September
11, 2001 attacks in the United States have made terrorism an international
issue.
In
spite of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and expenditure of trillions of
dollars in international efforts to curb terrorism, world does not appear to be
safer than before. However, in the process, dignity and civil rights of
millions of innocent people worldwide have been curbed, thousands of people
have lost their lives or limbs, and many more have been rendered homeless.
South
Asia has been target of terrorism since long before September 11, 2001. Change
of government in Bangladesh, truce with the Maoists in Nepal, and military
force in Sri Lanka seem to have fairly succeeded in limiting terrorist activity
in these countries, at least for now.
Afghanistan,
Pakistan, and India, where terrorism is still rampant, have not found a way yet
to effectively deal with it.
Lack
of success in Afghanistan has forced the local and US authorities to consider
reconciliation with the Taliban. But in India investigative and punitive
approach is still predominant. And in Pakistan, in spite of frequent statements
by the authorities, lack of direction or determination seems to prevail.
Sooner
or later the governments, and the civil society, will have to reconcile with
elements at home and abroad who have turned against their own. They will have
to persuade them to give up violence, and accommodate them into the mainstream.
Also
they will need to restrict the rate of population growth to reduce demand on
dwindling national resources, restrain governance-deficit due to corruption and
ineptitude, and make equal protection of law available to all citizens, and to
help them feel more secure, not only economically, but also psychologically.
Let
us hope they are able to do so sooner than later.
------
Pritam K. Rohila, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Association for Communal Harmony in Asia (ACHA)
asiapeace@comcast.net
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