Subcontinent Chaos

The whole subcontinent region has been going through some rough time in recent past. Turmoil in Sri Lanka is well known and recent offensive against Taliban by Pakistani military was long overdue. Both the countries are fighting hard to flush out the terrorist elements but I am not sure if it’s going to be a permanent success. Millions have been displaced already and many more are living in extreme conditions. I cannot doubt Sri Lankan Army’s intentions to finish LTTE’s aggression but Pakistani government’s decision to go against Taliban comes after the much deliberation from US. Taliban has already done the damage and defeating them is probably a dream.

Recent reports suggest that total of about 1500 Taliban militants have been killed in the swat valley. I wonder out of how many? 50,000 or possibly 100,000. That’s the grip of Taliban. They have 10 year old kids seeking revenge, who are willing to deliver a suicide bomb attack at the drop of a hat. Killing others in the name of religion is so profound in these people’s mind that Terrorism is not an act for them but an Idea. How does one fight against an idea? An idea where humans have little fear of death! How many of these ideas can you kill? Pakistani government has to be blamed for all the mess that has taken so many lives. First of all, letting so many Taliban members enter Pakistan so frequently, then not acting at the right time to douse their anger, then the approach of supporting both Taliban and America simultaneously, then giving SWAT valley to Taliban knowing fully it will promote 15th century values. While Taliban was strengthening base in northern Pakistan, other terrorist outfits were planning attacks on India. Pakistan then had another headache – how to stop barrage of questions from India and world community for giving home to so many other terrorist outfits? The final result? Country in complete disarray. It’s definitely not easy fighting terrorists with so much vengeance and little education but a country where a stable government is still a delusion, a country where Army has taken over the government time and again doesn’t stand a chance to win people’s trust to fully operate in one direction.

How is Sri Lanka doing fighting the LTTE for last 2 decades? Sri Lankan PM says we are done with them and they have surrendered but UN says otherwise. Government says there are no civilians left in the war zone but UN says otherwise. Who does one believe? I am sure Tamil community protesting on the street on Toronto is listening to UN only. What a hue and cry by them here in Canada. Countries next to Sri Lanka haven’t sent their troops to help Lankan government, how do they expect Canada to take action when 90% of their Army is already based in Afghanistan. Army in Canada is still a concept! Moreover, what are these protests going to achieve? When you were leaving your country for a better life in Canada, you must have left for precisely the same reasons that are occurring now. So many people die of malnutrition there, why aren’t they asking Canada to send food aid for them? Of course bullet death is loud. And why disrupt the lifestyle of the people of the country where you are earning a livelihood? I completely understand the motive behind the protests and my heart goes to all the Sri Lankans. Sri Lanka is a wonderful place and has some extremely hospitable people and my heart goes out to such a fantastic community for facing a horrible war. I hope it finds peace soon.

Now even Nepal has seen violence in recent past. Gosh, what to say about that. China is probably waiting to take over that land. Bangladesh too had some horrific times with so many deaths of civil service men just for a better salary of Border Guards. Sounds very suspicious as scores of dead bodies were found after just two days of agitation.

Back home in India, Congress is back in power. I couldn’t be happier as it’s probably the only government that can take India into right direction without separating several different communities. Another kind of terrorist attack is inevitable but timing of it is unknown.