It appears that the explosives had been planted at sites where the race, participated in by hundreds, was due to end. PHOTO: REUTERS
The immediate danger now is that fingers will be pointed without properly trying to ascertain the facts or determine who the culprits were. As we have seen in the past, these fingers have too often been pointed at Muslim groups. The propaganda generated against them has, at times, led to the most atrocious racial attacks. Of course, extremist Muslim forces have over the past years been behind some terrorist incidents. But not each and every one can be attributed to them. Caution is, therefore, required. We must hope the authorities concerned and the media will exhibit this.
The bombing at a peaceful event, also participated in by persons in wheelchairs, as well as the very young is, of course, something to be condemned. But right now, it is impossible to say who was behind it or what their motives may have been. An investigation is required. Only then should any effort be made to attribute guilt or say who was behind what seems to be an act of complete madness. It would be dangerous at this point to, in the absence of proof, build more hatred against Muslims and thereby add to the strains and tensions which already exist. We must hope wisdom is displayed and that people step in to make sure this happens to avoid creating an environment of blind hatred and thereby adding to the distrust and animosity that already exists in too many places. It is important that the truth is discovered and blame games not played. It would be extremely unfortunate if this principle was ignored in handling the matter and the issues surrounding it.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 17th, 2013.
COMMENTS (16)
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@Harry Stone: Dear Harry. It looks as if you got your wish.
"As we have seen in the past, these fingers have too often been pointed at Muslim groups."
Guess what? They are again right in pointing fingers in this case too. The two youths who perpetrated this heinous attack are indeed Muslims devoted to a Jihadist world view.
So, how can one blame the global community in being suspicious of Muslim involvement when most of the terror attacks in the world are perpetrated by radical Muslims? Rather than being defensive, taking a victim attitude and blaming others, shouldn't the global Muslim community do a self introspection and ask themselves why people from their community are getting more and more radicalized and resorting to terrorism?
@Harry Stone: Dear Harry, I was right. The Boston trained killers killed a patsy. The other alternative for US Authorities, which they follow quite often, is to illegally place innocent people in torture camps such as Gitmo without trial for about 10 years or so. It is called justice, American style, and people like you cannot understand why others push back. Oh and Harry, I believe you about the bleeding and suffering. The US have done this to about a couple of million people in several countries over the last ten years. The US are making the NAZIS look like boy scouts.
@Sexton Blake:
Simply letting him die is just too easy..He needs to be bleed out. That is how he wanted others to die, then he should be prepared to die the same way with as much suffering as possible.
“Centcom do not knowingly kill innocent people”.Dear Insaan, Innocent people in their hundreds of thousands have died or are suffering due to US intentional bombing, sanctions and radiation poisoning in several countries in recent times. Additionally, drones are intentionally killing innocent people. Trained militants do not stick around when drones appear on the scene. Further, Centcom personnel in Afghanistan throw grenades through bedroom windows, and surprise, surprise the grenades coincidentally kill innocent women and children. I do not know what happened in the Boston bombing, but will make an even bet that like 9/11 and several other incidents, which have occurred in the US, that the intelligence/police services will pick up some low level patsy who will finish up dead without a trial.
Let us wait to find out where they were trained to make bombs.
Sexton Blake: Centcom recently targeted and killed 17 innocent people, which included 12 children. Further, 2 innocent deaths by Centcom personnel is a routine operation in Afghanistan/Pakistan.
These numbers are nothing compared to Muslims killing each other in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq. The big difference is Centcom did not innocent people knowingly. Muslims kill each other in mosques, markets and funerals knowing very well innocent Muslims will get killed.
Mr Editor: Sir, what will Americans do now ? The Boston terrorists are Muslims.
The faces of terror
@Jat :So you do accept US is a big brother and no one messes with them eh ? Its not yet proved who did this . Not T or Lashker e whatever . It could be home grown anti-gay or anti-abortion campaigner. We are not sure who is behind this. I dont like innocents being killed but US should know that its not invincible.
The American's have pointed no fingers. The police, FBI, Mayor, Governor and President have all gone out of there way to emphasis that they don't have enough information to determine who's guilty and won't point any fingers until they do. Mr. Malik would do well to emulate how the American's handle this crisis.
@Stranger
Long before OBL was found/killed I suspect he and the top leadership of Al Qaeda reached the conclusion that letting the USA "slumber" would have been a wiser choice.
@Stranger: How stupid and ignorant can one be ?
Someone (Japan) jolted them (Americans) out of their slumber once in a while (Pearl Harbor). That "once" was one too many - the Americans nuked Hiroshima and Nagasaki. And what is not well known, they also repeatedly firebombed Tokyo, causing many more casualties than the two atom bombs combined.
So, you still think "its good to jolt them out of their ‘slumber’ once in a while" ?
US is so much used to playing the big brother. They think they are invincible. Thought I dont like innocents getting killed, I think its good to jolt them out of their 'slumber' once in a while.
@Deepwater: Dear Deepwater, I think you are proving my point exactly. You appear to be suggesting that Pakistan/Afghanistan lives do not have the same value as American lives. You mention combative situation. The only reason there is a combative situation in Pakistan/Afghanistan is because Washington, in its lunacy, has decided that it should be so. However, you should really try to understand that people in the sub continent hurt just like the Americans.
@Sexton Blake
You are correct in noting the obvious disparity of the value of a life in the US versus Pakistan. However, we are dealing with a combative situation which makes this more of an aberration.
You must acknowledge that that value of a Pakistani life is just as less in the eyes of other Pakistanis as well. Just read the paper - indiscriminate killing is pretty much a daily affair.
It is interesting to note how the Western world reacts to a couple of deaths in Boston, but virtually ignores the fact that Centcom recently targeted and killed 17 innocent people, which included 12 children. Further, 2 innocent deaths by Centcom personnel is a routine operation in Afghanistan/Pakistan.