Mumbai Terrorism War Over, Battle On Terrorism Continues

There should be no misinterpretation. Nobody is talking of military action. Only time will show what will be done in India, says Pranab Mukherjee, the external state affairs minister of India.

Sovereign nations have the right to protect themselves, asserted US president-elect Barack Obama when asked if India should follow the policy of the U.S. when 9/11 happened. His comment demonstrates the mood of the whole world against the perpetrators. And the mood of those surveyed speaks of similar sentiments as well, though the tactics that need to be followed against India's neighbours vary. KPS Gill, former DG, Punjab says, "Declaring war against Pakistan should be the last resort for the simple reason that both India and Pakistan are evenly matched at this point of time. Similarly, attacking terrorist camps at POK is also not possible in this digital age for terrorist camps are no longer commodities." So feels Jason Arputharaj, a teacher in Chennai: "War might bring with it some diplomatic parley, but it is no solution to the problems faced by the nation at this point of time. What India needs to do at this hour is to stringently identify and destroy the terrorist camps in Pakistan." In fact, Divya, teacher, Hyderabad (Geetanjali High School), opines, "It is not the Pak government helping these terrorists, but there are some extremists there, who are the main ones involved. So we should join hands with Pakistan in order to eliminate these forces." On the other hand, some opine that declaring a complete, full-fledged war against Pakistan is the sole solution. Phlaguni Bajpai, X, Navyuga Radiance, Lucknow, says, "We should take some tough action. We should communicate the fact to them that we Indians aren't a weak and coward lot. We need to teach them (terrorists) a good lesson." Adds Neha A Marla, VIII, Vidya Niketan School, Bengaluru, "India also needs to handle Pakistan firmly and need not exhibit any leniency under the prevailing circumstances." So feels Aniruddha Tulsyan, IX, Ashok Hall Girls' HS School, Lucknow, "Sitting and carrying out discussions is no longer the solution. It is time we confront and charge Pakistan regarding this issue, and resort to war if it be necessary."