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.
Trackback
58 comments so far
Previous | 3 | 2 | 1 | Next
First, my deepest condolences and sympathies go out to all the victims of this cowardly, yet brutal act of terrorism.
Secondly, to majority of peace loving Muslims: We need to strongly and unequivocally condemn these acts of violence and hope and pray that the perpetrators / planners rot in hell. At the same time, we need to realize that we do not need to apologize for the brutal actions of this radicalized and violent fringe of society that have nothing in common with the values or the principles that we hold dear.
Third, Muslims need to resist any temptation to attribute these attacks to the many legitimate injustices their people may have been subjected to. The issues of the treatment of Muslims in Kashmir, the persecution of the Muslim minority within India, etc. are all legitimate issues of concern and deserve attention. Yet, the actions of these terrorists are truly the selfish acts of people that falsely take on the banner of the oppressed as a convenient cover for their brutal quest for power. For Muslims to cede any control over the debate of ideas to these rigid, ignorant ideologues would be a serious mistake, and a serious step back for Muslim countries and communities as a whole.
Fourth, for all those promoting militancy, intolerance or more violence in reaction to the current provocation, I say be careful what you wish for. Corrupting your soul with hate instead of resolve, and compromising your principles and values for the sake of revenge, will play right into the hands of these monsters. India, at this juncture, needs to hold steady to its democratic ideals and continue to make progress towards applying the rule of law universally to all its citizens.
Lastly, it is obvious that the cancer that perpetrated the attacks of 9/11, among others, has relocated itself from safety of the confines of radicalized Taliban regime of Afghanistan to the lawless Tribal Areas of Pakistan. This cancer has to be rooted out and eliminated and if the Pakistani Army is not up to the task, then the World community at large needs to develop and deploy a solution to address the issue. And while we are doing this, we need to do something about all the other conflicts that are raging in the World, from all the wars in Africa and the tremendous trauma and loss of life they are causing, to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Kashmiri struggle for independence, that due to our inability to stop them, are continuing to add fuel to an already raging inferno of hate and intolerance.
- Posted by AhadI am writing from Sri Lanka and wanted to share some thouhts on this tragic incident as we have been suffering from this kind of terorist activities for over 2o years. The time has come to a point where whole world should unit to battale against tererroism. In what ever country it occurs, in what ever form it occurs it has the capability to effect each and every individual in this world.
India seems to blame Paksitan over the matter and even if I dont know the story clearly I belive that we all can agree to the point that one country should not use or provide assistance to terorists to attack another country. This reminds me what India did some timeback in Sri Lanka helping Tamil Tigers. India had to pay the price for it later.
Today Sri Lankan goverment is carring out a huge offesive opperation against LTTE. LTTE is the most deadliest terorist outfit in the South Asia. It was reported that Some Indian Politicians specially in Tamilnadu have rasised their voice over thease opperations by Great Sri Lankan soldiars. Vast majourity of People in Sri Lanka fear about an indian intervention to the war in Sri Lanka as what has happened in the past.
As stated earlier tragedy that occurred in Mumbai will show you only glimpse of how brutal terrorism is. Therefore my dear friends in India, Pakistan and all over the world this is the time we should come together in a one voice to battle terrorism.
- Posted by Sri LankanReact,react and react.
- Posted by sreeA terrorist has no religion. A politician has no spine when the tough gets going. An we ‘the people’ have no sense for we elect the same old spineless politicians again and again…
- Posted by Good IndianThis is the time to ACT, not to Talk/Promises that political leaders’ habit. Action should be taken in its strongest way that a terorist should think of before he goes for killing innocents.
- Posted by M H LaskarAn International Law should be established to face with terrorists. There should not be any compromise with terrorists. They should not have the right to live. They should kill after the strongest punishment by the International Law that should be established immediately. People should also provide all necessary helps to the Police/Military/Commandos etc. to save their Nations.
sidney, the problem is that islam is inherently violent religion. it has a history of violence, plundering, forceful conversions in asia and africa. majority of muslims i know, and they are quite a few in various parts of asia, africa, europe and middle-east, are ultra-sensitive to their identity, their ideology. theres nothing wrong in it, but the problem arises when this ideology encourages them to take a 15-century interpretation of the world. no easy solutions here, but kashmir problem is also due to this islam ideology, that is inherently radical. more hindu pandits have been displaced/killed in kashmir than the kashmiri muslims. so your argument is ridiculous.
