Barely after three months, the horrorendous September 11 revisited Delhi. On September 11, the terrorists attacked Pentagon, the symbol of USA’s military might and on December 13, the extremists stormed Indian Parliament, the seat of Indian democracy and sovereignty.

Though the terrorists achieved a success to some extent in the US, in India it was a totally different story. Alert security guards showed exemplary courage to thwart the attempts of the terrorists to enter in the main building of  Parliament, where nearly 300 MPs, including Vice President, Union Home Minister, Defence Minister and few other dignitaries were present.  Though they lost few of their colleagues while exchanging gunfire, the security personnel managed to kill all the five terrorists.

After the attack on Indian Parliament, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee vowed to wage a do-or-die battle against terrorism. In a brief message to the nation, Mr. Vajpayee said that the attack was not just on a building, but a warning to the entire nation. The nation has accepted the challenge and will defeat each one of their attacks, Mr. Vajpayee asserted. Later the Union Cabinet passed a resolution asserting “we will liquidate the terrorists and their sponsors wherever they are, whoever they are.” 

As the investigations are on, the investigating agencies have confirmed the role of Lashkar-e-Taliba (LeT) and Jadish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in the attack. On the strength of evidences gathered by the Indian intelligence agencies so far, the Centre has demanded from Pakistan the termination of all activities of the LeT and Jadish-e-Mohammad (JeM), including detention of the LeT’s top leaders and the sealing off of the offices in that country. The JeM was responsible for the attack on Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on October 1. Further, in a demarche by Foreign Secretary Chokila Aiyer said to Pakistan High Commissioner Ashraf J Qazi that it had enough technical evidence to hold the LeT responsible for the attack on Indian Parliament.

International community has also condemned this terorists’ attack. US President George W. Bush and his Russian counterpart telephoned to the Prime Minister to strongly express his condemnation personally. “We condemn this outrageous act of terrorism and express our deepest sympathy to the families of the victims of the attack,” Mr. Bush said.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said: “This attack on the heart of Indian democracy is to be totally deplored. Indian democracy has shown its strength and resilience over the years and I am confident it will do again despite this appalling attack.”

However, the LeT denied its involvement in the said attack and alleged that the attack was a conspiracy to lebel Pakistan and jehadi organisations as terrorists. “India wants to take advantage of the current situation and malign the fight for freedom in occupied Kashmir,” the LeT said. The LeT further added that India was killing thousands of innocent civilians in Kashmir and was capable of stage-managing any drama.

In the same tune, Pakistan has virtually endorsed the contention of the militant outfits that the attack on the Indian Parliament could have been stage-managed by the government to defame the freedom struggle in Kashmir and to divert attention from internal problems. However, Pakistan expressed that it was ready to examine any evidence provided by India on the involvement of LeT in the attack.

Though in terms of scale, or the number of casualties, it is far from being the worst terrorist attack India has suffered, the bloody attempt to Parliament represents an attack on the very symbol of India’s democracy. In terms of purpose, or the sheer audacity of the choice where the outrage was perpetrated, there are no parallels. That is why pressure is mounting on Vajpayee Government to go for the kill at the earliest.

The BJP MPs, the major partner in the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition, have urged the Prime Minister for a combative response. The MPs did not mince their words in advocating a pro-active hot pursuit policy to destroy terrorist training camps in Pakistan. In other words, the MPs wanted India to adopt the same method used by America and Israel.Some of the NDA constituents are also of the same opinion. Shiva Sena supremo Bal Thackeray has advised the Prime Minister to act. Telugu Desam also expressed the same wish.

Demand for combative approach also came from unexpected quarters like Samajwadi Party (SP). SP leader Amar Singh advised the Central Government to take steps to uproot the terrorist training camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.  Some intellectuals also want the Centre to be tougher while combating terrorism.All of them feel that India’s talk-tough-but-act-meek attitude had actually strengthened the terrorists as it allowed them to pick up targets of their choices to get maximum propaganda mileage and easily get away after stricking at any part of the country.

India is fighting terrorism for more than last two decades. In 1995 Air-India flight from Canada was blown off midair killing nearly 300 persons on board. In 1993, serial blasts rocked Mumbai, the financial capital of the country. In 1999, IC-814 was hijacked and taken to Kandahar. While one of the passengers was killed, others were set free only after India released three dreaded militants. Only in the last year, terrorists struck at Red Fort, a symbol of Indian authority and killed five persons. On October 1 this year, JeM attacked Kashmir Assembly and killed more than 20 people; many of them were innocent civilians.Citing all such terrorist acts, the hardliners feel that India’s empty words mean nothing and it has to fight its own war on terrorism.

Notwithstanding the pressure from the hardliners, it is not possible, at least for the time being, for Mr. Vajpaye to adopt a combative approach. Those who are advocating for bold measures, must think about the consequences. Pakistan will never allow India to strike on its territory in the name of destroying the terrorist camps. Such a step may lead us to another war with Pakistan. And the war between two nuclear powers would be suicidal for both the countries.

On the other hand, India has a very good track record in dealing with terrorism. Despite enough provocations, Indian security forces showed remarkable restraint while combating terrorism. India’s approach towards terrorism had often been praised by the world.

At a time when the world is trying to come together to combat terrorism, India should be very careful about choosing its options. Act, such as attacking terrorist camps in Pakistan, may once again divide the world on the issue of terrorism and provide the death-merchants a much-needed relief when their back are against the wall. It would be a much better option for India to mount international pressure on Pakistan to stop aiding and abetting terrorists. If India can provide sufficient evidences to prove Pakistan’s involvement in the attack, United Nations Security Resolution 1373, passed on September 28, 2001 can be very helpful. The resolution makes it mandatory for all countries to deny safe havens to those who finance, plan, support or commit terrorist acts. Defiance of this is difficult as it can be enforced under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter. India has already passed the evidences of Pakistani involvement to some permanent members of the UN Security Council.