Who has not seen the terrible terrible massacre of the Indian citizens in Mumbai. Since then I have been obsessed with my laptop for Indian news channels are not available on cable here. It was during many of my such sessions with my computer that Oxana, my daughter soon to turn two, came to me and asked “Baba kia kar rahey hain”? (What are you doing father?) I couldn’t have a heart to tell her how savage some among us mortal can be. I couldn’t tell her that a two years old, Moshe, almost her own age fellow had just been orphaned. I couldn’t tell her how sad I was and how disgusted. But she is a shrewd child. She observed the dark shadows on my face. “Baba ro rahey hain” (Father is weeping), she exclaimed and for once I lost total control.
 Yes, for a person like me the Mumbai carnage and its aftermath were nothing short of a personal tragedy. For years now I have been advocating peace and confidence building India and Pakistan. It did not take me long to condemn these vile acts of terror on my television show and express sympathy with our Indian brothers and sisters. I was dressed in black, the color of mourning and my grief was heartfelt. Yet on this site and many others I was abused by some very aggressive Indian hardliners. No doubt that I have been vocal against Indian hardliners but check my work and you’ll see if I have been any less vocal about Pakistani, American, British or Arab hardliners. I have an absolutely different paradigm for the new world. I believe that one day the world will have to be shun the reductionist differences and realize that we are one indivisible civilization, the human civilization. But in doing so do I not have the right my country which has taught me so much and made me understand the glories of the human race? I think I do. 
I then considered it a slap in my face when the Indian foreign minister, a hawk among the pacifist and conscientious ruling government, named Pakistan as the source of this violence at a time when the violence was going on and there was no proper identification of the perpetrators. With due respect sir, are you out of your mind? When you blame someone of such a complex crime you essentially have to ask yourself if that person is capable of that crime too? Look at Pakistan, a country under severe pressure. A country with economic mess, a country whose borders are under raids from its most allied ally, a country which is fighting for its survival, a country which has done so much against terrorism as no other country has. And yet you are telling a tall tale about this country without any proof at all. On the other hand there is evidence to prove that Indian Hindu extremists are involved. During such a long coverage of the mishap not a single outlet pointed out that Hemant Karkare, among the earliest martyrs of the violence, was the same man whose dismissal was the biggest demand of Narendra Modi extraordinarily bloodthirsty CM of Gujrat responsible over three thousand deaths in his state. Or that he was the man who on the verge of uncovering the homegrown terror franchise of the Hindu extremists. No channel mentioned Colonel Purohit once during the live telecast, no not even CNN, BBC or CBS. It is sad. Is it not strange that when the Indian moderates and liberals are on the verge of uncovering a serious anomaly in the system such an incident happens dragging them into an awkward situation and killing the men who were most likely to bring the terrorism supporters within the Indian establishment. That is not enough the prime proof is said to be a few mobile sims. Well a sim can always be very conveniently smuggled from Pakistan. Indian intelligence agencies are well known for their prowess. Yet I do not believe that the Indian government can be held directly responsible. Whatever happens I respect the house of Nehru and believe no government under its watch will allow Indian people to be harmed on purpose. No sir. The trouble lies somewhere else and it began with the BJP’s Union governm/ent when under the garb of Hindutva a host of Hindu hardliners were inducted or promoted in Indian army and the security apparatus. After 9/11 such folks had a field day. After the BJP lost power they survived the change and now are trying to bring down the government from within and wreck the Indo-Pak peace process. I know it because we have had the exact form of villains in our country too but during last many years we have fought them and they are so weak that they cannot attack another country. 
Just tell me what am I supposed to say, for I am among those who wrote very aggressive columns the government functionaries who opposed peace with India, when I am asked what happened to my good faith in the Indian people. Tell me what to say when after having hosting a talkshow in support of Pakistan recognizing Israel, I am told that Israelis also always find fault with us. How am I to justify the neutrality of the western media whose liberties we have tried to mimick and paid heavy price for it when this country’s version or voice is not even being heard? 
Pakistan is not a priah state. The trouble lies with the opportunism of the political class which instead of pushing a difficult but crucial reform agenda at home keeps blaming everything on the underdogs. Karkare was a brave man. He did right in standing up for the cause of justice and fairplay. I and many journalists like me are trying to do the same in our limited capacity. We are looking towards our Indian and other foreign friends for an example. Btw I saw some parts of Bukha Dutt’s talkshow Enough is Enough. The parts I saw were great. Burkha you rock. Just don’t let us down. Don’t let your people down too. Ask others to stand up like Karkare too for only such people can save the day.
Those who are baying for our blood should stop and ponder. What is to be gained from shifting responsibility? Not happy still? Okay muster whatever help you can from your friends around the world and attack Pakistan then. With any luck and huge effort you’ll manage to destroy everyone here, me, my Oxana and my next child who is expected in March next year. But do you think that the world will be a better place after us? I think not. Why? Because your and our common enemy is hatred and intolerance. Let us not pretend that it resides in your country and establishment too. These elements will never let you rest. And remember this if it comes to war we all will fight till our very death and the result will not be too rosy for you either. Why destroy this region we all love then? For God’s sake, let us behave like responsible nuclear states and end this madness. Time for showing courage is ticking by.

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