- Posted by LdnAs a mumbaikar (bombayite) i feel disgusted when i see this happen to my city. This is a filthy war between the terrorists and the politicians and innocent sufferers are regular people like us. This dastardly act cannot be justified. The blame game between the politicians will continue. Their speeches will be the same tape recorded speeches which they must’ve by now rote learned and just blurt it out like a puppet. Nothing will happen untill and unless concrete action is not taken against these infiltrators.
They came in speed boats alighted from a local mother ship at a place like Gateway of India which is a very very high security zone what with naval officers quarters and bases situated right there. No one saw them ? We had a sleeping Navy. They went to the Taj started shooting incessantly went to Oberoi (Trident) to Nariman bhavan and our police officers ran behind them with Laathis (bamboo sticks) in their hands. No latest weapons to combat their hi-tech ammunitions ?? in the bargain we lost 125 lives and still counting. In the midst of all this mayhem we have the PM visiting Mumbai. Listen Mr. PM, we dont want you. Please just stay the hell out of here. We dont need you. All our police officers have to run behind your entourage to cover you why should they be wasting their time behind a leader who looks at larger international goals but is unable to solve volatile situations in your own home. You are a bad leader Mr. Singh actually you’ve terribly failed.
Please pray for all the hostages stuck up in various parts of the Trident and the Nariman bhavan that they all return home safely and there are no more casualties. Amen…
Maryann.
- Posted by MaryannThis is in response to the comment by Sidney.
Kashmir, was always a part of India… even Pakistan was a part of India. Why does this sudden claim to kasmir arise? You indcate that people in Kashmir have gone missing. Have they been missing since always? Did the Indian government and police always have something against Kashmiris? No. Not at all. This happened after Pakistan corrupted the minds of the locals in the name of religion and a demand for a new country came up. India,or any other nation, will not give in to the demands of anyone wanting to reak off into a separate country in the name of religion or race. Remember the time when all the movies were shot in Kashmir? What happened to those times? Kashmir was the most coveted tourist destination in India.
All was changed by Pakistan. And Indian government did not give in to the demand and had to stop this as then issues like Khalistan had come up.
I do not agree to senseless killings, and all kisslings are senseless. But the army and the police did have the job of keeping a country together.
I am afraid but this war will continue till Pakistan stops supporting this with money and minds.
Sidney- I agree and respect that the Quaran condemns the killing of people… but can you explain why most of the bombers are followers of Islam? Why this intolerence and the tendency to respond to opposition by force and bombings? Do you not get the sese that today it has come to a point where it is Islam ( or atleast the wrong version of Islam) versus the rest of the world?
9/11, London Bombings, Egypt Bombings, Islamabad Bombings and all the Indian bombing of late… how do you explain this and justify this?
- Posted by ThinkingAgainA professional investigation should be conducted to ascertain the perpetrators and planners of this crime and they should be brought to justice (dead if possible).
- Posted by kapilIts time that India proved to itself that we could do a proffesional job of taking on such terrorists. The politicians should keep out of it.
This is a act of terror, We have very good experience of Terrorism in our country.Anywhere in the wrold happened this type things can not be justify. Therefore we should unit to eradicate Terrorism. If it is happenig in the India everybody says act of Terrorsim, but in Sri Lanka everybody in the world says it will be gross violation of Human Rights by the Government of Sri Lanka. Now we have take this as a good lesson and try to destroy vampires of Terrorists anywhere in the world.
