By Simon Cameron-Moore
Anyone who lives in Islamabad will recall the moment they heard the explosion of a suicide truck bomb that killed 55 people at the Marriott Hotel on a Saturday night in September.
Sitting in their homes, watching television, having supper, putting their children to sleep, they were physically hit by the shockwave.
The cause was unmistakable. The sight of flames leaping from the windows of a place where we had all dined, met contacts, and attended conferences was chilling.
A month later, I left a depressed Islamabad for a week’s leave. Many of the foreigners and their families had left the Pakistani capital for good. I just went to India for a break to
see colleagues and old friends I first met in the late 1990s during an earlier assignment.
Living in a city spooked by security scares and covering bomb blast after bomb blast inevitably results in a certain morbidity.
As I visited old haunts in Delhi and Mumbai, the
vulnerability of India’s beautiful hotels was all too obvious.
I told my friends that I feared it would only be a matter of time before the five star hotels were targeted.
The militants had hitherto mostly sought to create panic and mayhem by attacking the general population as they shopped at bazaars or travelled on public transport.
India’s luxury hotels are centres of excellence, they are masters of hospitality, full of grace and style. They are where elites and foreign businessmen and wealthy tourists go.
Security at the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai had tightened when I visited in early November.
The side and back entrances, which journalists often use, were closed, and the only way in was via the main front entrance.
I passed by the elegant, colonnaded swimming pool, and thought how easy it would be for someone to toss a grenade over the wall from the street behind. as they did at Islamabad’s
Luna Caprese restaurant in March.
A few years ago there was an explosion at a taxi rank opposite the Taj, where the road curls round by the Gateway of India. After that, I think taxis were barred from dropping passengers on the covered concourse apron at the foot of the steps to the lobby.
Since then the hotel management took a further step, introducing a security check at the entrance to the concourse from the road that visitors on foot would pass through.
It seemed rather thin protection for someone used to hotels in Pakistan. I walked past the Taj and the Oberoi on Nariman Point, and I thought of the truck bomb filled with explosives,
spiked with aluminium powder that created the inferno at the Marriott.
The results were devastating even though the truck never made it past the entrance from the road thanks to a retractable steel barrier that rises out of the ground to stop vehicles entering freely before being checked.
And then I thought how the security industy’s infrastructure would
change the landscape of India’s porous cities when their enemies shifted targets.
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Fellow Indians! let’s accept the truth. Our coward vote greedy govt will never go on offensive as far as this terror is concerned. It’ll certainly wait for the anger to die down. Till then, hear the rhetoric.In some days, media attention will shift to fresher TRP friendly themes & we’ll forget, this time too.
- Posted by MilindWe will be afraid of moving out from our homes & Hafiz Muhhamad Saeed will again fearlessly shout in Lahore-’Run India run,lashkar is coming’.
If innocent Indians are dying, they must as cowards have no right to live.
How to Beat The Indian Politician
- Posted by ReynoldSection 49-O of the Constitution:
(A Repetition worth a read)
Did you know that there is a system in our Constitution, as per the 1969 Act, in Section “49-O” that a person can go to the polling booth, confirm his identity, get his finger marked and convey to the presiding election officer that he doesn’t want to vote anyone!
Yes such a feature is available, but obviously our seemingly notorious leaders have never disclosed it. This is called “49-O”.
Why should you go and say “I VOTE FOR NOBODY”… because, in a ward, if a candidate wins, say by 123 votes, and that particular ward has received “49-O” votes more than 123, then that polling will be cancelled and will have to be re-polled. Not only that, but the candidature of the contestants will be removed and they cannot contest the re-polling, since people had already expressed their decision on them. This would bring fear into parties and hence look for genuine candidates for their parties for election. This would change the way of our whole political system… it is seemingly surprising why the Election Commission has not revealed such a feature to the public….
Please spread this news to as many as you know… Seems to be a wonderful weapon against corrupt parties in India… show your power, expressing your desire not to vote for anybody, is even more powerful than voting… so don’t miss your chance. So either vote, or vote not to vote (vote 49-O) and pass this info on…
“Please forward this mail to as many as possible, so that we, the people of India , can really use this power to save our nation”. Use your voting right for a better INDIA
I do not agree with that. if this is the case why Pakistan\’s name is coming everywhere ..leave Indians. Pakistan, Afganistan, Iran, Iraq…. These all are Muslim countries and muslim extreamists in these countries are real problems for the world.
