts, rational thinking, reflects both the pros & cons of every issue. In your article above, I will like to clarify a few points: The Shiv Sena Thread : Shiv Sena is a state-level (Maharashtra state), right-wing political party. They had been contesting all the election since their formation in the mid-sixties. Once they led a coalition government in Maharashtra along with BJP (another right-winged political party). They apparently participated in the Babri Mosque demolition and the riot that followed. This was in 1993, Now also they protest, often resolve to violence in the form of strikes, vandalizing shops selling valentine-gifts, stop screening of movies which might be against the Hindu ethos, protesting against Pakistanis (for their supporting terror against India), so on and so forth. However, they do not resort to killing, bombing, using a gun etc. at-least not since 1994. They do flirt with the boarder line of protest and intimidation. Whatever you call them, but never a terrorist, by any standards. Anti-Muslim violence is other subject which needs attention. Since 1990, we had a Hindu-Muslim riots after the Babri Mosque demolition and the Gujarat riots after the Godhra carnage in 2002. Also, these where Hindu-Muslim riots and not just Anti-Muslim riots. Just two riots in two decades, are your justified calling it often? Sir, we are making haste ...slowly! We in India are astound with the progress we are making and seeing that who people in the remotest area in the country is being benefited. How hate-mongers are being rapidly being marginalized in every possible sense. Be it Deobandis or the Thakres everyone and radically changed. The people of the worst possible state of Bihar had voted for progress and development and not for the caste for the first time. Every Indian was shocked to see the Bihar election results. In fact, with the Bihar elections, we knew that India had arrived, after a gap for 1000 years, ONCE AGAIN !

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

ashok sai | 13 years ago | Reply When you map W.M.D. and terrorism, all roads intersect in Pakistan. How long that this world is going to allow this ?

gunjan | 13 years ago | Reply India is not Pakistan. She has her laws and the ability to maintain the order.

Somdet | 13 years ago | Reply "it is always better to take such threats seriously given the fact that anti-Muslim violence has often occurred in India." Here we go again. And pakistan is a very peaceful country, there are no Anti-Hindu, Anti-Christian mindset and no violence against them. There was no Gojra, ST & SB died of heart attack, In fact the Hindu and christian population has grown from 2% in 1947 to more than 50% in 2012 (upcoming census figures).Hindus, christians, ahmedias can become president and PM of pakistan. The list goes on and on. ha!!!!.

Replying to X