- Posted by Sunil PeirisDear Sidney, Kama and Others
- Posted by IndianFirst things first so lets talk about Kashmir, Kashmir acceded to India, that is it joined Indian Union when it was attacked by millitants from across the border then it was the Indian Army and soldiers who laid their lives to protect them. All of you see the atrocities done by the army but none of you ever mention the atrocities on kashmiri pandits , why? is that not ethnic cleansing?? were they not displaced from their homes, were their daughters not raped in front of their eyes… I hate when pseudo intellectuals like you talk of human right and want to enforce it only on the army. Nothing i repeat Nothing no matter what cause justfies killing of innocent individuals … when Sidney says that kashmir is the reason for India being targeted then what about USA 9/11?? what about London? what about bombings in spain and russia. Nothing justifies religious fundamentalism and intolerance. I pity people like Sidney who are sitting far away from ground realities and try and spread false ideologies, nowhere minorities are protected more than they are protected in India, this discontent in because of the poision being fed to young minds on false, distoted and polarized information.
Unless the Madrasas, the factories of terror machinery churning out young terrorists are disbanded in south asia, The scourge of terrorism can’t be eradicated.
- Posted by maniIt all started with British, the trouble makers of the world. They could have left India as one intact country, but wanted to create some small peices which they can exploit later. India is at a very important turning point. She need to make very independent and intelligent decision. Mahatma Gandhi and Nehry were smart to keep India as a non-aligned country for a reason. It was wise. Now our leaders think that they are smarter than our freedom fighters.
- Posted by thinkerthey dont have heart… we must show our power.. i am just praying the god..
- Posted by muthukumarWhat happened was sad but ask yourself what caused the creation of such people with such hatred of the people and/or the govt they intend to kill or destroy?
Kashmir is a beautiful place of mostly Muslims who are regularly killed and arrested and held without cause. Just in March 2008 unmarked graves of over 1000 people were discovered and linked to killings by the police and military in the area. If you try to find the great investigation or media coverage don’t hold your breath, it was minimal. Not a single arrest or major investigation by the Indian govt. Over 8000 Kashmiris are missing in the last 10 years…about 350 ppl never made it out alive after being arrested in the last few years, and over 150 were never heard from again after being arrested for no reason.
If you think about what you would do if you can’t get a govt’s or media’s attention with these sort of numbers…it’s hard to imagine what an individual may do until he or she is put into that situation.
Don’t get me wrong, what happened was disgusting…it says in the Quran that the killing of 1 person is like the killing of all mankind…but who do we blame for allowing such a situation to occur? After all we are just human and if you are treated like an animal you eventually show that side of yourself. Remember every action has a reaction, all actions have reprecussions and sadly in this case they were paid by innocent civilians.
- Posted by sidney“KAMA” we have so many morons like you thats why India is so weak in fighting radicalism. We need to get rid of people like you are the ones that hinder progress to tackle radicalism. India has no hard law to combat terrorism because people (politicians) like you block all the laws from being passed in India.
- Posted by JayAccording to me, certain vested interests are targeting the most vulnerable sections of our society and using their social and economical weaknesses to incite such atrocities. These people are being brain washed to believe that what they are is something noble and it is very essential. I feel that the only way out of this is to ensure that every single person is educated and given a honest means of livelihood.
- Posted by MuraliIt is an excruciting for all of us to see this kind of horor. However, we forget to realize that India was colonized by British for at least 150 years. There are lots of freedom fighters grand-children. They will never like to see any foreigners in their lands. Also we need to put in consideration that they might not have well treated and respected.They have strong feeling that the country is belong to them because their grand-fathers fought for it.
- Posted by tmirdotorgRenato, that seems like fighting terrorism with terrorism. Aren’t those clan members innocent civilians too! Think of a better solution. What about those who do not have clans! How are you going to deter them? To me, we all need very honest analysis of why some people get to this level of anger, and commit such atrocities!? Look at the root causes, and treat the root causes, and the symptoms will disappear. Treating the symptoms in a reactionary manner will not solve anything!
- Posted by KamaOnly an extreme solution to an extreme act. The world should implement a law that when a terrorist acts against innocent civilians the perpetrators should have their whole clan abolished. This will make the terrorist think twice before they act, the innocent civilians they murder paid back by the perpetrators own innocent clan members by abolishing them all. No military interventions required and no countries to invade. The clan takes the brunt of the responsibility. All other solutions to this scourge hasn’t work from any Government. I guarantee this will work! Stop terrorism once and for all.
- Posted by Renato