- Posted by John HThese kind of attacks on Indians by Pakistanis is not new for indians. There have been number for incidents like this from last couple of years and always there is a Islamic group which is behind it. See what is happening in Nigeria, number of Christians are killed by Muslims. I am sorry, May be i am wrong but i feel the most dangerous people on this earth are from Islam.
I object to comments made by Muhammad Tariq to this blog. I expect an organization as credible as Reuters would screen and blank out.
- Posted by RajitBeing an Indian Muslim i never felt any sort of discrimination from rest of my Indian brothers. Who ever it is either the government or our neighbors has the same respect with the religion i follow. I am really surprised to see so many posts which say that the conditions of Indian Muslims are not good. I feel i would have had this same life even if i were a hiindu.May be every one watches only Kashmir. But just look at the whole India we have the same right to get educated, to vote, to get jobs, to earn, to do our business and to follow our religions as like Hindus. I feel i am in a better situation and environment than if i were in Pakistan or Afghanistan. I don’t think when Indians raise against Muslims in their post they don’t really mean all the Muslims, atleast deep inside their heart. But every one are certainly anger on the Terrorist who have their religion as the reason and hide in Muslim countries. That doesn’t mean that the country altogether is blamed but it is blamed on the Government who has to restrict this, and this is as like people in India blame their leaders for not taking actions against terrorist. May be Muslim or even a Hindu who is a separatist will be discriminated or even ill treated… even by my self. But for the rest India is a better country for Muslims.
- Posted by ShibuIn my money, we haven’t grown up yet. DO we think once before we say Muslims or Hindus or Christians are terrorist. The 180 odd people died in the recent Mumbai terror attacks included devotees of all these religions. Is tackling of terrorism still a blame game? Or is it just another event that we watch live on TV as it occurs? It was so helpless to see the place where you born burn into flames and the so called leaders (I doubt the definition these days) blaming each other and the security agencies much like their political speeches. The home minister’s resignation was the govt could do as of now. Is it going to solve any purpose? Why can’t the govt come out with a solid plan to counter terrorism? The govt should learn some lessons on professionalism from the terrorists. They inform you much ahead of their act about the attacks and the govt reacts not acts much after the incident. This has been a regular practice in India. After the 9/11 attacks, there is no such incident reported in the US and here in India we forget the bloody act days after the incident with much ease. Also, what about India’s emergency control architecture look like? Looks non-existing. Saw, how they were dealing with the injureds? We dint have the necessary life saving gears to deal with a critical condition. Even if someone comes out injured, it will definitely succumb to its injuries by the time he reaches the hospital. lots of things to do India..lots of things. There is no time to think, its the time to do. Just do it
- Posted by GyanHi,
- Posted by SudhaI would like to mention that I am a hindu residing in India. Hindus are so tolerant, thats the reason Islam and Christainity flourish in India. Pakistan was created only based on religion. So, Mr.Muhammed Tarq, please double check when using words like Hindu Zionists
India at this moment has to contain any reactive violence from the fundamentalist Hindus, which is very likely and possible. So India has to condemn that by not blaming Muslims. They have to identify the exact groups.
- Posted by Muhammad TariqThis is a tragic and horror drama that Indian authorities have organized for Muslims (like the American government organized 9/11 to disgrace Muslims) specially Pakistanis, and once again Indian dupes and fools are not able understand and happy to point their fingers on Muslim Community. But remember this gives an escape to the actual guilty party. We all know that Hindu activists and militants have committed terrorist acts in the past. However, you need to look at the particulars and recognize that there is a problem with terrorism in south Asia coming from Pakistan. Just for the reason that you are Muslim do not feel the need to shift the culpability, we must clash this problem together, terrorists do not serve to help Muslims grounds anywhere.
In short, The Indian government prearranged the whole series of the murderous attacks, including the last one, just in order to discredit Muslims.
Since September 11, 2001, Islam and the world of Muslims have been standing center stage on the international media theater. Headlines have often been decorated with words like “Al-Qaeda”, “Muslim”, “Terrorist” and, sometimes reaching back to “Qur’an” or going as basic as “Islam.” Many bombings have raised questions on Islam; is it originally a violent religion? Does it have any ethical concerns for the killing of civilians? Why do Muslims hate USA and Israelis?
- Posted by Muhammad TariqThe motive of the attack is still not known and it is too early to point fingers the media has started accusing some Jihadi outfit, some unknown group called the Deccan Mujahiddeen who are responsible for this attack. But I suspect that this whole drama is been carried out to divert attention from the Sadhvi Praghya case who is accused of the Malegaon blast. It is the big question mark for us?…. At the same time it is puzzling to know why the terrorist wanted to target British and American passport holders.
1st remember that Mumbai is the financial center of India just as NY is the financial center of America. 2nd this attack was meant to make confusion and fright. Where ever there is confusion and fright, there is a pretext for military action. Don’t be surprised if there is internal involvement within the Indian Government, police or military.
As a catholic and human being of this earth, I am deeply apalled to see some anti-muslim/islam comments on this blog. Whoever wrote these comments are probably ignorant and should open a book and read. Fact. 99% of terrorist are not muslim, there are christian terrorists and hindu terrorists as well. ..so please as i noted earlier, for the sake of this world, please open a book, read it, and get the facts straight before spewing out your garbage.
- Posted by abner99% of the world’s terrorists are the products of ISI and its evil policy and thats why Pakistan should be divided among the neighbours so that it wont create more havoc to the world peace
- Posted by Hikmatwhy 99% of the terrorists are muslims?
- Posted by PraveerI dont know why…each and every terror attack on this planet is associated wits pakistanis….either pakistan borned,ISI,Taliban,or pakistan sponcered….
- Posted by PraveerPakistan is a failed state. There is no option but to eliminate terrorism from Pakistan by U.S. and India forces. It is unfortunate to have come to this but analysts see no other option at this point. We see a disintegration of Pakistan in the near future.
- Posted by Michael Jean-PerresIf Islam is a religion of peace, why don’t the people in Pakistan tell their people that that is the case. Their people only want to play victim and justify attacks on innocent civilians with trivial facts as noted from Pakistani posters on this board.
Many muslims one hand want to snatch the fruits of science and technology and on the other want to go backward by sending their children to madrassas.
- Posted by John Simpsunfirst of all my condolences to all those whose love ones have died.
- Posted by si m reading all these comments everyone making about islam. has n e one read the quran. if u have i like toi know where it indicates that islam spread violence
i like to say that i have studied three religions islam christianity and hiduism. if islam is a violent religion then hindus r not better either as they having fights with their own aswell. so i do not know where u get ur information from. u should get urself clarified of facts first as u do not know n e thing.
as for terrorist they have no religion, so calling them muslim or pakistani is wrong. but if u do want to how these terrorists r born u ask urself that questions.
is all the hell WE put them in. as u can read i used WE i m not blaming religion nor a country we should be the blame for letting these terrorists to be born.
What happened in Mumbai is as sorrowful for we Pakistanis, as it is for Indians. Terrorism is joint enemy for both nations and we should counter it together with tolerance, without listening to our govts. who always blame each other, in order to divert attention of their own people. A common Pakistani and a common Indian, whether Hindu or Muslim, know that security lapse by our authorities produce ways for terrorists to do their job. For example, failure of protection of Babri Masjid by then UP Govt. caused terrorists to destroy the Masjid which became the cause of creation of various jihadi organisations in Bharat to combat those terrorists. Similarly, recent Gujrat violence in which 4,000 Muslims were killed was an act of Gujrat state terrorism. It was witnessed by world. So, reactions of such incidences are of course unavoidable. What happened in Mumbai seems to be the reaction from those, possibly, whose families would have been badly affected by Gujrat violence.
- Posted by Muhammad Khirad AlamIt is a very tragic for us. Mumbai is under terrorist activities in these days due to the lack of Indian intelligence efficiencies. When any bomb blasts or any terrorist activities in India, Indian government and media, without any hesitation and proper investigations blaming to Pakistan. We are not understood as Pakistani, why India is blaming us.
- Posted by Muhammad TariqThis drama which name is MUMBAI IN BLOOD had created a serious horror in Indian military intelligence and their Fascist patrons in Hindu Zionists. Something had to be done to divert the attention of the world and Indian public from acts of terrorism by Hindu Hardliners. …..Then comes the Mumbai slaughter. Even when the shootings were going on in hotels, Indian media and army were blaming Pakistan for the attacks. The game is clear and threatening. The Indian Intelligence have diverted the global attention towards another issue where they would blame Pakistan for this slaughter.
In the early coming days, Pakistan should prepare for a high risk threat response as Indians would go to any limit to open another front against Pakistan to divert the local and world attention from their internal fascist elements in Hindu Zionists and military intelligence.
I think government conceals their weaknesses to Indian peoples. Traditionally, Indian government, politicians and people are understood Pakistan and Pakistanis is our enemy from 1947 to till. This is not fact; we are peaceful Pakistanis and also our religion. May Allah protect Pakistan from all enemies.